Seasonal Itching and Paw Chewing in Dogs: What I’m Seeing and What’s Helping
Itchiness and paw chewing seem to be the theme right now for so many dogs, especially here in the South where heat, humidity and pollen are in full effect.
This time of year, I find myself having the same conversations. Dogs are uncomfortable, constantly licking or chewing their paws, and pet parents are just trying to find something—anything—that brings relief. Many times they end up resorting to pharmaceuticals such as Apoquel in an attempt to give their dog a better quality of life. I get that 100% and I’ve been there. Sometimes it helps but it’s only masking the issue, suppressing the problem along with your dog’s immune system and that can lead to much bigger issues down the road. I actually wrote a blog about this last year and you can find it here.
Last year around this time I also wrote a blog post all about paw soaks and herbal rinses because they can be incredibly helpful (and safe) for soothing irritated skin and physically removing allergens from the body. If you haven’t read that yet, I’ll link it here—it’s still one of the simplest and most effective things you can do.
But this year, I want to go a little deeper.
Because while topical support matters, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Most approaches focus on managing what you can see, but if the internal environment isn’t supported, it’s easy to end up chasing symptoms all season long.
What we’re seeing on the outside is almost always connected to what’s happening on the inside.
Why Spring Triggers So Many Issues
Spring is a big shift for the body just as it is for nature.
Environmental allergens increase, temperatures rise, and humidity creates the perfect environment for yeast and bacteria to thrive. But beyond that, there are internal shifts happening too.
The liver is coming out of its slower winter phase and becoming more active again. The liver and the skin are deeply connected, so when the body is trying to process and eliminate more, the skin often becomes an outlet.
At the same time, histamine responses are higher, and if the gut and immune system aren’t balanced, the body can become more reactive. And it shows up as itching, licking, chewing, redness, and irritation. Honestly, some of these dogs are miserable.
Let’s Talk About Support
Simple homemade wipes
Aside from the paw soaks that I talked about in my previous blog, you can also use the same recipes to make homemade wipes. I don’t always have time to do a full paw soak every day—and realistically, most of us don’t.
Wipes are super easy and you can store the tea solution in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I like to get dry, organic cotton wipes so I can dip a few in the solution, then ring out excess moisture. Use those to wipe my dog’s paws, legs, and belly when they come inside.
It’s quick, simple, and something I can actually stay consistent with.
And honestly, this alone can make a noticeable difference—especially if a big part of the issue is what they’re tracking from outside. I want to be sure to say that I am not suggesting that you avoid letting your dog outside! Exposure to healthy soil, grass, and nature are so important in so many ways. Being outside in nature helps build and support the immune system and the body in ways we could never replicate.
So the goal isn’t to avoid the outdoors—it’s to let them live their life and then gently remove what might be adding to their irritation once they come back in.
Gut health is not optional
If you only focus on the skin, you’re going to stay stuck in a cycle.
The gut and immune system are deeply connected, and many dogs are reacting more intensely because their internal balance is off. When you zoom out, the pattern often looks like this:
gut imbalance → increased immune activity → skin irritation → barrier breakdown → more sensitivity → repeat
This is why supporting your dog’s gut microbiome is not optional anymore—it’s foundational. Around 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, which means what’s happening internally will absolutely show up externally.
And it’s not just about digestion. The gut influences the body in several key ways:
The microbiome helps regulate immune responses, keeping things from overreacting
Inflammation in the gut can spill into the rest of the body, including the skin
The gut communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve, impacting stress and reactivity
Nutrient absorption happens here—if the gut isn’t functioning well, the body can’t properly use what you’re feeding
When the gut is compromised, everything becomes more sensitive.
A dog with chronic loose stool, food sensitivities, inflammation, or a history of antibiotics and a highly processed diet is much more likely to show signs like increased itching, poor stress tolerance, nervousness, and a heightened immune response.
This is why calming the skin without addressing the gut rarely creates lasting change.
Some of my favorite ways to support gut health in dogs include:
Soil-based probiotics to help reintroduce beneficial organisms and support microbial balance
Colostrum to nourish and help repair the gut lining while supporting immune function
Collagen to support the gut lining, skin barrier, connective tissue, and overall skin health
Fermented vegetables to naturally introduce beneficial bacteria and postbiotics
Medicinal mushrooms for their ability to modulate the immune system and support the microbiome
You can also layer in things like digestive enzymes or targeted gut-soothing support when needed, depending on the dog.
But here’s where it gets important—healing the gut isn’t just about adding good things in.
If there’s underlying imbalance, especially yeast overgrowth, that needs to be addressed first. You don’t want to “heal and seal” the gut while yeast is thriving, or you can end up trapping the problem and making things worse long term.
And as a side note, yeast is a big driver of symptoms people often blame on “allergies.” It can cause intense itching, greasy or inflamed skin, chronic ear issues, and that classic “Frito feet” smell.
Balancing the gut microbiome, addressing and eradicating yeast, and healing leaky gut are big conversations—and they’re not one-size-fits-all. I can’t cover everything here, but if you need help working through this for your dog, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Making Sense of Seasonal Reactions
This is where things can start to connect a little more.
Histamine often gets labeled as the problem, but it is actually a normal and necessary part of the immune response. It plays a role in inflammation, digestion, and how the body responds to environmental triggers.
The issue is not histamine itself. The issue is when the body is not regulating it well or breaking it down efficiently. When that happens, levels can stay elevated, and that is when we start to see things like itching, redness, inflammation, and more reactive responses overall.
This is also where everything starts tying back together.
