Email us  

Itching

Pug Dog Itching

Overview

It’s not uncommon for Pug dogs to have problems with itchiness. This may range from minor to severe and may come and go, or be chronic. The itching may be localized to one particular part of the body such as the base of the tail, the ears, wrinkles, or the paws, or may seem to be a full-body problem. 

Pugs that are itchy may rub, scratch, or chew at themselves. And, itching may be the only sign that something is wrong, or it may be accompanied by a bad smell, rash, skin or fur changes, or other symptoms. 

Maybe you’ve tried several home remedies with little or no success, and you may have even brought your Pug to the vet but your puppy or dog is still having issues.

The good news is that there is a way to help a Pug stop itching, and this article will go into all of the details for you. 

Summary of How to Treat a Pug Dog’s Itching

1. Assess your Pug for possible causes including allergies, fleas, yeast infection, and dry skin issues. Your Pug’s veterinarian can help diagnose the cause. 

2. Follow the steps to fix each issue that is applicable to your Pug. Many of these steps can be done from home. This may include making environmental changes to the house, switching to a new food, and/or implementing seasonal care. 

3. Use topical sprays and specialized anti-itch or medicated shampoos to offer fast relief.  

4. If needed, additionally use a rescue lotion and/or fish oil supplements. 

5. Some issues require professional veterinary care, which may include prescribed topical and/or oral medications. 

The Top Reasons Why a Pug May Be Itchy and How to Resolve Them

Two Pug dogs in a basket
Two Pug dogs in a basket
Lulu and Rupert, photo courtesy of Donna H.
Lulu and Rupert, photo courtesy of Donna Hewitt
If you do not know what is making your Pug dog itchy, it’ll be important to assess each possible reason and not to automatically discount any of them. 

Also, keep in mind that a Pug’s itching may be due to more than one reason. For example both allergies and weather-related dryness may have your dog scratching and chewing at himself.  

Another part of successfully resolving these sort of problems is to follow all treatment steps that are applicable for your particular Pug puppy or dog. If you skip over some, you may find limited or temporary success. 

Please note that in some cases, diagnosing the cause of itching must be done by the veterinarian. In addition, some treatments will require professional veterinary care which may include prescribed medications. 

Reason #1: Allergies

Overview: Dogs can be allergic to a wide range of elements; and this can be broken down into 3 main categories: food, environmental, and contact. 
In many cases, a veterinarian can pinpoint what a dog is allergic to via intradermal skin testing, so taking your Pug for a checkup is a good idea. In addition, the vet can offer certain medications that can really help a dog with itching, including prescribed antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and/or topicals. Finally, a veterinary checkup will be needed if there is a secondary bacterial skin infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics.

This all said, it not uncommon for testing to be inconclusive or for the treatment to help somewhat but not fully resolve things. One of the main problems is that it’ll be an uphill battle unless the root causes are decreased or eliminated. 

Other signs may be: Itching may be the only sign. However, a dog may also have: upset stomach, changes in bowel movements, flatulence, rash, skin irritations, hot spots, breathing issues (wheezing, coughing, etc.), and/or red or teary eyes. 

Assess your Pug for these 3 elements: 

1) Food

What you need to know: While a dog can be allergic to an actual food (even chicken, which is usually very well tolerated), it is normally dog food additives that cause problems. Many brands add in chemical preservatives, and/or artificial flavoring or coloring. And these can cause terrible reactions including severe itching. 

High grain content, cheap fillers, and by-products can cause issues as well. 
(continued below)
Black Pug dog, female
Moe,photo courtesy of The Forman Family
Moe, at 9 months old,
photo courtesy of The Forman Family
What to do: 

1. Offer relief via effective anti-itch sprays and specialty shampoos. This will not cure allergies, but can help stop itching while you work on the steps below to reduce or eliminate triggers. Ahead, we will cover exact products for this. Read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching

2. Know what you are feeding your Pug and do not just trust the food based on name recognition. Many brands that are well-known are the worst offenders. Quite a few of the ones that you see stacked up in pet supply stores or in supermarkets, and many that air commercials are often very low-quality foods. 

According to DogFoodAdvsior, which does a lot of work to investigate and rank dog food, the following are just some of the brands that have formulas that are only 1, 2, or 3 stars:

Alpo, Ben's Best, Beneful, Blue Buffalo, Defender, Diamond, Eukanuba, Everpet, Gravy Train, Hill's Science Diet, Iams, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pedigree, Purina, Royal Canin, and Simply Right. 

