So Your Dog Is Itchy....

Frustration builds momentum when your dog is itchy. Dogs with itchy skin are seen frequently by veterinarians to assist in bringing releif to these poor animals. Itchy skin in a dog can be frustrating and expensive to treat and it often keeps happening.

Allergies in dogs are common and may be the cause of why your dog is itchy. Itchy skin in a dog is often cause by an allergy to something. It can be very difficult to work out what it is however. It is important to look at all potential causes and to rule them out one at a time.

Flea allergy is common. All dogs get fleas which seems to be difficult for people to understand. I hear so often "my dog never gets fleas" which is inaccurate. All dogs can get fleas, you just might not see them. They are small and fast. One hungry flea that has just hatched from its pupae will do a lot of damage fast. One hungry flea will bite your dog multiple times and may be a reason why your dog is itchy for weeks.

It is vital to use a high quality flea control. There is a relatively new flea control called Comfortis which is very safe and very effective. If your dog is itchy, you must rule out flea allergy first by using a high quality flea control. If you are seeing fleas on your dog and your dog is itchy, use Comfortis every 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks for maximum protection and to reduce the flea burden in the environment. One flea lays approximately 200 eggs so environmental contamination build up quickly.

Food allergy is not uncommon. It often starts in very young dogs as soon as they start solid food. Common causes of food allergy are usually things your dog has eaten all of its life which also seems to confuse people. Common causes of food allergy are wheat (pasta, bread, dry dog food) ; beef (found in so many dog foods) and dairy products. Itchy skin in a dog will develop from one mouthful of what the dog is allergic to.

Contact allergy is a rare cause of pruritis in the dog but it can happen. Plants and tree pollen are the most common causes. Tree pollen is large to attract bees and fallls beneath the tree from which it is produced. If your dog is allergic to it, it will get itchy by lying under the tree. Some plants if contacted may induce a dog allergy. Wandering Jew is a famous one.

If your dog is itchy and it keeps happening all the time, your dog may have atopic dermatitis. If you are using good flea control religiously, have done an elimination food trial to rule out food allergy and your dog is itchy, then atopy may be the cause.

Atopy is caused by an allergy to grass pollens, pollen, dust mite and household spores.

Atopic dermatitis is a common cause of canine skin problems. These animals have a faulty skin barrier.

If your dog is itchy you need to find help.

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