Several veterinary resources state that dog scratching is one of the most common reasons for veterinary visits. Several parasite infestations and skin conditions are causes of dog scratching.

One of the most noticeable causes of dog scratching is fleas. Dog owners may see the fleas, see the flea dirt, or even get bitten by fleas themselves.

A flea infestation on a dog and the dog scratching can get so severe that the dog may have hair loss and sores on the skin. Many times this is due to an allergic reaction to flea saliva.

In addition to flea saliva allergies, other types of dog allergies can cause dog scratching. Dogs can develop allergies to dog food, medication, vaccinations, or substances in their environments.

Ear mites can cause dog scratching, especially of the dog’s ears. Dogs often shake their heads when they have ear mites.

Mange is a parasitic infestation that can be a cause of intense dog scratching. Causes of dog scratching from parasites can also be due to lice, ticks, and hookworms.

Hot spots are common skin irritations that can cause scratching, licking, and hair loss. Hot spots occur when an irritation to the skin causes an intense reaction that often lasts longer than the initial cause. Hot spots can be due to poor grooming, an allergic reaction, or an infection.

Itchiness in dogs can be caused by infection of hair follicles by staph or hypersensitivity to staph. Sebaceous adenitis is a skin condition that causes destruction of the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous adenitis causes dog scratching and hair loss.

Pelodera dermatitis and calcinosis cutis are two less common conditions that can cause dog scratching. Pelodera dermatitis is an infestation of a worm larvae that is not normally parasitic. Calcinosis cutis is a condition commonly seen in dogs with Cushing’s disease that causes the mineralization of the skin.

One possible cause of dog scratching is cancer. Cancers that can be causes of dog scratching include lymphoma and epitheliotropic lymphoma.

Mosquito bites and stings from bees or wasps can cause itchiness. In severe reactions to insect stings, ulcers or hives may develop. Since itchiness is a uncomfortable symptom of many different conditions, dog owners should have their dogs examined by a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.