3. Make changes to your Pug's food. Switch your Pug to a 100% all-natural, high quality food that contains zero additives. The food should be persevered via vitamins, not chemicals, and have no artificial coloring or flavoring. 
For allergies, it should be a grain-free formula. And there should be no corn, soy, or meat by-products (see below for recommendations). 

If you suspect that your Pug may have an intolerance to certain proteins, make a switch in that regard. For example, from chicken to lamb, salmon, or beef. 

4. Assess snacks. The typical Pug dog’s diet will consist of 80% meals and 20% snacks, so the rewards that your Pug is receiving for being a good dog may be the cause of his chronic itching problem. 

To fix this, the treats must be held to the same standards as kibble. They should be 100% all-natural, with no wheat, corn, soy, by-products, chemical preservatives, or artificial colors or flavoring. Our top recommendations are below. 
5. Don’t forget about water. Tap water in the US is absolutely filled with toxins. Most unfiltered tap water contains, at the least, chlorine, fluorine, and traces of pesticides, aluminum, arsenic, barium, radium, cadmium, copper, and lead.

But, that’s not even the worst part. Chromium-6, a known cancer-causing agent, has been found in the drinking water of over 200 million Americans. 
Ways to avoid this are to offer water via gallons of spring water, have a filtering device installed on your sink, or use a filtering pitcher. One water pitcher that works exceedingly well is the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher, which filters out 2000 more toxins than Brita, including chromium-6. 
Below are our recommendations for food and snacks that are 100% all-natural. Wellness is one of our #1 picks, and Merrick Lil’ Plates are great for poultry alternatives. And, don’t forget about treats; both Wellness and Zukes offer a range of tasty flavors that have zero additives. 

If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all four. 

And next, we’ll cover both environmental and contact allergies as an important part of resolving itching issues. 
2) Environmental 

What you need to know: This refers to allergens in the air and a dog’s environment, with pollen and grasses being high on this list. Even if your Pug is inside most of the time, since houses are not air-tight, this often does little to protect them. Airborne particles like pollen are brought in via open windows, every time the door opens, and are tracked in on shoes and even on your Pug’s paws.

This may also include such things as air freshener sprays and aerosol cleaning products. 

While summer is a time of high allergy issues, Pugs can have itching due to environmental allergies even in the winter if the problem is due to dust mites. 

What to do: 

1. Cleanse the house of possible triggers. You can:
  • Vacuum the house with a HEPA certified vacuum cleaner. This will clean all sorts of floors including hardwood, tile, and carpeting, but also filter the air as it is pulled through the machine.  
  • Run your central air or fan system with a HEPA filter or use a portable, free-standing air purifier. 
  • Wet-dust the house. Using a dry duster just moves things around, but a wet dusting cloth will pick up and trap particles and dust mites.
  • Wash your Pug’s bed cover, any blankets he uses, pillow covers, washable stuffed animals, etc. with a hypo-allergenic laundry detergent. 
2. Prevent allergens from coming into the house. You can:
  • Have a rule that everyone removes their shoes as soon as they enter the home.
  • Keep windows closed. 
  • Every time that your Pug comes back inside (even if it was a quick bathroom trip), wipe him down with an effective yet gentle grooming wipe like Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes and rinse off his paws.
3. Offer relief via effective anti-itch sprays and specialty shampoos. This will not cure allergies, but can help stop itching while you are working on reducing triggers. Ahead, we will cover exact products for this. Read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching
3) Contact 

What you need to know: Often overlooked, but always a possible reason for itching, are contact allergies. This refers to any object that your Pug is coming into contact with. 
(continued below)
Pug puppy in dog bed
Dixie, at 3 months old, photo courtesy of Elena 
Dixie, at 3 months old,
photo courtesy of Elena 
Inferior bowls are a common source of itching on the face (mouth, muzzle, and/or nose); you’ll want to avoid plastic and only use quality stainless-steels or ceramic bowls.  
Itching on the stomach or elbows may be due to something a Pug is resting on. It may be the carpeting in your home; if so, place down a small blanket or encourage your Pug to use his bed. It could also be a certain fabric of blankets or furniture. Be sure to wash everything you can with hypo-allergenic detergent. 

Finally, toys can be the source. A dog can have a reaction to plastic or even in rare cases, rubber. 

