Scratch, scratch, scratch
Many dog parents know it well: the thud of a back leg over & over, the chewed paws, the red rashes. The endless itching & scratching. Those itchy dogs can be very unhappy & it’s our job to help soothe them. Here we’ll discuss what can lead to itch & the HERDD pet care products that can help.
Itching isn't a condition, it's a symptom. Your dog's skin is telling you something is off, so we need to work out what that is & support by making changes & soothing the itch.
Why is my dog so itchy?
There are a handful of usual suspects:
Fleas, ticks & insect bites → even one bite can set off a major scratching session
Allergies → pollen, grasses, dust mites or food groups can all trigger itchy, inflamed skin, often around the paws, face, ears & belly
Dry skin → cold weather, heating, or a coat that's been stripped of its natural oils through bathing with the wrong products, or too often
Not fit for purpose or low-quality shampoo → human products, or harsh, cheap, unbalanced formulas, can really upset your dog's skin
Skin infections → yeast & bacteria love warm, irritated skin, & it can become a vicious cycle: itch, scratch, damage, infection
We once knew of a dog called Pepper. She constantly had red, itchy skin across most of her body. She went through many vet visits, antihistamine treatment periods, topical creams & finally, food allergy testing. It turned out Pepper was allergic to meat, her entire diet. A dog nutritionist was engaged to design a meat-free diet, & within a couple of months Pepper’s itch went away. She needed ongoing support to care for her generally sensitive skin, which a product like Soothe+protect is ideal for, coupled with only bathing in a quality skin-first formula like our Rose+wagnolia. Overall, she returned to being comfortable in her skin.
When to call the vet
Topical over-the-counter care is brilliant for supporting healthy skin, but it doesn't replace your vet. Just like in Pepper’s case.
Book a visit to your vet if you notice:
Itching that is constant, getting worse, or doesn't settle within a few days
Broken, raw or bleeding skin, or hot spots
Hair loss, or thickened or darkened skin
A strong smell or discharge
Your dog seems unwell, or is licking their paws obsessively
Your vet can help find the root cause of these serious symptoms of itch {e.g. from fleas, illness or allergy}.
A simple itch-soothing ritual
If you’ve ruled out a trip to the vet, here is a simple itch-soothing ritual HERDD pet care can help your dog with:
Step 1: Start with a skin-first wash with a HERDD 3-in-1 shampoo bar, best suited to your dog or pet. Bath only as frequently as needed, & not more than 3 times a week.
Step 2: Use HERDD soothe + protect on targeted areas that need extra care, like dry or scratched itchy patches, paws & hot spots. Patch test first.
Step 3: Monitor your dog’s symptoms. Repeat Step 2 as often as you need to support irritated skin. If the symptoms persist, see your vet.
Step 1: skin-first wash
A good bath won't cure an allergy, but it can lift pollen, dirt & irritants off the coat & give the skin proper care, replenishing important coat oils & moisture, & giving the skin’s acid mantle a healthy foundation to restore post bath.
HERDD 3-in-1 shampoo bars are pH balanced for dogs {& cats, horses & other companion animals}, so they clean without stripping the skin's protective barrier. They provide a full overall coat & skin treatment with their 3-in-1 action that gently cleans & conditions skin & coats, & smooths & detangles fur.
The solid format allows for more precise pH balancing {just above 7} versus liquid options, is easy to massage over, build lather deep into the coat & onto the skin, & reduces liquid spills/wastage down the drain. It is also a brilliant format for targeting washing dirty paws, legs, bums or faces.
Which HERDD bar?
Rose + wagnolia is our pick for skin that needs extra care → Mild yeast or fungal infections, or red rashes from licking or scratching benefit from our blend of Magnolia bark & Rose extracts with their natural antimicrobial & soothing properties, & calming floral scents for pets that find bath time stressful
Maple + milk for dry skin & brittle coats → Biotin & milk proteins provide essential vitamins & amino acids to strengthen & hydrate the shafts & follicles in the coat, & nourish the skin gently. The double dose of natural guar detangles knots & matts, which can tug at the skin & lead to discomfort.
Bath-time tips
Massage the lather right through the coat, down to the skin, gentle massage stimulates blood vessels beneath the skin
Let the lather sit on itchy patches before you rinse; if your dog is impatient, continue to gently rub & scratch them in their favourite places
Rinse well with warm water, until the water runs clear
Dry thoroughly with a towel, then follow with a hair dryer; damp skin is a happy place for yeast to manifest
If your dog or cat does not tolerate the hair dryer, continue to towel dry with dry towels {freshly tumble dried is best}, or put them near a heater
How regular?
Bathing to frequently can be a cause for itch. While HERDD’s shampoo formulas are natural & gentle on pet skin, keep in mind the following:
For dogs, you should only bath them all-over a maximum of 3 times per week. You can spot clean dirty areas with the HERDD bars easily, & daily if needed.
