Itchy Pup? Try Supplements for Healthy Skin, Coat & Allergy Relief

A dull coat, flaky skin, and constant scratching: These are all tell-tale signs that something’s getting under your dog’s skin. Why is your dog so itchy?

If you can rule out fleas, excess itchiness in your dog could be a sign of dry skin, dermatitis or allergies. Any can be an indication that your dog’s skin barrier needs shoring up. Fortunately, for most dogs, there are ways to address irritated skin issues, like trying a high-quality supplement along with a consultation with the vet.

In the meantime, read on to learn more about the connection between healthy skin and allergies in dogs, and steps you can take to lessen the irritation.

Table of contents

Skin and coat health in dogs: Understanding the fundamentals

Common causes of itchy skin in dogs

Best ways to support your dog’s skin health

Dog supplement ingredients that support skin health

Choosing the best dog health supplement: Consider AmpliFull Skin & Coat Soft Chews

Skin and coat health in dogs: Understanding the fundamentals

We routinely give our dogs baths and brushings to help them get that soft healthy coat. That’s a great first step, but we tend to overlook that sometimes, the next layer down, the skin, can also use a little TLC from their humans.

Your dog’s skin, coat, as well as the gut, all have a role to play in keeping your dog comfortable and free of a case of the itchies.

Dog coat health: That pettable layer of fluff provides insulation for your pet, helps with temperature regulation while protecting the skin from external irritants. To achieve a soft coat, regular brushings can help disperse the oils to soften dry, brittle hairs and give it a bit of sheen.

What about bathing? Don’t overdo it, as too much shampooing can dry the skin. Tight, dry, flaky skin feels itchy, lets in more irritants and allergens, makes your dog scratch more often, and that kicks off an ongoing cycle of irritation and itchiness.

Dog skin health: The skin barrier, also known as the epidermal layer, is your dog’s front line of defense against allergens and pathogens. To keep it healthy, provide good nutrition, regular grooming, and consider supplements that support the skin.

Dog gut health: The state of your dog’s microbiome can also show up in the condition of their skin. A healthy microbiome helps develop and maintain the body’s immune response, helping the skin stay healthy and comfortable. But an out-of-balance microbiome is where skin conditions can start manifesting. When feeding your dog, focus on foods that promote gut health.

Common causes of itchy skin in dogs

A core cause of itchy skin in dogs are environmental allergies, such as pollen, dust mites and molds. Any of these can trigger itchy skin in dogs, along with allergies or intolerances to certain foods, commonly beef, chicken or eggs.

Why do allergies make dogs feel itchy, even when the skin isn’t directly exposed?

When the body has an allergic response, it releases a chemical called histamine. Histamines can cause watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy skin — all these are signs that the body is defending itself against a perceived threat.

While environmental and food allergies are common culprits of itchy skin, be sure and consider some of these causes when getting to the bottom of the source of your dog’s discomfort:

• Dry skin caused by low humidity, poor nutrition or overbathing
• Parasites like fleas and ticks
• Skin diseases like mange
• Underlying health conditions that arise from hormonal imbalances such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism

Best ways to support your dog’s skin health

As a pet parent, a proactive approach is key to healthy, comfortable skin. By adding supplements to their routine, you can provide essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that support healthy skin and coat, which can make them feel better all over.

What are other ways to support skin and coat health in your dog?

• Focus on good nutrition from a high-quality diet. Dogs need highly digestible protein sources along with the right balance of vitamins and minerals to build and maintain cells that form healthy skin and hair.
• Good dog grooming practices, such as regular brushing to help activate and disperse skin oils.

As always, if your dog is showing signs of skin problems, taking them to a vet is the best next step, so they can diagnose underlying causes and provide treatment that brings relief and healing.

Dog supplement ingredients that support skin health

If you decide to give supplements a try, be selective. You’ll want active ingredients that are known to be effective in dogs.

Unfortunately, all too many pet supplement brands focus on appealing to humans and current trends, rather than what can benefit dogs.

To help you choose, here are some science-backed active ingredients and how they can potentially help.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in foods like fatty fish and flaxseed, Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties while supporting healthy skin and glossy coat. Clinical research shows that supplementing with EPA and DHA improves a number of skin disorders that cause itching in dogs, and dogs receiving a daily supplement show an increase in lipid content in both the skin and coat, improving overall quality.

Zinc: This mineral is shown to support the health of the skin and coat. Canine studies indicate that supplementing with zinc makes the coat appear glossier while reducing dryness in the skin, while also reducing signs of itchiness and use of allergy medication.

Biotin: Found in foods like eggs, milk and banana, this vitamin supports hair and nail growth. Deficiencies can cause hair loss and dry skin, but a research study showed improvement in skin condition and coat texture in dogs after 3-5 weeks of taking a biotin supplement.

Choosing the best dog health supplement: Consider AmpliFull Skin & Coat Soft Chews

Active ingredients matter when you’re choosing any dog health supplement. But there are other things to think about. How do you know if they’re using high quality ingredients? You want to make sure you’re putting something into your dog’s body that’s good for your dog, but also makes you feel good.

AmpliFulll™ Skin & Coat Soft Chews by NutriSource® was created with one thing in mind: Enhancing your pet’s daily routine to ensure a long and healthy life.

As you shop for pet supplements, consider how AmpliFull benefits your dog’s overall health strategy.

Focus on efficacy: We don’t chase trends like some pups chase their tails because that’s not a winning strategy for anyone. For our entire line of supplements, we focus on what’s recognizable, tested and effective. That’s why we use active ingredients supported by thorough clinical research conducted on dogs. (See above)

Commitment to high-quality ingredients: A list of active ingredients will tell you what’s in the bottle. But what it won’t tell you is the level of their quality. That’s where third-party certifications can provide additional insight. AmpliFull Skin & Coat Soft Chews has the NASC Quality Seal. This is earned, not purchased.

Amplifying through nature: We also want to provide your dog with the world’s best ingredients. This is why AmpliFull Skin & Coat Soft Chews features the first milking bovine colostrum as an active ingredient. This nutrient-dense component generates excitement among pet parents because of the potential benefits to canine health. We take pains to ensure that it’s ethically sourced and of top quality.

Get started on amplifying your routine with AmpliFull

When you want your dog to look and feel their best, with less itching and less scratching, a high-quality supplement AmpliFull Soft Chews is a great way to maintain healthy skin and a soft coat. Coupled with comprehensive veterinary care and a balanced diet, AmpliFull can be part of your pet’s overall well-being.

Your dog deserves to feel good in their skin! When they feel good, we feel good.

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