What’s the Itch All About?
By Dr. Amna Plummer, Critter Care Animal Hospital
Some dogs’ scratching habits can have their owners scratching their own heads in confusion and frustration. Dermatologic clinical signs are among the top reasons why owners take their furry family members to the vet. The differentials for this problem can be vast and sometimes costly to diagnose. This article is intended to help dog owners narrow down the differential list and help solve the issue,
One of the most common seasonal problems that can cause scratching is ectoparasite and the number one culprit is fleas. Examine under the belly and the top part of the tail – this is where they love to live. Using a fine-toothed comb is a great way to catch the fleas and their dirt, which appears to look like pepper. If you spend any amount of time outdoors, treating the yard can be a safe and inexpensive way to solve the flea problem. Year-round flea prevention is another great option.
If hair loss is associated with the scratching, this could indicate a mange mite, fungal or bacterial infection or allergies, whether they are caused by food or environment. A food trial can be initiated at home by using foods that are not currently in the food they are consuming now. The food trial must be done for at least 6-8 weeks consistently. There are prefabricated diets that can be purchased at your veterinarian’s office. A fairly inexpensive test that can be performed by your vet is a skin scrape to check for mange mites. For fungal infections, a Woods Light evaluation can be performed. For bacterial or yeast infections, a smear (or cytology) can be performed.
Your vet may want to perform a full blood work up to check for any underlying endocrine diseases. Allergy testing to check for food and environmental allergies or a skin biopsy to check for auto-immune diseases may be ordered.
Dermatological problems can be complex, but with a thorough medical history and a check-up, veterinarians can improve the quality of life for many pet owners and their furry friends.
Some questions to ask yourself:
• At what age did the scratching begin?
• Is the scratching year-round or is it seasonal?
• Does my dog scratch anywhere or is it a specific region on the body?
• Does the underlying skin appear to be raw and irritated or inflamed?
• If family history is available, do any other siblings have this problem?
• Where does my dog spend most of his or her time (in or outdoors)?
• Are there any other issues related to the scratching such as watery eyes, sneezing, body odor or hair loss?
• What are the three main ingredients in my dog’s food and treats?
• Is my dog on any type of flea preventative?
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Category: Health & Wellness