Reason #2: Fleas

What you need to know:

You might think that it’d be obvious if your Pug’s itching was due to fleas. However, you may be surprised to learn that: 
  • Fleas live on a dog’s skin. Since Pugs have beautiful, double-thick coats, you’ll rarely see any fleas.  
  • Fleas are very easy for a dog to catch. They easily jump several feet, so they can be transmitted at the dog park or while passing a dog out on a walk. 
  • It doesn’t take a huge infestation to cause itching. While fleas do multiply very quickly, just 1 flea can make a dog have super-intense itching. This happens if a dog is allergic to flea saliva.
  • Fleas can make a dog itch everywhere, or it may be localized to a dog scratching at his ears or just one part of his body (often areas most easily accessible). 
Other signs you may see: Itching may be the only sign of fleas. However, other common signs include: red bumpy rash, hot spots, scabs, and/or hair loss. 

What to do:

1. Assess your Pug. Your puppy or dog’s veterinarian can certainly diagnose a flea issue, along with helping your pinpoint other possible causes of itching. However, you can also: 
  • Part the fur, and using a flashlight, take a look. Fleas are often so fast that they will scurry away before you can see them. But, you’ll also want to be looking for tiny black specks (about the size of a pencil tip), which is indicative of flea feces (also referred to as flea dirt). 
  • Check the floors in your house. If a dog has fleas, chances are they these tiny pests are also in the house; often on carpeting or bedding. You can walk over the floor with white socks or wipe an area with a dry paper towel. If you then see tiny red specks, this may from blood-engorged dead fleas. 
(continued below)
Close up of Pug puppy dog
Mayhem,photo courtesy of Cy and Mike
Mayhem, at 2 years old,
photo courtesy of Cy and Mike
2. Treat for fleas, if needed. While you will certainly want to use an effective product to rid both your dog and home of fleas, and at the same time be wary of those with strong chemicals, which can cause a whole new host of issues. 

There are some great all-natural products that work on both dogs and in the house like Vet's Best Natural Flea and Tick Spray; this is very effective yet is a plant-based spray that kills both fleas and flea eggs. Some of its active ingredients are peppermint oil and eugenol, which is made from clove plants. 

To use this on your Pug, you’ll want to:
  • Obtain a quality flea comb. 
  • Fill a bowl with some of this, mixed with water.
  • Working in sections, spray the comb or spray an area of lifted fur, and then comb through, making sure to reach down to the skin. 
  • Dip the comb in the bowl after each swipe. 
To use this in your home:

Spray this on surfaces such as flooring (all types), your Pug’s bedding, furniture (take out all cushions to reach all areas), etc. 
3. Offer relief via effective anti-itch sprays. For intense itching and/or inflammation of skin, topical sprays can offer temporary relief while you are working on killing the fleas. In addition, even after the fleas are gone, the effects can linger for weeks, and an anti-itch spray can help during that time. 

Ahead, we will cover exact products for this. Read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching
Moving forward:

Be sure to protect your Pug from getting fleas. If you want to keep chemicals away from your Pug, you may want to consider an all-natural product like Curealia Insect Repellent for Dogs .

This works via a blend of organic olive oil, bees wax, shea butter, lavender, cedarwood, rosewood, and patchouli (a mint-type plant). This is a balm; you rub a pea-sized amount between your palms and then apply the melted balm to the back of your Pug’s neck and chest. 
Below are the recommended flea treatment and prevention items that we just covered. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

And next, we cover the remaining top reasons why a Pug may be itchy. 

Reason #3: Skin Infections 

What you need to know: Skin infections are not uncommon with dogs, and when you have a breed like the Pug that has folds of skin and wrinkles, this is definitely something that should be considered as the cause of itching. 

Generally speaking, skin infections can be bacterial, fungal, yeast, or parasitic. 

Other signs may include: Itching may be the only sign, but there are often other symptoms as well. With yeast infections, itching may be very apparent on the paws, genitals, or skin folds of a Pug. 

There is often a rash, and there may be itchy red areas with pustules that seep discharge. There may also be crusted areas and/or hair loss. There may be dry areas, oily areas, or a combination of both. 

With itchy fungal or yeast infections, there is typically a very strong musty odor. This bad smell may come back right even after giving a Pug a bath

What to do:

1. Have this properly diagnosed. It’ll be important to know exactly what sort of infection has developed in order to use the right products and/or medications to treat it, so this is something that should be diagnosed by the veterinarian. 
(continued below)
Pug dog in purple harness
Ruby, at 11 weeks old,
photo courtesy of Jane King
The vet will examine your Pug and take a sample via a skin swab or with a tape impression. 
2. Use at-home treatments, if applicable. If your Pug has had problems in the past and you are able to recognize a yeast or fungal infection, you may feel comfortable treating this at home. 

