The Reasons for Itchiness in Dogs and Methods To Treat It

The health-related term occasionally mentioned by vets for extreme dog itching and scratching is pruritus. Itching in dogs ordinarily isn't reason to worry, but if it gets to be excessive it may be a symptom of a more severe disorder. There are several distinctive skin conditions in dogs that might possibly be the cause of the scratching and itching. But if a dog's itching is bringing about the occurrence of more skin conditions including swelling and reddening of your pet's skin, skin lesions and hair loss, or you notice the dog biting or chewing at his feet, then the dog really should be brought to a small animal clinic for analysis for all of these are warning signs of a more significant skin disorder. If it isn't treated, the dog's scratching may also bring about infections of the skin. Though any breed of dog may develop pruritus, Cocker Spaniels, Westies, Golden Retrievers and Poodles seem to have a higher number of manifestations than most other varieties of dog.

The Causes of Pruritus in Dogs

Itchy skin in dogs happens because of a chemical reaction that occurs on or immediately below the skin's surface. In the event it's intense, it's often a clue that the canine is stricken with at least one of a variety of skin problems of a more serious type.

Excessive itching and scratching could possibly be a symptom of these skin conditions in dogs:

Flea bite dermatitis is the most prevalent cause of pruritus in dogs. When a flea bites a dog, it drops a modest amount of saliva below the skin resulting in a chemical reaction that leads to itching in dogs.

Inhalant allergy is the next most typical cause of pruritus in dogs. These allergies are akin to asthma and hay fever in humans. As the canine breathes in substances like dust, pollen and molds, it produces an allergic reaction from the immune system of the dog. Dog allergies might also lead to respiratory difficulties in addition to being the cause of a dog's itching.

Yet another kind of allergy that is less common but could cause pruritus in dogs is an allergy to food. An allergy to food is caused when the animal eats food or a food component that it's allergic to.

We can also add scabies to our list of skin problems in dogs that could cause pruritus. Scabies, or sarcoptic mange, is triggered by a mite digging just below the skin surface of the dog. The mite feeds on material on or below the skin of the dog resulting in intense and continuous scratching and itching.

Yeast and bacterial infections may perhaps be at the root of an animal's scratching episodes. Infections are generally triggered by open sores and cuts which are not appropriately being cleaned. Ear mites commonly produce this form of skin irritation in canines.

How to Identify Skin Disorders in Dogs

Figuring out the trigger of a dog's skin condition has typically turned out to be challenging for many veterinarians and dog owners. To locate the cause of the condition, unique examinations and treatments might have to be performed causing the diagnosis to take anywhere between a few weeks to a number of months. Based mostly on the dog's symptoms and health history, the veterinarian will carry out a series of lab screens which often consist of drawing blood samples, scrapings of the skin, acquiring culture samples and performing a skin biopsy.

How to Treat Itching and Scratching in Dogs

Even if the underlying cause of an animal's itching is still unknown, there are remedies for dog itching readily available to rejuvenate the animal's skin and offer relief for the itchiness. Your veterinarian might recommend antihistamines, skin creams, shampoos or possibly immunotherapy in milder circumstances. In more extreme circumstances, he could possibly advocate treatment using steroids. Steroids have been known to cause unwanted side effects like frequent urination, shortness of breath and intense thirst, and sustained use may possibly bring about the development of Cushing's disease or diabetes, so if you do opt to use them, do so with great caution. Some animals could possibly require lifetime treatment for their skin problem.

All Natural Pruritus Treatments for Dogs

An increasing number of vets are currently recommending all-natural dog itching remedies as a safer and milder form of therapy. It's a substitute to taking steroids and other types of medication that could possibly bring about unwanted side effects. There are quite a few successful and safe homeopathic and herbal dog skin formulas that have given patients much desired relief by rejuvenating the dog's hair in addition to purging and treating the dog's skin.