Health & Wellness Dog Grooming & Clean Up Itchy Skin
Just brushing your dog’s coat can help alleviate itchy skin
Rocky Kanaka
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Who knew that something so simple and basic as brushing your dog’s coat could help to control and eliminate itchy and irritated skin. When his skin is itchy, inflammatory blood cells and chemical compounds such as histamine and prostaglandins accumulate in the affected area. These are all responsible for the reddening and inflammation that causes the itch.
There are several reasons why brushing can ease that itch.
1. Removes Dander
A regular brushing will remove any loose and dead hair from his coat. Not only that, but the action of the brush will remove dander from the surface of his skin, and evenly distribute skin oils through his coat. This can prevent the accumulation of oil and dead cells on your dog’s skin which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. These secondary infections can be extremely itchy.
2. Stimulates Skin
Brushing your dog’s fur will stimulate his skin, and this will increase blood flow to that area. This results in the quicker removal of chemicals and toxins from the skin and underlying tissues, and a reduction in the inflammation which makes him scratch.
3. Keeps Annoying Tangles At A Minimum
If your dog has a long coat, knots and tangles can tug on his skin as he moves, and that is irritating to him. He’ll scratch to try and break up the tangles. Use your brush to gently remove any knots, and he will feel much more comfortable, and won’t feel the need to scratch as much.
Go over your dog from head to tail with a brush and comb on a weekly basis, and you can check his skin at the same time. Look for any sign of redness or irritation.
If you do notice any problem areas, wash them in an oatmeal shampoo that has human grade colloidal oatmeal, which has been proven to relieve skin itching and inflammation. Follow this with a topical itch spray so you can get direct onto the itchy spots, and its natural herbs and plant extracts will relieve the itch very quickly.
Hints for Effective Brushing
Never brush your dog when the coat is wet. This can lead to hair breakage, and excessive pulling on the fur, which hurts. Use a brush or comb to remove loose hair before you shampoo, and then let them dry thoroughly before brushing him any more.
It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of Dry Shampoo For Dogs in your grooming kit with your brushes and combs. If your dog is a bit smelly, this can be sprayed on the dry coat and brushed through. It will clean fur at the same time as the brushing action eases the itch. It also contains vitamins and herbal extracts which reduce itching, repel insects and add a lovely sheen to the coat.
Soothing your dog’s itch can be challenging, but brushing their coat on a regular basis is the first step in making them comfortable. It’s easy to do, it doesn’t cost anything, and it creates a strong bond between you.
Also, you can find the best dog shampoos here!
