Step 0: Support a normal Inflammatory response

Goal: Minimize flare ups

Skin-focused nutraceuticals are commonly used to support a normal inflammatory response.

Calm-focused nutraceuticals may also be included to help reduce stress-related flare ups.

How Supplements may be used

Maintenance use

• Given daily at the standard maintenance amount
• Intended for long-term use as part of a consistent routine
• Helps support skin resilience and normal inflammatory balance over time
  

During flare-ups or higher-risk periods

• The daily amount is temporarily increased
• Commonly increased to twice the maintenance amount, and in some situations up to four times the maintenance amount, for a limited period
• Typical higher-risk periods include seasonal changes, increased allergen exposure, routine disruption, early signs of skin irritation, or increased scratching or licking
  

Once the skin settles and routines feel stable again, the amount is reduced back to the regular maintenance level.

BSAVA principle: Support of normal inflammatory processes and stress modulation.

Discover Skin Supplements

Step 1: Maintain a Healthy Skin Barrier

Goal

Help maintain a resilient skin barrier that can better cope with everyday environmental exposure.

Build Gentle Skin Care Into Regular Routines

Supporting the skin barrier does not mean doing everything every day. Instead, it’s about choosing gentle, appropriate care at the right moments and keeping routines consistent over time.

When the skin barrier is well supported, it is better able to tolerate contact with allergens, moisture, and friction without escalating into irritation.

Helpful habits

• Use a gentle, skin-soothing shampoo when washing is needed, avoiding over-washing
• Rinse thoroughly and dry the skin well after bathing, swimming, or wet walks
• Apply a skin balm to high-contact or exposed areas such as paws, pads, elbows, or skin folds as needed
• Avoid harsh, fragranced, or frequently changing grooming products
• Brush regularly to remove debris and support coat condition
  

These habits are applied as appropriate, not all at once and not necessarily every day.

BSAVA principle: Skin barrier integrity and resilience.

Maintaining the physical skin barrier helps support long-term skin comfort and reduces sensitivity to environmental challenges.

Step 2: Keep Routines Gentle and Predictable

Goal

Reduce unnecessary skin stress by maintaining stability in daily routines, even when triggers cannot be fully avoided.

Habit: Favour Consistency Over Constant Change

Many allergy triggers are environmental and cannot be removed completely. For dogs with skin sensitivity, the skin often responds best when daily routines are calm, predictable, and free from unnecessary changes.

Consistency helps the skin cope with exposure and reduces the likelihood that small irritations escalate over time.

Helpful habits

• Keep grooming routines consistent rather than frequently changing products
• Avoid unnecessary switches in shampoos, wipes, or topical products
• Keep diet and treats consistent and avoid frequent food changes
• Introduce any new foods, treats, or supplements gradually
• Wash bedding regularly using gentle, fragrance-free detergents
• Dry paws and skin folds after wet walks or swimming
  

BSAVA principle: Minimising cumulative skin irritation through routine stability.

Maintaining predictable care routines helps reduce repeated low-level irritation that can weaken the skin barrier over time.

Step 3: Reduce Everyday Skin Stressors

Goal

Limit avoidable skin irritation from daily environmental exposure, without trying to eliminate triggers entirely.

Habit: Manage Exposure Where Possible

While many allergy triggers are environmental and cannot be fully avoided, small adjustments can reduce how much stress the skin experiences each day. The aim is not perfection, but reducing unnecessary load on already sensitive skin.

Helpful habits

• Rinse paws, belly, or coat after muddy, dusty, or high-pollen walks
• Brush regularly to remove debris and loose hair
• Manage moisture in skin folds and between toes
• Avoid prolonged dampness after swimming or rain
• Keep walks and outdoor play comfortable during high-exposure periods
  

These small actions help reduce cumulative skin stress while allowing your dog to enjoy normal daily activity.

BSAVA principle: Reducing environmental burden on compromised skin.

Limiting contact time and residue from environmental irritants helps support skin comfort and resilience over time.

Goal

NotiStep 4: Observe Ongoing Skin Signalsce patterns and early changes in skin comfort so support can be adjusted before flare-ups escalate.

Habit: Pay Attention to Trends, Not Isolated Moments

Skin sensitivity often changes gradually. Occasional scratching or licking can be normal, but repeated or increasing signs over time may indicate that the skin is under more stress. Observing patterns helps guide small adjustments without waiting for problems to worsen.

Helpful habits

• Notice whether licking or scratching increases at certain times of year
• Pay attention to recurring areas such as paws, ears, belly, or skin folds
• Observe changes in coat texture, shine, or shedding
• Compare skin comfort week to week rather than day to day
• Take note of changes following routine, diet, or environmental shifts
  

BSAVA principle: Early recognition and responsive management.

Identifying trends in skin changes supports timely adjustments and helps maintain comfort over the long term.

Step 5: Adjust Support During Higher-Risk Periods

Goal

Help the skin cope during times when exposure or irritation is more likely to increase.

Habit: Increase Support Thoughtfully When Risk Is Higher

Even with good daily care, certain periods place extra demand on the skin. Seasonal changes, increased outdoor activity, routine disruption, or higher moisture exposure can all increase skin stress. During these times, support may need to be adjusted temporarily.

Helpful habits

• Apply skin balm more frequently to exposed or high-contact areas during high-risk periods
• Use gentle washing or rinsing slightly more often when exposure increases, without over-washing
• Temporarily adjust supplement amounts according to guidance during higher-demand periods
• Keep routines especially calm and predictable during times of increased exposure
  

BSAVA principle: Adaptive support during periods of increased exposure.

Temporarily increasing supportive measures helps the skin manage higher environmental demand while maintaining overall stability.

Step 6: Know When to Move to Acute Allergy Support

Goal

Recognise when ongoing maintenance is no longer sufficient and a short-term flare-up approach is needed.

Habit: Switch Early When Signs Become Persistent or Escalate

Even with good maintenance care, some flare-ups cannot be prevented. Knowing when to switch from maintenance to acute support helps reduce prolonged discomfort and supports a smoother recovery.

Consider moving to Acute Allergy Support if you notice:

• Itching, licking, or scratching that becomes persistent rather than intermittent
• Redness, irritation, or discomfort that does not settle with routine adjustments
• Repeated attention to the same areas such as paws, ears, or belly
• Skin changes that worsen despite increased support during higher-risk periods

Switching early allows flare-ups to be addressed promptly, rather than waiting for symptoms to become more severe.

BSAVA principle: Timely escalation of supportive care.

Responding appropriately when signs intensify helps limit ongoing skin stress and supports a return to baseline comfort.

Step 7: Seek Veterinary Guidance When Needed

Goal

Ensure appropriate professional support when skin discomfort goes beyond what maintenance or acute care can manage.

Habit: Ask for Veterinary Input When Signs Persist or Worsen

Skin and allergy care often benefits from a combination of home support and veterinary guidance. While maintenance and acute steps can help support comfort, some situations require professional evaluation to understand what is driving ongoing symptoms.

Contact your veterinarian if:

• Itching or discomfort remains severe or does not improve with Acute Allergy Support
• Skin lesions, hotspots, open wounds, or signs of infection appear
• Ear problems become frequent or difficult to manage
• Your dog seems increasingly uncomfortable or unsettled
• You are unsure whether dietary factors, infection, or another condition may be involved
  

Veterinary input helps ensure that underlying issues are addressed and that supportive care remains appropriate and safe.

BSAVA principle: Appropriate clinical assessment and collaboration.

Timely veterinary involvement supports accurate diagnosis and coordinated care when skin problems extend beyond routine management.