What Are the Causes of Itching in Dogs

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     The medical term often mentioned by veterinarians for excessive dog itching is pruritus. Scratching in dogs ordinarily is not cause to worry, but if it becomes excessive it may possibly be a warning sign indicating a much more severe disorder. There are a number of diverse skin problems in canines that can be the cause of the itchy skin condition. But if a canine's itchy skin is inciting the development of additional skin conditions such as swelling and reddening of your pet's skin, skin lesions and hair loss, or you see the dog licking or chewing at his paws, then the animal should be taken to a vet for testing since each of these are signs of a more serious skin problem. If it is not treated, the canine's scratching and itching may lead to infection. Even though all breeds of canines can develop pruritus, Westies, Golden Retrievers, Poodles and Cocker Spaniels appear to have a larger frequency of incidences than other dog breeds.

The Reasons Behind the Canine Scratching and Itching

Itching and scratching in canines occurs because of a chemical reaction that happens on or directly under the surface of the skin. If it is intense, it is typically a sign that the dog is struggling with at least one of several different skin problems of a more serious nature.

Intense itching and scratching could perhaps be a sign of the following skin disorders in dogs:

Flea bite allergies are the most prevalent source of allergies in dogs. When a flea bites a dog, it deposits a modest amount of saliva under the skin resulting in a chemical reaction that brings about itchiness in dogs.

Seasonal allergies are the second most frequent cause of itching in canines. This type of allergy is like asthma and hay fever in people. If the dog breathes in substances like pollen, dust and molds, it triggers an allergic reaction in the canine's immune system. This type of allergy might also lead to breathing difficulties besides being the source of the dog's scratching.

Yet another form of allergy that is less common but could trigger itching in canines is an allergy to food. An allergy to food is caused when the animal eats food or a food ingredient that it's sensitive to.

Likewise, add scabies to the list of skin disorders in canines that can cause pruritus. Scabies, clinically known as sarcoptic mange, is triggered by a mite burrowing directly below the surface of the skin. The mite feeds on substances on or beneath the skin of the animal causing intense and continuous scratching.

Bacterial and yeast infections may also be causing an animal's scratching and itching problems. Infections are ordinarily brought on by open sores and scratches that aren't adequately cleaned. Ear mites can also bring about this sort of skin irritation in dogs.

How to Identify Skin Conditions in Canines

Finding the cause for a canine's skin condition has usually proven to be very challenging for most veterinarians and pet owners. To uncover the source of the condition, various examinations and treatments might possibly need to be performed meaning that diagnosis might take anywhere between a couple of weeks to a number of months. Primarily based on the animal's physical signs and health background, a veterinarian will perform a number of lab screens which often include extracting samples of blood, scrapings of the skin, obtaining culture samples and performing a skin biopsy.

How to Treat Itchy Skin in Canines

Even if the underlying cause of a canine's itching and scratching is not known yet, there are products offered to repair the animal's skin and ease the itching and scratching. A vet may perhaps recommend skin creams, shampoos, antihistamines or possibly even immunotherapy in more moderate instances. In more severe cases, he might recommend treatment utilizing steroids. Steroids have been known to cause harmful side effects such as uncontrollable urination, extreme panting and intense thirst, and prolonged use could possibly give rise to the emergence of diabetes or Cushing's disease, so if you do opt to utilize them, do so with great care. Many dogs may have to have lifetime treatment for their skin disorder.

All-natural Skin Treatments for Canines

A lof of animal clinics are currently recommending all natural canine itching formulas as a safer and milder form of therapy. It is a substitute to using steroids and other types of treatments that could possibly lead to undesireable side effects. There are quite a few successful and safe holistic canine skin treatments that have provided patients a lot of needed relief by rejuvenating the dog's fur in addition to treating and cleansing the canine's skin.