Pawscessories is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.
Learn more.
A dog collar is an important accessory for your pup. Without one, in many places it would be illegal for your dog to be outside.
Unfortunately, some collars don’t agree with the dog wearing it and can be quite irritating causing them to frequently itch at it. Is dog’s scratching at their collar normal?
Can Collars Make Dogs Itchy:
Dog collars, while very important for a dog to wear, can unfortunately cause a dog to frequently itch their neck. The main reasons for this are the collar is too tight, could be causing an allergic reaction, or it’s rubbing which causes a rash/skin irritation.
In this post we take a close look at the specific reasons collars make dogs itch and more importantly, how to fix it.
Let’s jump right in and get your dog one step closer to getting the relief they want and deserve!
Table of Contents
Is It Normal For a Dog To Itch At Their Collar Frequently?
A dog collar plays an instrumental role and is necessary when you want to go outside with your dog. It helps you be in charge of the situation and prevent any incidents.
However, you may notice your dog scratching at their neck very often and might be wondering if it’s normal. Your dog repeatedly scratching at their collar is not normal behavior.
That is the first sign that the dog collar is negatively affecting them in a certain way.
It’s a good idea to investigate and find out why your dog feels the urge to keep scratching at that spot.
If you’re able to find the cause, remedy the situation as quickly as possible. Leaving the irritating collar on can cause skin problems as your pup keeps scratching.
They may accidentally hurt themselves which would require a visit to the vet.
So, it’s best not to ignore this warning sign that something is wrong with your furry friend. It’s not normal for your furry friend to consistently scratch at their collar.
Top 5 Reasons Your Dog’s Collar Is Making Them Itch
1. Tightness
The tightness of the collar has a big impact on whether your dog will frequently scratch at their neck.
If their collar is too tight, it will be considerably uncomfortable for them to wear and they’ll try their darndest to get it off.
In this case they may not actually be itchy, but their scratching is focused on loosening the collar or getting it off all together.
2. Allergic Reaction
The same way you have skin allergies, your dog can develop them too. Dog skin is quite sensitive and can be allergic to a dog collar because of its materials. In some cases, dog collars are made using pure leather.
While leather is a durable and robust material for a dog collar, some dogs are allergic to it.
If you think this might be the case with your pup, change their collar to a different material as soon as you can. The longer the collar remains on, the more your dog will tend to itch and feel uncomfortable.
3. Skin Infection
Because your dog wears their collar for long periods of time, their neck doesn’t get a whole lot of time to ‘breathe’. If their collar gets wet often without time to dry off, it could cause a skin sore or worse, infection.
As mentioned, some dogs develop skin infections in the area, which causes itchiness.
If you leave their collar on all the time, it’s difficult to notice there’s a skin infection that requires your attention.
Try making it a habit to remove the collar to check if everything is okay.
4. Chemical Ingredients In Flea Collars
A flea collar is one of the best ways to keep fleas away from your dog. It works by repelling the fleas using active chemicals on the collar. However, some dogs develop skin irritations because of these chemicals resulting in persistent itching.
While it’s easier to place the flea collar on your dog, it might bring more harm than good.
Check first if your dog is negatively reacting to the chemicals before committing to use the flea collar long-term.
5. Collar’s Age
Lastly, old dog collars can harm your dog’s skin. They have loose threads or are warped to frequently rub into their skin which can give your pup cuts around their neck. The longer these minor cuts and wounds remain untreated, the worse the urge to scratch.
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Allergic To Their Collar?
When you realize your dog is allergic to their collar, spring into action. Some of the signs to look out for include:
- Itchiness
- Dry and scaly skin
- Lesions around the collar area
- Redness and inflammation
- Skin infections
- Discharge on the itchy area
- Pigmentation change
These are indicators that the dog collar is affecting your dog and requires immediate change.
The more you leave it on or continue to use it, the worse their situation will become.
When their skin has wounds and produces discharge, it can cause worse infections that affect other parts of your dog’s body. You definitely don’t want to leave this for too long.
Can Dogs Get Rashes From Collars?
Collar rash is a condition that affects dogs across the world. The area starts turning red, becoming itchy, and after some time, you notice some rashes develop.
You could even start to see the area lose hair the longer the collar remains on your dog if it’s causing them problems.
Can Flea Collars Cause My Dog To Itch?
Flea collars are an excellent way to keep your dog free of pesky fleas. The collar contains a mix of ingredients that repel fleas.
Unfortunately, those same chemical ingredients can negatively affect a dog’s skin. It’s better to change the treatment method when you notice the flea collar causes your dog to itch.
What Can I Do To Help My Dog’s Under Collar Itch?
Change The Collar
The best thing you can do is change up their collar. The moment you realize your dog is frequently irritated by their collar material, remove it. The longer it remains on, the worse the itchiness will become.
This doesn’t mean the occasional itch. Only if you’re noticing them scratch often and their neck is becoming sore because of it.
Give your bestie some relief by removing the culprit causing them so much discomfort. Replace the dog collar with another that’s made of different materials, or better yet, a hypoallergenic dog collar.
Bathe Them
There are numerous dog shampoos that are hypoallergenic and help soothe dry, itchy skin.
While this may provide them with some temporary relief, it’s not a long term solution. It’s best to change up their collar if you do notice their itching is frequent.
Apply Some Oil
After a soothing bath to help your furry friend feel better, dry them off, wait until the area is dry enough and then apply some oil.
The best natural oils to use are coconut, olive, or chamomile. These natural oils help provide relief as well as help them heal quicker.
See The Vet
Unfortunately, you may not have seen them scratching as much as they really were or didn’t think it was much of an issue. Now their skin is either rashy, you’re noticing hair loss or possibly they have some scratches/wounds.
The best action to take is to go see the vet and get your dog some treatment. You want to make sure it’s dealt with and heals properly so it doesn’t get any worse.
Try a Hypoallergenic Dog Collar
A dog with skin allergies can be sensitive to many dog collar materials. If this is your dog’s experience it’s a good idea to check out hypoallergenic dog collars.
If your dog has allergies, getting a hypoallergenic collar will give you peace of mind as soon as you put it on them. While they might need to get used to their new collar, you will know for sure that they aren’t itching due to allergies.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Collar
Pawsitive Hemp Dog Collar
Features:
- Brand: Pawsitive
- Material: 100% Hemp
- Color: Pink
- Pattern: Solid
Description
The Pawsitive Dog Collars is made using 100% hemp material that’s not only great for your dog but also eco-friendly.
The hypoallergenic material won’t cause your dog to itch when the collar goes on. It’s a durable collar that doesn’t cling to odors and can go in the compost when you want to replace it with a new one.
Another point to note is this collar has an inner lining that consists of organic cotton. You can wash it by hand or drop it in the machine when washing similar colors.
It’s a great collar for furry friends who have sensitive skin or allergies.
Final Thoughts
Dog collars can cause itchiness. While a scratch here and there is no problem, if you notice often that they are aggressively scratching at their neck, there’s likely a bigger problem. This could mean the material is irritating their skin, they’re allergic, or it’s too tight.
While dog collars serve an important role, they should never be the cause of your dog’s discomfort. Try the remedies listed above or head to the vet for further assistance when you realize there’s an issue.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Do Dog Collars Cause Tracheal Collapse? (The Truth)
Are Quick Release Dog Collars Safe? (The Truth!)