Posts Tagged ‘pet health’

Diagnosing Itchiness in Dogs and Finding Remedies

The medical terminology frequently used by vets for extreme canine itching is pruritus. Pruritus in dogs ordinarily isn’t cause to worry, however, if it gets intensive it may be a warning sign pointing to a more severe disorder. There are a few distinctive skin disorders in dogs that can be at the root of the itchiness. But if a canine’s itching and scratching is inciting the development of additional skin conditions such as inflaming and reddening of the skin, skin lacerations and loss of fur, or you notice the animal licking or chewing at his paws, then the canine should certainly be sent to a small animal clinic for diagnosis for these are all signs and symptoms of a far more severe skin disorder. If it isn’t treated, the dog’s scratching and itching might cause infections of the skin. Although all breeds of dogs can develop pruritus, Golden Retrievers, Westies, Poodles and Cocker Spaniels tend to have a higher rate of incidences than most other canine breeds.

The Causes of Itching in Dogs

Itching and scratching in dogs is brought on as a result of a chemical reaction that occurs on or just underneath the surface of the skin. In instances where it is uncontrollable, it is ordinarily a signal that the dog is contending with one of several skin conditions of a more significant type.

Extreme itchiness can possibly be an indication of these skin disorders in dogs:

Flea allergy is the most common cause of itching and scratching in dogs. As a flea bites your dog, it leaves a trace amount of saliva underneath the skin which causes a chemical reaction that causes itching and scratching in dogs.

Inhalant allergy is also a frequent source of itching and scratching in dogs. This kind of allergy is akin to asthma and hay fever in humans. Whenever the dog breathes in substances such as dust, molds and pollen, it prompts an allergic reaction from the immune system of the dog. Dog allergies may also lead to breathing problems as well as being the cause of a canine’s itching and scratching.

A different kind of allergy that isn’t as common but leads to itching and scratching in dogs is a food allergy. An allergy to food is caused by the animal consuming food or a food constituent that it is allergic to.

We can also add scabies to our list of skin conditions in dogs that leads to itching and scratching. Scabies, also known as sarcoptic mange, is brought on by a mite digging just beneath the canine’s skin. The mite feeds on substances at or just under the dog’s skin resulting in intensive and incessant scratching and itching.

Yeast and bacterial infections can also be triggering a canine’s scratching and itching episodes. This is normally brought on by hot spots and scratches that aren’t suitably being cleaned. Mites in the ears commonly produce this form of skin irritation in animals.

Identifying Skin Issues in Dogs

Finding the cause of a canine’s skin condition has often proven to be difficult for both veterinarians and dog owners. To find the cause of the difficulty, various tests and treatments may possibly have to be performed and diagnosis could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months. Primarily based on the canine’s physical signs and health-related background, a vet will perform a few laboratory screens that could consist of drawing blood samples, skin scrapings, taking culture samples and doing a skin biopsy.

How to Treat Itching and Scratching in Dogs

Even when the inherent source of a canine’s itching and scratching is not yet known, there are cures for dog itchiness available to restore the canine’s skin and ease the itching. Your vet may possibly recommend using antihistamines, skin creams, shampoos or perhaps immunotherapy in less serious cases. In even more severe cases, he could suggest treatment utilizing steroids. Steroids are known to cause adverse side effects such as frequent urination, excessive panting and dehydration, and long-term use may possibly give rise to the emergence of diabetes or Cushing’s disease, so if you do decide to try them, do so with extreme caution. Most canines could require constant support for their skin condition.

All Natural Scratching and Itching Treatments for Dogs

Numerous veterinarians are currently advocating all-natural canine itching remedies as a safer and milder kind of therapy. It’s a substitute to taking corticosteroids and other kinds of treatments that could bring about dangerous side effects. You can purchase quite a few safe and successful herbal and homeopathic canine skin formulas that have offered dogs much needful relief by revitalizing the canine’s hair in addition to purifying and clearing up the canine’s skin.