Dog Skin Problem: Six Reasons Your Dog Can't Stop Scratching, Licking, Biting

Your dog won't stop his incessant scratching, licking, and biting. Your dog's skin problem is driving you nuts! But stop and think for just a minute. If all of his scratching, licking, and biting is driving you nuts, how must your poor dog be feeling?

You will be one step closer to getting relief for your dog when you can identify the reason behind his behavior. Here are the six main reasons for your dog skin problem:

Neurogenic - Basically, a nervous habit of licking and chewing for which there is no medical reason. This is often brought on by dogs that aren't getting the proper exercise or attention they need and they bite, chew, and lick themselves as a nervous energy outlet.

Environmental - itching brought on by what the dog is exposed to in his environment; swimming, digging, and romping through fields. When a dog is sensitive to grasses or gets a scraped or cut and the wound stays moist, bacteria can set in and cause an infection. This is most often referred to as a "hot spot."

Infectious - bacterial, fungal, and yeast are skin and coat pathogens that can irritate your dog's skin. Fungi cause circular patches of hair loss that usually do not itch. Yeast infections cause greasy, and odor causing sores.

Parasitic - The most common parasites that can cause a dog skin problem are; fleas, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, and gnats. When your dog is repeatedly exposed to these parasites, they can cause sensitivity and eventually infection. Cheyletiella mites, which are often referred to as "walking dandruff" and Sarcoptic mites which are called scabies or red mange, are much more serious. These mites cause very intense itching and scratching, hair loss and inflamed skin.