If so, effective anti-fungal treatments can often resolve this. Full body: A shampoo with both with chlorhexidine and ketoconazole is usually very effective when used over the course of 2 and up to 12 weeks.

You'll want to start off with baths every 3 to 4 days, then transition to once per week as things start improving. The shampoo should be massaged in very well, and then left on for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes has elapsed, you’ll want to rinse it out very well, and that is often best done with a water nozzle. 

A good anti-fungal, anti-yeast shampoo for Pugs is Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Shampoo for Dogs. This has the effective combination of chlorhexidine and ketoconazole. It is made in the USA, has a pleasant cucumber and melon smell, and is 100% guaranteed to work. 
If it appears that your Pug's facial wrinkles are infected, there are specialty face wipes for dogs which allow you to easily swipe the folds. A good one is Keto Hex Wipes, which are antiseptic pads with chlorhexidine and ketoconazole.
3. Offer relief via effective anti-itch sprays. Since it can take some time to completely rid a dog of fungus or yeast, you’ll want to help your Pug in the meantime. Effective topical sprays can help soothe itching and reduce swelling.

Ahead, we will cover exact products for this. Read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching
4. Prescribed medications. In some cases, even with a very good OTC shampoo, a yeast infection will be very stubborn and impossible to completely clear up. A veterinarian can prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication. 

5. Prevention of future issues. Some steps that you can take to help prevent future issues includes:
  • On time baths with quality shampoos. Even if your Pug looks clean, give a bath every 3 weeks. Cheap or inferior shampoos can be very harsh on the skin, leading to skin breakage and possible future infection. Use only high-quality shampoos that clean well but are gentle on your Pug’s skin. 
  • Routine cleaning of wrinkles and skin folds. Use grooming wipes to carefully swipe all facial wrinkles (every day) and all skin folds (at least once per week). A terrific wipe to use is Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes for Puppies, which is effective yet gentle. They also have 3 different formulated wipes for adult dogs. 

Reason #4 Weather Related Issues

What you need to know: Pugs can be very sensitive to seasonal weather that affects their skin; when dryness occurs, itching is not far behind. 

In addition, it’s common for a Pug to have itching problems due to one of the reasons we’ve already covered, but then weather-related elements are exacerbating the issue. 

For these reasons, it’s always a good idea to winterize your Pug during the long winter months to help protect against cold, arid air and take steps to protect your Pug from the sun during a long, hot summer. 

Other signs may include: When dry skin is the cause of itching, the main sign will be that the Pug is uncomfortable. There’ll be lots of scratching or chewing. The puppy or dog may also rub body areas against different surfaces. You may also see some peeling or dry flaking. 

With chronic cases, hot spots may develop. Skin may crack open. Broken skin may leave the areas vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections.  

In addition, when the skin is in poor condition, this often affects the coat as well, so a Pug's fur may appear to be dry and brittle or otherwise have poor texture. 
(continued below)
Black Pug white markings, 4 months old
Marmite, at 4 months old, photo courtesy of Sam Petzer and Justin Birkholtz
Marmite, at 4 months old,
photo courtesy of Sam Petzer and Justin Birkholtz
What to do:

1. Keep your Pug hydrated. Always leave out cool, fresh water. Bring along water when taking walks, and stop at the halfway point to offer a drink. Add fruits with high water content to meals or offer as snacks; blueberries and raspberries are good choices for this.  

2. Protect the paws. In the summer, paws can dry out from walking on warm and hot surfaces, not to mention that burns are a real danger. In the winter, walking on cold surfaces and possible irritation from ice-melt chemicals can dry out paws very quickly. 

A quality paw wax will offer a layer of protection while allowing the paws to breathe. 

3. Use a moisturizing shampoo. Shampoo for a Pug should have proper pH balance and no drying agents. A base of oatmeal and aloe is always a good choice. 

4. Apply a leave-in coat spray. This is a grooming product that should not be overlooked. A good spray has many benefits that revolve around issues common to itching. It offers a layer of protection from outside elements, keeps both coat and skin moisturized, and protects against contact friction. An added bonus is that this can keep your Pug smelling really nice. 
5. For hot spots and/or major itching, topical sprays can offer fast relief. We will go over these in the next section; read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching.
5. For hot spots and/or major itching, topical sprays can offer fast relief. We will go over these in the next section; read on, or jump to: Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching.
Below are the recommended weather-care items that we just covered. This includes our #1 recommended paw wax for year-round use, Earthbath (we suggest both the Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo and conditioner), and two sprays. Note that Nootie can be used all year round but Ice on Ice contains a sunscreen and is a good choice in the summer.  

