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Home / News / Is Your Dog’s Constant Scratching Keeping You Awake? The Gentle Routine That Helps Calm the Itch!

Is Your Dog’s Constant Scratching Keeping You Awake? The Gentle Routine That Helps Calm the Itch!

Vetpets Lillidale Itchy Wash

Is the scratching keeping you up?

🐾 You love your dog. You don’t love the sound of that relentless scratching through the night.

It can lead to red patches, flakes and constant worry.

You’ve tried food changes, flea checks, new blankets… and the itch keeps coming back.

Before you give up, try one simple shift. Many dogs with sensitive, reactive skin respond best to regular, gentle bathing that cleans without stripping the skin, then locks moisture back in. That’s exactly what Lillidale Itchy Dog Wash is made to do.

Why this wash feels different

Unlike many shampoos that use harsh chemicals, Lillidale is made with over 90% naturally derived ingredients and is free from SLS, parabens, alcohol, phosphates, petrochemicals and PEGs.

What goes wrong with other options

  • Cheaper “big foam” washes: often rely on strong sulphates that strip the skin’s barrier - itch flares right back.
  • Medicated shampoos: great for active infections under vet guidance, but usually too strong for frequent use between flares.
  • Some “natural” labels: light on effective actives - nice scent, little soothing.

What Itchy Dog Wash focuses on: comfort

  • Colloidal oatmeal helps calm irritated skin and support the barrier.
  • Aloe vera soothes after every rinse.
  • Mānuka honey extract nurtures skin and leaves the coat soft.
  • Pro-vitamin B5 (panthenol) + glycerin hydrate for lasting comfort.
  • Gentle coconut-derived cleansers clean without harshness - so you can bathe more often.

The 10-minute Calm-Skin Routine

  1. Wet and work in - Use lukewarm water. Massage Itchy Dog Wash right to the skin - belly, armpits, paws, tail base.
  2. Give it a minute - Leave on for 1–3 minutes so oatmeal, aloe and mānuka can do their thing.
  3. Rinse and pat dry -  Rinse thoroughly. Pat dry with a microfibre towel (blot, don’t rub). Avoid hot air that can over-dry skin.
  4. Repeat regularly - For reactive skin, start with 2–3 baths in week one, then weekly as needed. Gentle, frequent bathing helps remove everyday triggers (pollen, dust) while keeping the skin hydrated.

Easy win after bath
Towel-dry, then give a quick brush to detangle and lift loose hair and pollen. A smooth coat means nails are less likely to catch, so you get fewer scratch marks and faster recovery. Finish with a 60-second paw check (between toes, around pads, tail base).

Optional paw check
Look for red patches, greasy build-up, grass seeds. Rinse and pat dry between toes. If nails feel scratchy, lightly file each nail for a few seconds with an emery board - only while your dog is relaxed and comfortable.

Scroll down for more simple daily tips you can start today.

Real-world results you can expect

✅ Less night-time scratching within the first few washes
✅Softer, easier-to-brush coat with less flaking
✅Calmer skin look and feel in common hot-spot areas

Every dog is different. Consistency matters. If symptoms persist, keep working with your vet while you maintain a gentle wash routine at home.


Why start here before stronger formulas?

Harsh surfactants can strip the skin, making itching worse. A soothing, moisture-friendly formula lets you bathe more often, remove daily triggers and support the barrier that keeps irritation at bay.

Value you can feel

You’re not buying a perfume bath. You’re buying quiet nights, fewer frantic itches, a glossy coat and a happier dog. A little goes a long way - and sticking to the routine beats emergency fixes.

What’s inside Itchy Dog Wash

Oatmeal, aloe vera, mānuka honey, pro-vitamin B5, glycerin, gentle coconut-derived cleansers.

What’s not: SLS, parabens, alcohol, phosphates, petrochemicals, PEGs.

