Everyday care

When your dog keeps scratching: a calm, practical routine

Few things are harder than watching a dog you love scratch and lick at night. Here's a calm way to notice what's happening, get the right help, and care for their skin and coat day to day, with supplements in their proper place.

Written by the Goodest Labs teamยท Updated October 2026

Goodest Labs makes dog supplements. This is our own educational page, not independent journalism or a third-party review. It is general information, not veterinary advice.

A woman gently brushing her golden retriever on a rug in soft daylight

Step 1: Notice, And Write It Down

Keep a simple note on your phone: where they scratch or lick (paws, ears, belly, back), when it happens (after walks, at night, after meals), and anything that changed recently, such as a new food, shampoo, bedding or season. A short video helps your vet more than a description.

Call your vet promptly if you see open sores, bleeding, swelling, a smell or discharge from the ears, sudden patches of hair loss, or if your dog seems unwell, unusually tired or off their food.

Step 2: Get Your Vet's View

Scratching and licking have many possible causes: fleas and other parasites, environmental or food allergies, skin infections, or dry skin. Some need treatment, so a diagnosis matters. Useful questions to bring: What might be causing this? Do we need tests? Is our parasite prevention right for our area? Could diet play a part, and would a skin and coat supplement make sense alongside anything else you recommend?

Step 3: Everyday Skin & Coat Care

  • A hand gently resting on the glossy coat of a red cocker spaniel lying on a wool rug

    Parasite prevention

    Year-round flea and tick prevention as your vet advises. It's one of the most common reasons for scratching.

  • A woman gently brushing her golden retriever on a rug in soft daylight

    Gentle grooming

    Regular brushing to spread natural oils and spot changes early. Bathe only as often as your vet suggests, with a dog-specific shampoo.

  • A small terrier asleep on its owner's lap while they read on the sofa

    Clean bedding

    Wash beds and blankets regularly in a fragrance-free detergent.

  • A man setting down a food bowl for his dog in a bright kitchen

    Consistent, complete diet

    A complete, balanced diet suited to their life stage. Change foods gradually and with your vet's advice.

Step 4: Where Supplements Fit

Some dog parents add a skin and coat supplement as one part of a routine their vet agrees with. It isn't a replacement for diagnosis, parasite control or prescribed treatment, and no supplement can promise to stop scratching.

If you're considering one, compare labels using our five-point checklist and show your vet the full label.

From Goodest Labs

Goodest Labs Premium Liquid Collagen

The full label and serving guide are on the product page, for you and your vet to read first.