Why Does My German Shepherd Itch So Much? 9 Quick Solutions!!!

I enjoy every little bit of time with my German Shepherd and it’s really fun to spend time with him, but at the same time, I also get frustrated when he use to itch his whole body due to some reason. You too may have become annoyed seeing your dog itching all the time, licking and rolling around the rug. It’s quite frustrating seeing our dogs doing such activities all the time but why do they do so? Why does your German Shepherd itch so much?

So why does my German Shepherd itch so much? German Shepherds itches because of a variety of reasons. They may itch due to skin allergies, infections, fleas, injury, boredom, or anxiety. The itching in German Shepherds may also happen due to environmental allergies that may occur due to pollen, molds, or dust. Apart from these causes, food can also be one of the factors behind the itching behavior of German shepherds.

However, scratching occasionally in German shepherds is quite normal behavior but when they itch more frequently then it would indicate a medical emergency that gets worse over time. The vets also say that the sooner you discover the cause the better it becomes to treat the disease.

Any type of unusual behavior in your dog should never be ignored, itching may irritate to some extent as it can affect them also.

Here in this post, you will get detailed knowledge about German Shepherd allergies, and their causes and you will also come to know:

Why Do German Shepherds itch so much all the time?
Top reasons behind this behavior.
How to stop them from itching?
What will be the solutions?

Let’s dive into the topic and know the fact about the itching behavior in your German Shepherd:

Why Is My German Shepherd So Itchy All The Time?

No dog owner wants their German Shepherd itching all the time and living in discomfort. It’s obvious to feel annoyed seeing such type of irritating behavior by them but what’s the reason behind this? Why is the German Shepherd so itchy all the time?

German Shepherds may be itchy all the time because of medical conditions called allergic dog itch, these may be flea or insect allergies, inhalant allergies, and skin contact allergies. There are environmental concerns also behind the itchy behavior of your German Shepherds like pollen, molds, or dust.

Some German Shepherd dogs may be itchy because of medicine allergy also as this type of allergy may go over time but they need proper treatment. Food allergy may be another factor that can also make your German Shepherd itching all the time.

Allergic reactions in German Shepherds may be also responsible and can let them itch more often however it depends on your dog’s body, their reaction, and exposure level. All these types of medical conditions can be prevented but the best way is to know the possible causes.

Let’s understand the possible causes that may let the German Shepherd itch all the time:

Possible Causes For Itching In German Shepherd

Constant itching in German Shepherds makes them uncomfortable and as a dog owner, you can also be irritated. Generally itching in German Shepherds is caused by a medical condition called allergy.

This means allergen reacts on the skin of your German Shepherd that may be present in the environment around him. Some of the factors responsible for their itchy behavior may be:

Fleas Allergy:

Fleas allergy is one of the important factors behind the itching of your German Shepherd as whenever fleas bite it creates itchy spots for your beloved pet. Fleas bites can mostly be seen at the hind legs, tail base, and rear end which is a favorite spot for them and they love to hide.

You can not see fleas hiding them at their favorite places but their bite causes them to itch more often. They are also living beings as we can also understand just like whenever mosquitoes bite us we also use to itch the spot because of their allergic reaction.

Environmental Factor:

Another possible reason behind the itchy behavior of your dog breed is the environment in which they are living.

There are many environmental triggers such as pollens, mold spores, or dust mites as these allergens cause itching during certain seasons.

Rubbing, scratching, and itching regularly are not a good sign for your German Shepherd, you should see the change in their skin like redness or hair loss. All this happens because of the allergens present in the environment.

Food Allergy:

Diet you are giving to your German Shepherd can also be responsible for itching in your German Shepherd. Many dog food may provide a type of allergy to your German Shepherds such as chicken, beef, or dairy products.

Food allergy also causes itchy skin in German Shepherds. Generally, their feet, face, armpits, or belly are affected if they face any food allergy. If you notice any type of food allergy in your dog, you must meet your vet’s and follow their guidelines.

You can also go through our article “20 Human foods can German shepherd eat and what to avoid?“. where you will get a detailed idea about the human food they can eat.

Skin Infections:

Skin infection may be the most relevant factor for itchy behavior in German Shepherds, it may be caused by yeast or bacterial infection that may let them uncomfortable and itch more often.

Yeast generally affects the fold region in German Shepherds like the neck, ears, around or in between the toes, and under the tail while bacterial infection may affect anywhere in the body of your German Shepherd. All these infections lead to damaged skin which arises due to regular scratching.