If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

Other Reasons a Pug May be Itchy

Though fleas, allergies (food, environmental, or contact), yeast infection, and dry skin are stop reasons for itching, there is a vast list of other less common but possible causes. 

This includes bacterial infection, skin mites, mange, ringworm, canine diabetes, Cushings disease, metabolic disorders, or hormonal disorders, among other things. 

For this reason, if you cannot pinpoint the cause, or if home remedies are not working, your Pug should be brought to the veterinarian for a full and complete examination. 

Sprays and Shampoos to Stop Itching

Pug dog with flowers on head
Dr. Stitch, at 4 years old,
photo courtesy of Dr. Triraya
Feeling the need to scratch can be both physically and mentally exhausting for a dog. So, no matter the root cause of a Pug’s itching problem, while you work on resolving things, it’ll be important to offer your Pug relief. 

Fortunately, there are some very effective remedies. 

Sprays

Topical sprays are great because you are able to spritz the exact areas that are itchy, and a good one will work immediately. 

There are several types:

Hot spot sprays - Hot spots refers to red sores or welts on the body, and may be seen alongside allergies, reactions to fleas, and other conditions. These can be incredibly itchy, and since dogs tend to chew at or scratch at these, it can be hard for the spots to heal. 

There are sprays that are designed especially for hot spots, and are often non-medicated. All-natural sprays are good choices to soothe areas of skin that have broken open. 
The one that we recommend, by Vet’s Best (see below), is made with tea tree oil, aloe vera, and chamomile and is highly rated for most hot spot issues. 
The one that we recommend, by Vet’s Best (see below), is made with tea tree oil, aloe vera, and chamomile and is highly rated for most hot spot issues. 
Anti-itch sprays, medicated – When itching is near constant, is very intense, and a Pug’s skin is bothered and swollen, some topical medications can be of great help. Topical hydrocortisone is usually very effective to stop itching and reduce swelling, and lidocaine can work well to decrease pain. 

A good choice for a medicated anti-itch spray that has both hydrocortisone and lidocaine is Dr. Gold's Relief (see below). To use this, you’ll want to carefully lift any fur that may be covering the itchy areas, and then holding this 1 to 2 inches away, spritz those spots. You can apply this to your Pug every 4 to 6 hours. 

If you are looking for a medicated spray that has only hydrocortisone for itching, Pet King makes a very effective zymox spray with hydrocortisone (see below). Directions for using this is the same as the Dr. Gold’s as mentioned above. 

Anti-itch sprays, all-natural – You may wish to use an all-natural product once a medicated spray has been used enough to calm the itching down somewhat, or use initially if the itching is minor to moderate. 

Another reason to use an all-natural itch spray is if the affected areas are ones that your Pug can easily reach and therefore lick. 

There are several natural compounds that work to relieve itch and soothe irritated skin. Oatmeal is very popular and effective. There are some other ingredients that can work well; Bodhi Dog’s anti Itch spray (see below) contains oatmeal, but also baking soda, wheat germ, and a blend of vitamins (A, D, and E). This spray is non-toxic and won’t cause issues even if a dog licks the application sites. 
Below are the recommended anti-itch sprays that we’ve covered. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

And next, we’ll go over specialty shampoos that can help a dog with itching, and other aids including lotions and supplements.  
Shampoos

Certain shampoos can be extremely helpful when a dog is itchy, because you are able to coat the entire body with a thick lather of the product and allow it to stay on for a certain amount of time to really promote healing. 
(continued below)
Pug dog sleeping on his dog bed
Frank, at 4 months old,
photo courtesy of Nina Coley
While baths are typically given every 3 weeks, when a Pug is suffering with severe itching, baths can be given every 3 to 7 days as needed. 

There are several good options:

Moosh (see: recommendations, below) is one of the best shampoos for a range of issues: Allergies, anti-itch, hot spots, flaking, drying, dandruff, and/or peeling. This can also help clear up problems such as fungal skin infections. 

It’s a really fantastic product, containing bentonite clay which pulls toxins out of a dog’s skin while moisturizing. It has argan oil and neem oil which are rich moisturizers that also work to rid the skin of bacteria and fungus. 

Both shea butter and aloe vera help to relieve dry skin and leave it super healthy. This even has vetiver oil (a popular oil for massage therapy) which has a calming effect. It also has coconut, sunflower, and olive oils. 