Natural & naturally derived actives

  1. Soothe: Oatmeal (Avena sativa) – rich in natural avenanthramides to calm itchy, irritated skin and support the barrier.
  2. Nurture: NZ mānuka honey extract – skin-loving humectant that draws in moisture for lasting comfort; leaves the coat soft.
  3. Restore: Aloe vera & pro-vitamin B5 – hydrate after washing and support the skin’s natural recovery; add slip and shine.
  4. Cleanse: Gentle coconut-derived surfactants – lift pollen, dust and dander without stripping essential oils.
  5. Lock in: Glycerin – attracts and holds water in the skin for longer-lasting comfort.
  6. Balance: pH-balanced, rinse-clean formula – gentle enough for frequent use on reactive skin.

Read more about our ingredients below.

Lillidale Itchy Dog Wash is supportive care, not a medicine. Medicated shampoos treat active infections and should be used as your vet directs. Lillidale’s gentle, pH-balanced formula is made for frequent, everyday care between medicated washes - it cleans without harshness, helps soothe irritated skin, and supports the skin barrier.

It’s gentle enough for weekly use (and more often initially) to remove allergens and soothe skin, without over-drying.

It’s a combination: colloidal oatmeal (avenanthramides, β-glucans), mānuka honey extract (humectant), aloe vera and pro-vitamin B5 (soothe/hydrate), glycerin (locks in moisture), plus mild cleansers so you can bathe away everyday triggers. Free from SLS, parabens, alcohol, phosphates, petrochemicals, PEGs.

Many owners notice a calmer dog after a couple of washes. Stick with the routine for best results.

Light oatmeal-and-honey style scent. We avoid heavy perfumes often linked with irritation.

Formulated to be non-drying and free from harsh irritants. For very young puppies or specific conditions, follow your vet’s advice.

If you see open sores, oozing, bleeding, a strong odour that returns quickly, or no improvement after a few weeks of gentle care.

Bonus calm-skin tips (that actually help)

  • Dilute for an even spread: mix a small squeeze in a jug of lukewarm water; pour along the back. Reaches skin, saves product.
  • Head last, eyes safe: body first; use a damp cloth around eyes/ears at the end.
  • Double-rinse rule: rinse until clear, then one quick extra rinse - leftover suds = leftover itch.
  • Microfibre > hairdryer: blot with microfibre; avoid heat (can aggravate sensitive skin).
  • Post-walk paw wipe: keep a damp cloth by the door for paws/belly - removes pollen and dust between baths.
  • Bedding & collar clean-up: wash weekly in fragrance-free detergent; rinse twice; refresh collars/harnesses.
  • Brush little, often: 1–2 minutes most days lifts dander/pollen and prevents snagging.
  • Cool, not cold, on flare days: a cool damp cloth for 2–3 minutes can settle angry areas.
  • Scratch-score mini log: rate scratch 0–10 on bath days and note food/park/ weather - patterns emerge fast.
  • Keep it simple on bath day: skip layering new sprays; let oatmeal, aloe and panthenol do the work.

Itchy Dog Wash -  ingredient list (plain English)

Natural / naturally derived core

  • Aqua – purified water base
  • Cocamidopropyl betaine – mild foaming cleanser (coconut-derived)
  • Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate – gentle, sulphate-free cleanser (coconut fatty acids)
  • Glycereth-2 cocoate – coconut-derived conditioning/cleansing aid
  • Glycerin – plant-derived humectant
  • Avena sativa (oat) kernel flour – colloidal oatmeal
  • Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) – moisturiser
  • Aloe barbadensis leaf juice – aloe vera
  • Honey extract (mānuka) – mānuka honey extract
  • Citric acid – pH adjuster (often from citrus/sugar fermentation)
  • Parfum – light, clean scent

Food-grade / salon-grade helpers

  • Preservatives (keep it fresh & safe): sodium benzoate (food-grade), potassium sorbate (food-grade), phenoxyethanol (salon-grade), ethylhexylglycerin (booster, salon-grade)
  • Texture & stability: acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer (salon-grade gel feel), sodium chloride (food-grade—sets thickness), polysorbate 20 (salon-grade solubiliser)
  • pH balance: dimethylglucamine (salon/pharma-grade neutraliser)

Ready to calm the itch for good? Start your Calm-Skin Routine with Lillidale Itchy Dog Wash today!

 

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