Medicine Allergy:

This is another factor that you should never ignore as medicine allergy can also cause itching in your German Shepherd. If some medicine does not suit your GSD then it may cause some reactions, as a result, it may cause itchy skin.

However, this type of allergy can be prevented by consulting your vet and regular examination of the dog. You must be aware of your dog and the allergy they are being affected.

Boredom:

German Shepherds are an energetic breed and they do a lot of exercises. It is also recommended that your German Shepherd should exercise for an hour every day. If they do not get sufficient exercise then it’s quite possible to be changed their behavior which may result in itching themselves.

Your dog’s itching may be also because of boredom as you must be not spending too much time with him or giving him the proper exercise they need. The only thing you should do is to provide the exercise and avoid the mentality of boredom among them.

Separation Anxiety:

Separation anxiety may one of the reasons which will let your German Shepherd change their behavior and because of this, they may start itching.

Your German Shepherd may feel alone and they may start excessively licking and itching themselves which may result in their skin into a hotspot.

Try to spend as much time as you can with your German Shepherd to avoid such type of behavior changes among them. You can also follow our post about separation anxiety where there is a detailed discussion about the related topic.

Injury:

One of the most relevant reasons behind the itchy behavior of your German Shepherd is injury. They may have injured their physical parts which may result in rashes that may lead to scratching themselves.

The best option to prevent this type of issue is to meet your vet when your find any injury or cut parts in your body as ignoring this may lead to some serious health issues.

It’s obvious, if your German Shepherd is facing any type of these seasonal allergies it will lead them to discomfort and if left untreated will give birth the new health issues for sure. So it’s important to observe your German Shepherd and provide them with proper treatment.

At the same time, it’s also important to provide your German Shepherd with precautionary measures so that all the issues with these types of allergies could be prevented and your German Shepherd would live a healthier life.

How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Stop Itching?

Any type of change in the behavior of your German Shepherd is not normal, and of course, the itching will never be considered normal behavior. If you find your pet itching more often then you must know to get rid of this problem.

There are many ways to get your German Shepherd to stop itching as it only allows them to be comfortable but you will also be relaxed seeing your dog happy.

Here are some of the ways that will let your German Shepherd stop itching:

Providing good shampoo and oils:

If your German Shepherd is facing the issue of itching more often then you should try some good shampoo and oils for relief. You should also find the shampoo you are using for your German Shepherd, if they have any skin issues due to the shampoo then change the product immediately.

You may consult some professionals for the shampoo and oils as it helps their skin and fur to be silkier and it also avoids the shedding process which is also quite common in GSD. You may also follow our article ” Why Do German Shepherds Shed So Much? 7 Top Tips To Reduce Shedding!!!” where you will get a detailed idea about the shedding in German Shepherds.

Providing Proper Exercise:

Seeing your German Shepherd itching regularly without any medical issues then providing them proper exercise will be the best option. It is possible if your German Shepherd is not getting the proper exercise then it may lead to excessive itching and licking.

Just provide the proper exercise as you can do this by making them walk for an hour or hiring some professional so that their itching behavior would be prohibited.

Avoiding Negative Reinforcement:

You must be providing some treats just to avoid their misbehavior but it is a negative reinforcement that all German Shepherd owners should avoid. Providing some treats for stopping their misbehavior will always influence them to do such type of behavior more.

Rather you can treat them with some rewards if they do not itch as it will groom their skills also. All this comes under when you will train your German Shepherd to such an extent that they obey whatever you tell.

Providing a Favorable Environment:

You should provide your German Shepherd favorable environment. I mean to say the surroundings they are living in must be clean so that no fleas can attack them as German Shepherds do need a clean environment.

Spending More Time With Them:

The best way to avoid any type of misfortune is to spend more time with your pet. It will let them avoid separation anxiety and they will also enjoy your company. At the same time, you can also observe their behavior closely.

Meeting With Vets:

The itching of the German Shepherd should never be ignored as you should first observe your dog carefully and if you find any hot spot or cut in their skin then provide initial treatment.

Many injuries can’t be treated at home so meeting your vets will be the best option as they provide the best treatment for the ill effect they suffering from.

It is also recommended to meet your vets regularly for the well-being of your German Shepherd.

9 Quick Solutions To Avoid Itching In Your German Shepherd

As a good dog owner, you must be observing the behavior of your German Shepherd. They do itch sometimes but when they are habituated to such itching behavior then there may be some signs of worry.

Now you know why your German Shepherd may be itching but for your convenience, I have found some of the best 9 quick solutions which will definitely provide relief and you will also learn to prevent them from itching cause.

