Itchy Dog Season: A Professional 3-Pillar Plan for Fast Relief and Long-Term Calm

By Neil Barnsley
Head Practitioner – Animal Holistic Therapies
Co-Founder & Product Designer – Canine Vital

Spring brings longer days—and for many dogs, intense skin flare-ups: red paws, irritated ears, hot spots and relentless scratching. Treating the surface helps, but lasting calm happens when we also address what’s happening underneath the skin.

This guide outlines a three-pillar plan I use in clinic:

1. Topical solutions for immediate comfort

2. Diet to reset the gut–immune axis

3. Supplements to stabilise mast cells and support healthy skin from within

Why Dogs Itch (While Humans Sneeze): Mast Cells 101

Mast cells are immune “guard” cells that sit in tissues exposed to the outside world—skin, gut lining, airways. When they detect a trigger (allergen, irritant), they release mediators such as histamine, proteases, and cytokines. These chemicals increase blood flow and nerve sensitivity, producing redness, swelling and itch.

• In people, mast cells are especially concentrated in the nasal passages, so we tend to sneeze and sniffle.

• In dogs, mast cells are densely distributed in the skin (notably ear flaps and between the toes). Result: itching, feet chewing, hot spots and ear inflammation.

How the Gut Drives Skin Flares (The Gut–Skin–Mast Cell Link)

The gut is not just a digestive tube—it’s a vast immune organ. Three mechanisms connect gut health to mast-cell-driven skin issues:

1. Barrier function: A healthy gut lining acts like a fine sieve. When it’s irritated (e.g., by unsuitable foods, additives etc), more dietary antigens can cross that barrier, priming the immune system to over-react elsewhere—often in the skin.

2. Microbiome signalling: Beneficial gut microbes produce metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) that help keep immune responses balanced. This is why it is important to keep up healthy levels of benefical microbes in the gut. Disrupted or imbalanced microbiota can tilt toward mast-cell activation which can lead to an itchy, inflamed state.

3. Immune “education”: Much of the immune system sits around the gut. Diets that are too carbohydrate-heavy or rely on highly processed grains can promote low-grade inflammation, which can then trigger the Mast cells to release the immune hormone called Histamine which can  cause itchy inflamed skin.

Take-home: If you calm the gut and balance the microbiome, mast cells fire less often—and skin is calmer.

Pillar 1 — Topicals for Immediate Relief (Today)

These do not treat the underlying immune drivers, but they buy comfort while we deal with the root causes.

Witch Hazel (topical liquid)

• What it does: Gentle astringent that cools, cleans and calms irritated skin. Very safe to use, and natural.

• How to use: Apply generously to red/itchy areas with a cotton pad (or pour a little on the spot).

• Frequency: Reapply as needed.

• Where to buy (AU): Woolworths, Coles, most chemists.

Curash Cream (nappy-rash cream)

• What it does: Soothing barrier after the skin is clean and dry; helps reduce friction and irritation.

• Safety note: Zinc level is very low; not a concern if a small amount is licked (ingestion of a whole tube would be different).

• Use with Witch Hazel: Witch Hazel → dry → thin Curash layer.

Remember: Topicals = comfort now. The long-term solution = gut + immune balance.

Pillar 2 — Diet: Reset the Gut–Immune Axis

When you see itchy skin, rashes, recurrent ear issues or weeping eyes, think systemic inflammation and the gut–skin axis. Start with three clear dietary shifts:

1) Single-Protein Strategy

• Why: Multiple proteins can act like multiple “faces” the immune system learns to over-react to. A single, novel protein reduces antigen load and lets the gut settle.

• Most effective option: Crocodile (very effective; but can be expensive if you get the crocodile fillets, or the dog version is prescription only).

• Also effective: Fish, kangaroo, goat and pork.

• Avoid initially: Chicken and lamb—common dietary triggers.We want to start with a single protein

2) Low-Carb & Grain-Free

• Why: Processed grains and excessive carbs are harder to digest and can fuel gut-level inflammation that shows up on the skin.

• Label watch-outs in the ingredient list (dry foods): Corn/maize, wheat, sorghum.

• Goal: Keep it grain-free.

3) Simple, Easily Digestible Whole Foods

• Base: Your chosen lean single protein.

• Support veg: Pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, cauliflower, celery.

• Prep: Lightly steamed, boiled or shredded to ease digestion.

• Note: Keep carbs minimal—too many can irritate the gut and re-ignite the skin.

Important: This is general advice. Adjust for your dog’s specific needs and discuss complex cases with your vet.

Pillar 3 — Supplements: Stabilise Mast Cells & Support the Gut

Diet lays the foundation. During peak allergy season, targeted supplements can reduce mast-cell reactivity and support skin resilience.

A) Probiotics — Always With Inulin

• Role: Help restore a balanced microbiome and modulate immune activity so mast cells are less trigger-happy.

• Key detail: Select a product with multiple strains of microbiome, not just one or two. Pair probiotics with inulin (a prebiotic). Inulin is the food probiotics use to flourish; without it, they underperform.

• Outcome: A steadier gut environment → fewer overreactions → calmer skin.

B) P.E.A. (Palmitoylethanolamide) — Mast-Cell Calmer

• What it is: A naturally occurring fatty-acid amide that helps down-regulate mast-cell activity and dampen inflammatory signalling.

• Clinical snapshot: In a controlled 56-day study of 160 allergic dogs, P.E.A. was associated with reduced itching and skin lesions, and improved quality of life.

C) Digestive Enzymes — Reduce Undigested “Irritants”

• Why: Better breakdown of proteins, fats and carbs means fewer large food fragments to aggravate the immune system.

• Benefit: Supports absorption and lowers the “background noise” that can prompt mast-cell activation.

I formulated Probiotics Plus to combine these actives—probiotics + inulin + P.E.A. + digestive enzymes—at effective doses to address all three angles of gut–skin support.

When to See Your Vet

• Bleeding, deep infection or strong odour

• Severe ear pain, head tilt, balance changes

• Open sores, widespread hair loss

• Lethargy, appetite loss, or if symptoms persist despite the plan.

Next Steps

1. Immediate comfort: Witch Hazel → dry → thin Curash layer.
2. Reset the bowl: Single novel protein; grain-free, low carb; simple, gently cooked veg.
3. Stabilise from within: Add these ingredients for a stronger approach to calming the immune system through the gut.

• probiotics

• inulin

• P.E.A.

• Digestive enzymes

Consider Probiotic Plus as an option that contains ALL the above-mentioned supplements in one powder. 

Free shipping Australia-wide and a 30-day risk free guarantee—if you don’t see improvement within 30 days, I’ll refund your money.

→ See my recommended gut + allergy support supplement: Probiotics Plus (link to product page)

If you have any questions on this subject ask me in the Comments section of the Blogs.

This article is for general information only. Not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.