For cats, bath a maximum of once per week to remove excess brown grease & smooth matted fur. Hairless cats are the only types that really need a weekly bath. Micro-coated & long coated breeds {Devons, Cornish, Selkirk, Maine coons, Persians, etc} can be bathed once or twice a month, as required.
Step 2: soothe & protect
This is where the HERDD soothe + protect balm comes in handy.
It's a multi-purpose, smear-on balm, that is made from 100% natural botanical ingredients. It uses a powerful trade secret formulation of Neem Seed, Vitamin E, Kawakawa, Lemon myrtle & plant waxes, along with a raft of antioxidant, fatty acids & vitamins that calm, hydrate & protect skin. Read our reviews on this pawsome product.
The naturally occurring properties of each of these ingredients are summarised below:
Neem Seed {Azadirachta indica}: Used in skincare due to its rich source of active bioactive ingredients & high concentration of antioxidants, which act as free radical scavengers. Antioxidants stabilise/deactivate free radicals, before they attack biological cells leading to, for example, fungal, bacterial or inflammatory reactions. It’s also proven to deter insects. Read more.
Vitamin E {alpha-Tocopherol} : A biologically active form of vitamin E & free-radical scavenger antioxidant that has been in use for 50+ years in dermatology. Vitamin E is an important ingredient in skincare, used to help skin maintain moisture, promote healthy skin cells, & protect the skin from various deleterious effects from solar radiation & environmental radicals. Read more.
Kawakawa {Macropiper excelsum}: an endemic medicinal plant widely consumed by Māori in New Zealand, containing ingredients myristicin, flavonoids & essential oil, that contribute to soothing, anti-inflammatory & antimicrobial properties. Read more.
Lemon myrtle {Backhousia citriodora}: Derived from distilling leaves via steam, this essential oil contains natural antimicrobial, antifungal & anti-inflammatory properties. It also cleanses the skin of environmental radicals, regulates the production of sebum & soothes irritation. Read more.
Simply, HERDD soothe + protect is designed to soothe, moisturise & protect itchy, dry or irritated skin & paws. It contains low-level {4-6} SPF ingredients {Tocopherol, coconut oil} & can be applied under a Zinc oxide cream on top to create a skin-friendly UV sun barrier. It doesn’t taste nice to pets, so deters them from licking too.
We recommend patch testing first, especially on animals prone to skin reactions.
Use it on:
Itchy patches & rashes
Dry & flaky skin or paw pads
Minor bites, cuts & chafing
Latter stages of yeast/fungal infections {following vet direction}
Sun-burnt skin
Pink skin exposed to sun with a layer of zinc cream on top
Insect, flea or tick bites {Neem also helps deter annoying insects}
Dogs, horses, cats, Ag day pets, & other companion animals. Even humans have told us they love it!
It's a solid stick rather than a spray, so it's ideal for animals that don't like sprays or aerosols, & for faces or hard to reach places. Incorporated waxes form a protective, soothing barrier keeping the active ingredients on the skin doing the job intended. Use it as frequently as needed, it is lick-safe. And of course, stop using it if irritation occurs.
“I’ve been using Soothe & Protect on my poodle to help with open warts on her body & ears, & I’m really impressed with the results. It’s easy to apply, simple to use & genuinely works. I’ve also tried it on a few small eczema patches on my own skin, & it has helped clear them up too! Although it’s marketed as an animal product, the natural ingredients are ones I feel completely comfortable using on myself. It’s lovely to find a product that works so well for both Roo & me. Highly recommend!”
Step 3: Monitor & practice a few easy wins
Monitor your dog’s symptoms & if they persist at a level that is concerning, or worsen, book a trip to your vet. Persistent itching can be caused by dietary factors, which need to be eliminated or changed to get on top of the cause of the itch.
A few easy wins to put into practice as you try to decipher what is causing the symptom:
After walks or play, target wash paws/legs/bellies to remove pollen, grasses & dirt with a wash like the Rose+wagnolia 3-in-1 shampoo bar
Bath with a gentle, pH-balanced & complete formula like any of the HERDD 3-in-1 bars, & not too often
Wash bedding regularly with mild detergent
Keep flea & tick prevention up to date
Use a topical balm to soothe & deter licking, like Soothe+protect
If flare ups are inconsistent, keep a diary of what you are feeding & when, & if you expose your dog to different walking tracks & flora {these notes can be helpful for your vet}.
Why HERDD
At HERDD we take a skin-first approach. We assure that our waterless 3-in-1 shampoo bars & balms are formulated with the highest quality, human-cosmetic grade, natural ingredients—with careful consideration for the impact they have on your dog’s skin & coat*.
Truly sustainable coat, skin & paw care.
HERDD formulas are vegan & packaged in zero plastic, compostable packaging.
1 bar = ~60 washes for medium dogs, about 3x the washes of a standard liquid bottle.
*The products are also suitable for cats, horses & other companion animals. This article is general information & isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog's skin symptoms persist, please see your vet.