Here are 9 quick solutions you may consider for a German Shepherd itching constantly:

1. Feeding Sensitive Or Hypoallergenic Diet:

No dog owner likes their German Shepherd itching all the time. Food allergy may be one of the causes, your German Shepherd may be itching due to some type of reaction. If you notice the such type of behavior changes due to food allergy then changing your dog’s diet will be the best option.

Switching to sensitive and hypoallergenic dog food will be the cheapest and easiest way to avoid food allergies among them. Though it is very rare to be seen as a food allergy among dogs. if seen then changing their food habits decreases the chances of allergy and itchy skin.

2. Use Medicated Shampoo For Bathing:

If your German Shepherd itches constantly then you can use medicated shampoo white to bathe them as it provides relief to them. These medical shampoos are also recommended by the vest for the itchy solution in German Shepherds.

Regular washing your GSD with medicated shampoo moisturizes and calms the red or irritated skin. It also provides your German Shepherd’s coat to be healthy all the time as you should also consult your vets for a better solution.

3. Use Skin Ointment Or Moisturizing Spray:

Skin ointment or moisturizing spray provides the dehydrated skin of your German Shepherd to be smooth and hydrated as it also provides quick relief to their irritated skin. These are also easy to use at any time and you can apply them as per their need.

4. Regular Brushing:

Regular brushing allows removing the dead hair of your German Shepherd which can let them to itching problems. It also spread the oils in the whole skin of your GSD which will also provide relief to some extent.

Regular brushing avoids developing a thick blanket of hair that forms over their skin which prevents air from reaching the skin which will reduce the efficiency of the oil glands and causes constant itching in your German Shepherd.

You can also follow our article “how to brush your German Shepherd” where you will detailed ideas about professional brushing and of course the brush you can use for grooming them.

5. Use Anti-Inflammatory Supplements in their Diet:

The use of anti-inflammatory supplements in the diet of your German Shepherd reduces the chances of itching. Some of the research has also shown that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help reduce skin inflammation and increase skin moisture in dogs.

The use of oil supplements also provides moisture to the skin of your German Shepherd as it provides an outstanding coat and helps reduce itching.

6. Oatmeal Bathe

Oatmeal is highly helpful for the itchy and dry skin in your dog. Oatmeal bath is very safe for your canine friend and most allergenic shampoos do contain oatmeal that soothes and fights irritation.

You can grind plain oatmeal into powder to sprinkle in the warm bath of your GSD. This oatmeal generally takes 10 – 15 to cool down their irritated skin and provides instant relief, no matter what the cause for their itching. As it is nontoxic it’s safer for them as it is obvious they may lick some parts while bathing.

7. Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a good source of health for canines as it contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. It directly penetrates fur for direct contact with the skin as it helps them recover from eczema, allergies, yeast infections, and even insect bites and stings.

You should be aware of the value of this natural oil and routinely apply it to your dog’s skin in order to treat skin allergies in dogs.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar Water Spray

The use of apple cider vinegar water (ACV) is highly safe to use especially in don and itchy skin. It is also natural and antifungal which provides instant relief from itching cause. If your German Shepherd has excessively itched and wounded themselves then this solution will sting the exposed wound.

You should only mix 50% water and 50% ACV and apply them to the affected areas. Also, consider its poisonous level, if your GSD has walked through poison ivy or oak, you should soak their paws in a solution for 5 minutes.

9. Avoiding Room Sprays

Room sprays may also create allergies in German Shepherds as they contain chemicals and are unnatural for use. We also know German Shepherds have got a great sense of smell than humans and they can smell even the slightest smell of fragrances which can trigger allergies much more easily.

You should avoid using room sprays or fragrances to avoid such situations that can trigger their allergy. You can use natural products and try to keep your surroundings clean so that are not infected by any type of ill effects.

Final Thoughts

The itching in German Shepherds is not normal behavior as it occurs due to some ill effects which you have to observe. There may be some type of allergy in your German Shepherd which can also let it itch more often.

Getting the best knowledge and suggestion is the most important part to avoid such type of difficulty in your as well as your dog’s life. You should meet your vets regularly as their suggestions will be more fruitful for you.

Here are the key points from this post:

German Shepherds can itch because of skin allergies, injury, fleas, and anxiety.
Regular itching is not a normal behavior ignoring it can cause serious health issues.
You should follow a proper diet plan to avoid food allergies among them as it may be one of the reasons behind their itching problem.
Always keep them in a clean and friendly environment.
Meeting of s is important to take proper suggestions regarding any type of allergy in your German Shepherd.