Dog Skin and the Itchy Dog That Won't Stop Itching and Scratching

Dog skin is different in the itchy, scratching dog. A dog with normal skin has a barrier on the skin which prevents water loss and keeps allergens such as pollen and dust mites and moulds out. This protective skin barrier is very important in normal skin function and normal healthy skin. Normal dog skin is like a brick wall. The skin cells are like bricks and the protective skin barrier is like the mortar between the bricks. The "mortar" of the skin is called ceramide.

A common cause of the itchy, scratching dog is canine atopic dermatitis. Dog skin with canine atopic dermatitis is quite abnormal. The skin barrier is deficient in a protein called sphingosine which makes up the ceramide layer of the protective skin barrier. The sphingosine deficient ceramide is like aged, crumbling mortar between the skin cells in the dogs' skin. The skin barrier is permeable or "leaky". Water loss through the skin causes very dry skin. Allergens such as pollen, dust mite and moulds are able to also penetrate through the skin and trigger an allergic reaction in the deeper layers of the skin. This manifests as an intensely itchy, red rash.

Once the dog skin becomes red and inflamed and itchy, the dog will start to scratch and lick and mutilate itself. The skin is traumatised and damaged and irritated. The skin becomes infected and red and hot. The dog begins to suffer from an unbearable itch and starts to mutilate itself. Severe trauma and skin damage can be caused from excessive and repeated scratching. This intense itch that causes excessive scratching and self mutilation of the skin is unrelenting for the dog. I have seen dogs scratch themselves until they bleed and rub themselves on concrete or gravel or destroy their skin by excessive rubbing on fence posts and trees.

The intense itching and scratching in the dog with canine atopic dermatitis leads to unrelenting misery and suffering. This problem is commonly seen in breeds such as the West Highland White Terrier and the Maltese Terrier most of the terrier breeds and the Shih tzu. The Jack Russell terrier is also a breed that suffers terribly from canine atopic dermatitis. The Bulldogs and Bull Terriers also suffer terribly from this condition. The Sharpei is possibly the worst breed affected. These dogs have terrible allergy problems and terrible skin problems all because of one little protein called sphingosine that is missing from the protective skin barrier.

There are many pet care products that have been developed for dog skin. most products that are marketed as natural treatments or miracle treatments for itchy dog skin are worse than useless beacuse they actually do further harm to the skin. Many brands of dog shampoo contain soap and surfactant that further damages the crumbling ceramide and removes it. This can lead to very dry and unprotected skin. Dog shampoo can actually make the problem worse by drying the skin and removing the protective barrier. Acidic products such as tea tree oil and many flower oils can be extremely irritating to dry damaged skin deficient in a normal skin barrier. These products can actually make the skin more dry and red and itchy and sore than before the treatment.

There are some very good natural therapies and natural treatments that can help the itchy,scratching dog.

To stop your itchy dog scratching without drugs and without going to the vet using natural treatment and nautural therapy visit http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com