Does your Shiba Inu deals with itchiness throughout the year or only during a certain period of the year? Shiba Inu’s itchy skin can be only one of the signs of seasonal allergy that affects almost 40 % of dogs of this breed. Due to this fact, you have to always keep an eye on your furry friend and notice any strange behavior on time.
What could be the reason for your Shiba Inu itchy skin?
Skin itchiness usually occurs on the dog’s paws, armpits, belly, and ears. Dogs with numerous folds on bodies such as French bulldogs will also be on a higher tendency to suffer from this condition. It’s because their folds collect moisture, dirt, and allergy triggers that make a dog itchy and susceptible to a skin infection.
When we talk about Shibas, the good news is that they have double-layered coats. It means that allergy triggers can’t penetrate the skin but they can certainly cause irritations on spots with less fur. Therefore, we have to pay special attention to Shiba Inu’s paws, ears, and belly. The symptoms of itchiness usually affect younger dogs who are between one and three years old. It happens due to eating an inappropriate diet, using low-quality dog cosmetics, or in dogs of weak immunity.
What are the symptoms of allergies in Shiba Inus?
There is a common misconception that allergies will disappear on their own. Even though it can happen in some cases, most allergies require constant treatment to keep them under control. If we don’t treat allergies, they can only get worse and lead to many other health issues. Bacterial and fungal infections of the skin and alopecia are only some conditions that can occur.
If you think that your furry friend became an allergy sufferer, these are the symptoms to search for:
- Itchy paws and constant paw licking
- Ear scratching
- Hairless patches on the skin that occurred due to excessive itchiness
- Diarrhea (It can occur when a dog eats an inappropriate diet)
- Stomach flatulence
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Smelly ears ( this often points out to severe ear infection)
- A dog rubs the belly and butt onto the floor to release itchiness
How to treat Shiba Inu’s itchy skin?
First of all, to treat Shiba Inu’s itchy skin, it’s essential to discover the trigger. Although this sounds like the most difficult task, you have to keep in mind that you’re the only one who can help your dog. Talk to your vet and make sure you write on the list all strange symptoms you’ve noticed.
Itchy skin in dogs can be treated by taking oral antihistamines therapy. If your dog is a seasonal allergy sufferer, this will be the best option for him/her.
For Shiba Inus who deal with severe itchiness and paw licking behavior, applying topical creams is essential. Corticosteroid creams will release itchiness and decrease inflammation. If the spots on a dog’s body became hairless, red, and bloody, then he/she will need immediate antibiotic treatment. Constant skin scratching can cause infections, so you’ll have to include antibiotic creams or oral therapy too.
If your dog shows mild symptoms of allergy, applying Coconut oil on the skin and paws will help a lot. Coconut oil represents the best natural option that can’t cause side effects in your dog. Besides it smells gorgeous, it also helps skin conditions like hot spots, bites, stings, or itchy, dry skin. Since it contains Lauric acid, Coconut oil provides strong anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.
Special attention should be paid to your Shiba Inu’s ears. Their pointy ears are exposed to environmental allergens, dirt, plant pieces, and other elements that can stuck inside and cause an infection. Therefore, make sure you regularly clean your dog’s ears and apply ear solution to maintain good hygiene.
