Why Is My Dog Itchy in Spring?

Lauren Mills
Sep 9
4 min read

Understanding the many possible causes of itchy skin in dogs

Spring often brings an increase in scratching, licking, and gnawing in dogs. Itchy skin usually comes from a range of everyday factors, and can occur any time during the year depending on the irritant. By working through the potential factors step by step, you can often narrow down the trigger and make your dog more comfortable. Let's take a look at the common causes of itchy skin in a dog.

1) Direct irritants to the skin

Abrasions or sores: Move their coat away from their skin and carefully examine the areas where they are itching to see if there are any abrasions or sores.
Fleas or other parasites: Examine their coat and skin for any signs of fleas or other parasites.

2) Environment & Season

Grasses, weeds, and flowering plants: Certain grasses and weeds can irritate the skin, especially when they are flowering or seeding. Even an overgrown lawn can trigger itch.
Swimming and water exposure: Dogs that swim in rivers, dams, or ponds may react to contaminants, bacteria, or algae. Pools bring exposure to chlorine and other chemicals. Always rinse and dry thoroughly afterwards.
Moisture and bacteria: Wet coats that aren’t dried to the skin, damp paws and saliva from licking, all allow bacteria and yeast to thrive on the skin. This often shows up as red skin, itchyness, patches of red skin and even oozing.

3) Household Irritants

Lawn treatments: Weed-and-feed products, fertilisers, and other garden sprays.
Cleaning products: Floor cleaners, multipurpose sprays, carpet products, and laundry detergents for bedding can all leave residues that irritate the skin.
Fragrances: Wall plug-ins, reed diffusers, candles, and car fresheners may irritate skin.

4) Grooming Products

Shampoos, conditioners, brushing sprays: Harsh or heavily fragranced grooming products can lead to itching. Choose a gentle, dog specific product and rinse thoroughly.

5) Coat drops

When double coated dogs “drop coat” in spring, or during their junior drop (around age 1) loose undercoat can build up or mat against the skin and cause irritation. Regular brushing, followed by a wash and thorough dry will address.

6) Tick & Flea Products

Parasite preventatives are essential, but they are pesticides and can cause side effects such as itching. This has been reported with products like NexGard, Bravecto, Simparica, and Advantix.

⚠️ Important: In many areas of Australia, paralysis tick prevention is non-negotiable. Paralysis ticks can be fatal, and prevention must never be stopped because of itching. If you suspect a reaction, log it in your diary and consult your vet about alternatives (changing the active ingredient or using a different application method).

7) Food Sensitivities

Food allergies are far less common than environmental causes. If other factors are ruled out, your vet may recommend a strict elimination diet using a novel or hydrolysed protein for 6–8 weeks.

8) Probiotics and Gut Health

There’s increasing evidence that the gut microbiome influences skin health. Probiotics won’t cure all itching, but they may:

Support immune balance.
Reduce flare ups in some dogs.
Help restore gut bacteria after antibiotics.

Choose a dog-specific probiotic such as Pron8ture.

9) Antibiotics and Itch

Antibiotics can sometimes cause or worsen itching:

Allergic reaction: A true allergy may cause hives, swelling, or redness.
Disrupted balance: Antibiotics wipe out “good” bacteria as well as “bad,” sometimes leading to yeast or resistant bacteria overgrowth. This can cause greasy, smelly, itchy skin or red paws.
Gut immune link: Antibiotics can disturb the gut microbiome, indirectly affecting skin health.

If your dog becomes itchy during or after antibiotics, keep notes in your diary and discuss it with your vet. Probiotics may help restore balance.

A Simple Troubleshooting Plan

Check their skin for any abrasions, sores or signs of fleas or other parasites.
Check your garden and lawn: Weed, mow, and note if symptoms worsen during flowering/seed season.
Be mindful of household and garden products: Especially those at ground level; consider pet-safe alternatives.
Wash bedding carefully: Add an extra rinse cycle.
Check fragrances: Review what you’re using in the home and car.
Rinse and dry: If your dogs coat gets wet, ensure you dry to the skin. Consider a dog dryer (around $100 on eBay). It's a worthwhile investment.
Switch to neutral products: Use fragrance free detergents and cleaners.
Groom regularly: Brush undercoat and use gentle shampoos.
For bacterial/yeast issues: Use a veterinary medicated shampoo such as Malaseb.
Log parasite products: Never stop tick prevention. If itch worsens after a dose, note the brand and timing and consult your vet.
Diet trial: Only under vet guidance, after other causes are ruled out.

The Bottom Line

Most instances of itchy skin is caused by environmental triggers, coat drops, household chemicals, grooming products, or bacteria/yeast growth. Keeping an itch diary and following a structured problem solving plan helps you and your vet find the trigger more quickly.

We have developed an Itch Problem Solving Kit and Itch Diary, to assist you if your dog develops an itch. Please download here.