Earthbath (see: recommendations, below) has several quality shampoos to choose from depending on your Pug’s exact needs. 
Their Oatmeal and Aloe formula is the one that we recommend as a ‘regular’ shampoo since it cleans well but is gentle, and will help keep a Pug’s skin healthy. 
However, this oatmeal and aloe combo is also great for fixing minor to moderate itchy skin.

There is also Eucalyptus and Peppermint which will help cool and calm a dog’s skin when it’s hot and irritated. The Tea Tree and Aloe Vera formula is also for itching, and is geared more towards hot spots or skin that is extremely sensitive. 

You’ll find that they have one conditioner, Oatmeal and Aloe, which can be used along any of the shampoos that you decide are best for your Pug. 
Their Oatmeal and Aloe formula is the one that we recommend as a ‘regular’ shampoo since it cleans well but is gentle, and will help keep a Pug’s skin healthy. However, this oatmeal and aloe combo is also great for fixing minor to moderate itchy skin.

There is also Eucalyptus and Peppermint which will help cool and calm a dog’s skin when it’s hot and irritated. The Tea Tree and Aloe Vera formula is also for itching, and is geared more towards hot spots or skin that is extremely sensitive. 

You’ll find that they have one conditioner, Oatmeal and Aloe, which can be used along any of the shampoos that you decide are best for your Pug. 

Lotions and Supplements to Help with Itching

Lotion

If your Pug has very raw, damaged skin that is not only itchy but in need of repair and/or the coat has thinned due to excessive chewing or scratching, you may want to consider using a rescue massage cream or lotion in addition to a good shampoo. 

Note that this is not for open sores; but rather to promote healing for skin and/or coat that has really taken a beating and needs help in order to be restored back to normal. 
(continued below)
Pug under a colorful blanket
Nana, at 11 years old,
photo courtesy of Darly Moreno
A good choice for this is DerMagic’s Rescue lotion (see below) which contains a blend of whole leaf aloe barbademsis juice, sesame seed oil, beewax, rosemary leaf oil, and shea butter in a thick cream that is meant to be massaged in. 

Ideally, you’ll want to begin with massaging this onto your Pug’s itchiest, most irritated areas 2 to 3 times per day for 1 week. Then, once a day for 2 to 3 week or until you see complete results. 

If your Pug has bald spots or a severely thinned coat, you may want to additionally use their shampoo and conditioner. 

Omega 3 Fish Oils

Offering daily fish oil can be a great boost to stop itching and prevent it from returning, when used in conjunction with other remedies including eliminating triggers and treatment with quality shampoos. 

While very high-quality dog food will contain good levels of omega-3, dogs with itching problems often benefit from additional supplementation. 

And it’s important to note that omega-3 is an essential oil, meaning that the body cannot produce this on its own; it must be derived from food. 
When you are thinking about giving your Pug omega, you’ll want this to be derived from wild fish. This is because it can also come from other food such as flax seed (good, but not absorbed as easily) or from farmed fish which often contains up to 15% vegetable oil which lowers the true omega levels. 

You may also want to consider using a liquid fish oil, since this is very easy to give to a dog; you just use the pump to add the oil over a meal (mix well). Most dogs love both the smell and the flavor of fish oil, so you don’t have to worry about your Pug being picky about it.

There are several good brands of wild fish oil; Zesty Paws salmon oil (below) is one of them. This is a high-quality oil made from wild Alaskan salmon, is made in the US, comes in a handy (and mess-free) pump, and is one of the best budget-friendly choices with nearly twice as much oil (32 oz.) as some other brands at the same price. 
Our recommended anti-itch products that we just covered are below, which includes the shampoos, lotion, and omega-3 fish oil. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

Summary and a Final Word

It can be really hard to see your Pug scratching and chewing at himself, and feel a bit overwhelmed at the many possible triggers for the itching. However, our dogs depend on us to take care of them, and it is possible to resolve itching issues. 

You’ll want to go down the list of the top causes, and take all steps to resolve and treat each one, when applicable. Keep in mind that a dog can be suffering from more than one trigger. For example, a Pug can have allergies and fleas… Fleas and dry skin… Or a yeast issue along with a food intolerance. 

Finally, while it would be nice to be able to treat every issue at home, if you cannot figure out the cause or if your Pug does not improve with at-home remedies, it will be time to bring him/her to the veterinarian. There may be a need for prescribed medications, including antihistamines and strong anti-itch or anti-inflammatory medications such as cortisone.
Share by: