Does Your Dog Have Itchy Skin?

Did you know that your dog’s microbiome health and the state of their itchy skin, could be down to their gut health? 

Lifestyles today mean that their gut health and therefore overall immunity could be compromised. Antibiotics kill off the good and bad bacteria, meaning your dog's healthy colony will get wiped out. A healthy microbiome (their gut bacteria) is responsible for fighting off illnesses and optimal nutrient absorption. 

A compromised gut on the other hand, is one that has an imbalance of bacteria . And this could be causing your dog's itchy skin including other allergy-related skin conditions in your dog.

Plus, poor gut health means your dog’s upset tummy could become frequent and lead to more than digestive issues…

Probiotics, which are living bacteria, work in the same way for dogs as they do humans. They’re essentially a mix of beneficial bacteria - the good kind, that help rebalance the bad bacteria which your dog would pick up during any normal day.

These “good” bacteria are also referred to as microbes, and there are trillions of them in their gut. The Lactobacillus family of probiotics are probably the most well-known and helpful to your dog’s tummy.

Okay, so licking, itching and scratching in your dog is perfectly normal - it’s what they do. However, when your dog’s incessantly licking, scratching, biting, and chewing to the point of themselves discomfort it’s clearly a problem.

Now, you’ve heard of anti-histamines, right? Which means you know that histamines are inflammatory chemicals since they contribute to itching, sneezing etc… So when environmental allergens come along, these histamines will cause your dog to release white blood cells which can cause that sudden scratching and itching! 

These adverse reactions are often associated with an underperforming immune system. And what boosts your immune system to help protect your dog from the overactive release of histamines?

You guessed, good bacteria - the friendly kind you find in probiotics. 

Probiotics help dogs with allergies by helping calm their immune system. A bit like scratching their bellies makes them happy too :)

Typically you will see a difference anywhere from within several days to several weeks, but for REAL benefits that your dog will enjoy, giving them daily probiotics long term will support their immune system, their gut health and of course, their overall digestive function.

This means the longer, and more consistently your dog takes probiotics the more their health will benefit. - from skin issues getting better to your dog’s digestive system function improving.