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Many things can cause dry and itchy skin in dogs.
The best is to have your veterinarian evaluate your pet to narrow the possible causes down and suggest appropriate therapies to control it. For example, bacterial skin infection is extremely common and very itchy. Skin lesions can be mild and can be mistaken for dry skin.
Diet is often one of the most overlooked inputs into overall general health as well as skin condition. the better the diet, the healthier your pet will be. As for over the counter diets, I am partial to Science Diet/Hill's, Eukanuba, and Iams. There are many other good diets available that are equally effective in helping pets stay optimally healthy.
Fleas, ticks and other parasites are the most common culprit in skin issues. Effective parasite prevention is essential in controlling skin problems, because without it you'll never succeed.
Winter months commonly dry out pets' skin leaving them itchy. There are a variety of moisturizing shampoos, most of which are oatmeal based. Use caution not to overbathe - once every 2 weeks is usually sufficient for healthy skin. The shampoo will help most if you let the lather stand at least 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Allergies are a very common cause of excessive itch on otherwise healthy skin. It can be due to exposure to parasites (not just skin parasites), the protein ingredient in their diet, or things in the environment (weeds, grasses, trees, grain mites, fungi, etc). The most effective antihistamines for dogs tend to be the older, cheaper antihistamines for people. Research shows that clemastine (generic for Tavist) has the best chance to be effective for most dogs, but still is less than 30% effective. Diphenhydramine (generic for Benadryl) at 0.5-1mg/lb by mouth every 8 hours as needed is also worth a try but tends to make pets very drowsy.
Chronic medical conditions can also take a toll on a dog's skin. Careful evaluation of your pets history and other symptoms are important in considering these conditions.
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