Histamine is closely connected to gut health, the microbiome, and how well the body and organs are processing and clearing things. If the gut is inflamed or imbalanced, the immune system tends to become more reactive.
This is also where liver support matters.
A healthy liver helps the body process and break down what it does not need, including histamine. If the liver is overwhelmed, the body may have a harder time staying balanced during seasonal shifts. In today’s world, both our bodies and our dogs’ bodies are under a significant amount of stress, and the overall toxic load is high—so this is very relevant to the conversation.
That is why I always like bringing in gentle liver support during this time of year, especially with herbs like milk thistle. Often times you can pair milk thistle with other herbs for even more support, and one of my favorite products that does this is Adored Beast’s Liver Tonic.
I also think omega-3s deserve a major place in this conversation. Their anti-inflammatory properties can make a noticeable difference during allergy season, especially when the body is more reactive, while also supporting overall health. I truly believe this is one of the most important supplements for all of us, especially as we age.
With that said, I’m really picky about the types of EPA/DHA products I use and recommend. I’ve linked the algae oil I carry in my store, but I also really love small fish-based oils that come in a colored glass bottle with no pump, such as Nordic Naturals, which we stock at The Whole Dog Market. I like rotating these omega-3 oils for added diversity and benefit.
For dogs that struggle with the same seasonal pattern year after year, this is where more targeted seasonal support can be helpful. Herbs like nettle and compounds like quercetin can be really useful, which is why I like having a good seasonal support blend on hand. Animal Essentials Seasonal Allergy Powder is one I’ve had good feedback on, since it combines many of these ingredients into one easy option.
If the histamine conversation leaves you curious, check out The Herbal Dog by Rita Hogan, where she explains histamine in a really approachable way.
Don’t overlook mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms can be incredibly supportive this time of year, especially when we’re dealing with immune system overreaction, inflammation, and skin issues. This is one of those areas where we’re not just trying to quiet symptoms—we’re helping the body regulate and respond more appropriately.
Mushrooms offer so much benefit that I believe in giving different types of mushrooms all year round, rotating by your dogs’ needs or the season.
Two of my favorites for spring:
Turkey tail – one of the most well-known immune-supporting mushrooms. It helps support and balance the immune system rather than overstimulate it, which is important when the body is reacting to environmental triggers. It’s also rich in beneficial compounds that support the gut, which ties directly into overall immune function.
Tremella – often overlooked, but incredibly supportive for skin health. It helps with hydration at a deeper level while also acting as a prebiotic to support the gut microbiome. It’s one of my favorite additions for dogs dealing with dryness, irritation, or seasonal skin issues.
I also love lion's mane mushroom for gut support, and you can find it alongside some other amazing mushrooms in the Digest tincture.
Mushrooms are one of those tools that do more than just one thing—they support multiple systems at once, which is exactly what we’re looking for this time of year.
They also work best with consistency. You’re not always going to see an overnight change, but over time, many people notice more balanced responses and overall improvement as the body becomes more supported.
A note on itchy ears
I hear a lot about itchy ears and ear infections this time of year, so I wanted to be sure to talk about this.
Just like the paws, ears can be affected by environmental exposure, wax buildup, and moisture—especially in warmer, more humid climates.
I’m a big fan of using ear wipes instead of pouring liquid cleaners directly into the ear. You can also use a cotton round with a gentle ear solution, or even use the dry cotton wipes I mentioned above and add a little solution to them. But I definitely prefer wiping the ears because it’s easier, less messy, and something you can stay consistent with. Many dogs are also more accepting of wiping their ears instead of having liquid poured into them.
For dogs that are prone to chronic ear issues, adding moisture that you’re not 100% sure will dry properly can sometimes create more problems.
I’ve found an herbal wipe that I really love for ears! Animal Essentials herbal wipes are awesome for wiping out the ears as maintenance. It helps remove debris and excess wax while keeping the ears clean and dry without overdoing it.
If you want to go a different route, you can get the same organic cotton dry wipes I mentioned above and add an ear rinse to the wipe and then wipe your dog’s ears out. I’ve also had wonderful success with using full-spectrum hemp extract in the ears and also 4-Legger’s Restore Conditioning Rinse - both can be applied to a dry cotton wipe and used to wipe and clean the ears.
Around this time of year, you may have to keep a watch on the ears a little more, but don’t obsess. I’ll usually wipe the ears out about every couple of weeks, depending on the dog and how prone they are to buildup or irritation. Same as the gut and skin, the ear has a microbiome and over-wiping and cleaning can cause imbalance and can lead to issues as well so it’s all about balance.
Simple at-home maintenance can go a long way, so work with your dog to figure out what they are most comfortable with and make it a habit.
It doesn’t have to be complicated—but staying consistent here can help prevent a lot of issues before they start.
The Bigger Picture
If your dog is struggling right now, it’s likely not “just allergies.” There is usually more going on beneath the surface.
This is the body responding to a combination of environmental exposure and internal imbalance. And yes, that can feel overwhelming when you’re in the middle of it—but it doesn’t mean you have to do everything at once.
Start simple. Small, consistent steps done well will always outperform trying to do everything at once.
The goal is not just to stop the symptoms—it’s to support the body so it can respond better. When you do that, many dogs become more resilient, and over time, each season can get easier.
You’re never going to eliminate everything in the environment, especially when it comes to pollen and outdoor exposure. That’s not realistic. The focus becomes learning how to manage it in a way that supports your dog’s overall health and quality of life.
And just remember—every dog is different. What works for one may not look exactly the same for another, and that’s okay.
You’re learning your dog. You’re paying attention. You’re making intentional choices.
That is what moves the needle—and that’s what truly makes a difference over time.