Top Tips for Your Pet’s Skin this Summer

As spring and summer approaches, pollen and other irritants can be encountered around us and our pets when we are out for walks or in our gardens. Almost like hay fever in people, our pets can also suffer from irritation to these substances but rather than sneezing and runny noses, this usually presents as red, irritated and itchy skin in our pets. Some animals suffer with skin problems all year round while others only suffer at certain times of the year. Spring and summer are prime times for skin irritation. If you have a pet with sensitive and irritated skin, or if you know someone with a pet with these issues, continue reading for some top tips on how to support your pet through this challenging time.

Why does my dog or cat’s skin get red and itchy?

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It regulates your pet’s temperature and provides a barrier against the environment. The skin is essential in protecting the body from external irritants. It is therefore very important to support and protect the skin before, during and after problems occur.
When the skin barrier is damaged, moisture is lost and external irritants can get into the skin. This leads to the signs we see, such as redness, scratching, licking, and dryness of the skin. The scratching and licking will cause further damage to the skin so it is important to control this to allow the skin time to heal.
Many dogs with sensitive and irritated skin are born with a defective skin barrier and therefore need some extra support to protect them from any irritants.
Maybe your dog or cat is on tablets to control their itchy skin, but this won’t support the skin itself. Shampoos, mousses or wipes with skin supportive ingredients, such as DOUXO^Ⓡ S3, will do this.

What you can do to help your dog or cat with skin irritation:

By providing skin barrier support to your pet before irritation occurs, you can help reduce the risk of the skin flaring up and your pet feeling itchy and uncomfortable. Topical treatments, like DOUXO^Ⓡ S3 CALM, will help support, maintain and soothe your pet’s skin.

The DOUXO^Ⓡ S3 range contains the natural ingredient, Ophytrium, which is extracted from the Japanese mondo grass plant (Ophiopogon japonicus). Ophytrium helps support and maintain a healthy skin barrier for your pet and soothes itchy skin. It also moisturises the skin which is very beneficial for pets with sensitive and itchy skin as their skin can often be quite dry, which contributes to the itch.

If your dog or cat is on oral medications for their sensitive and irritated skin but is not having any topical support, DOUXOⓇ S3 can be used alongside these. It’s always best to consult with your vet before adding anything new into your pet’s management protocol.