How To Stop Your Dog From Scratching: Protect Your Pet From The Worst Causes

Dogs scratch when they itch, and sometimes, when they do not. There are several causes for itching, and keeping your pet safe from them will also keep your home and family safe, too. Learn how to stop your dog from scratching by learning about the cause for each itch.

One main cause of itching is fleas. Unfortunately, fleas multiply very rapidly. By the time you see your dog scratching, it may have a serious infestation. Treating the fleas both on your dog and in your home is the first crucial step to helping it find relief.

With flea eggs hatching around the clock, you must nip the infestation in the bud. You can do this by treating your dog and your home for the fleas. Have your vet look at the dog and prescribe medication. At the same time, ask about sprays for the lawn and everywhere that your pet stays. You will need to spray each area several times because the fleas continue to hatch over time. You will need to get rid of the living ones, but you must plan for the hatching eggs too.

Many dogs develop allergic reactions to fleas. They can come in contact with a single flea and still have itchy skin. Interesting is that the treatments are the same as used for humans, but in very different doses. Lotions and creams such as calamine may provide relief. Be certain to get any of these from the veterinarian to be certain it is the appropriate strength for the size of pet.

Mites and ringworm are two other reasons for scratching. The mites are very tiny insects that burrow into the skin and cause severe itching. You cannot see them, but you can see the damage they cause. If left untreated long enough, patches of fur will fall off. Just as with mites, ringworm also causes fur loss in patches. But ringworm is a fungus, rather than an insect. Both of these must be treated by the doctor with specialized creams, and both may take a while to heal.

Dogs do have allergies to foods, though you might not expect it to be so. If you find it scratching, it may be due to certain commercial food additives. Things such as preservatives, spices, sugars, or even red meats can all cause allergic reactions in certain dogs. The only way to discover what is causing the itchy reaction is to gradually remove a single food every 2 weeks. When the itching stops, you will know what food has caused the scratching.

In some areas, wood ticks are common. These must be removed immediately because they burrow under the skin and suck blood until they are full. These ticks cause illness in humans, too. Tick bites are itchy, and so are spider and snake bites. For these, your dog will need emergency treatment. If you can take the dog to the veterinarian immediately, do so. Learn how to treat these bites for times when the doctor is far away.

Dogs enjoy scratching their stomachs by dragging across floors. If this behavior bothers you, or is excessive, try spending extra time and attention on your dog. It can be a signal for needing attention, and you can solve this itching cause quickly by giving you dog some extra affection. Learning how to stop your dog from scratching is discovering the cause of the itching and dealing with it appropriately.