Quite often, quick treatment for the itch that leads to scratching will be similar for dogs and people. However, nothing should be attempted without first consulting a veterinarian.
Moreover, the dosage for a dog will be different, usually a lot less, than is required for people.
Despite the advent of topically applied flea medicine, some dog owners do not react to the possibility of a flea infestation until the dog is scratching furiously. A close examination with a comb should reveal the presence of fleas.
They are small and fast moving. The proper response is to launder the dogs bedding, then bathe the dog. Pine tar soap may do the job but anti flea shampoos are also available. Then the flea preventive–good for a month–should be applied.
It will kill fleas, larva and may also ward off ticks. That should be followed up by a thorough vacuum job and use of a flea bomb on all affected rooms of the house.
Otherwise, the irritation causing the itch that leads to the scratch is usually caused by an allergic reaction. Because dogs are more prone to come into contact with various plant lives than people are, they are more exposed to allergens.
If the dog spends time outside and rolls around on or lies in the grass, which may be the cause. There is a device–sometimes called a “cool cot”–similar in concept to a hammock upon which the dog can be trained to lie when outside.
It is elevated four or five inches off the ground and will preclude contact with the grass. A negative allergic reaction may be caused by pollen, or mold spores, as is the case with people. Clothing the dog in an old Tee shirt for trips outside will avoid some contact.
Any use of prescribed medicines must be approached carefully. Steroids such as prednisone may stop the itching and scratching but any such use needs to be brief and well monitored; steroids, while bad for people, can be lethal for dogs.
Some over the counter allergy medicine, e.g., Benadryl, may work well but also have to be watched carefully.
Homespun remedies abound and most deal with food and supplements; it is easy to try these out and may solve the problem. Omega-3 oils have an anti-inflammatory effect and are abundant in fish oils; if persuading the dog to swallow a capsule is too difficult, cod liver oil can be added to the dog’s food instead to accomplish the same thing.
Flax seed oil also is a good source of Omega-3 oils. Some dog foods pose less risk of an allergic reaction than others do; a lamb and rice food–either canned or dry–may be less bothersome to a dog than foods containing beef, wheat or corn.
Baby oil and Listerine sprayed on the site of an itch may relieve the symptoms; hydrocortisone cream is sometimes effective but it may be licked away and it is a steroid.
Good results have come about adding supplements as diverse Virgin Coconut Oil, wheatgrass tea and Vitamin E to food, using Comfrey tea, Emu oil, cornmeal juice or oatmeal dust topically, or even rubbing Vaseline on a dog’s paws to avoid contact with the grass.
There is little reason for a well-tended dog to suffer from itching. Its behavior will indicate the need for a person to act, and then take steps of avoidance. It is usually the case that, as Benjamin Franklin pointed out two hundred fifty years ago, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.