Dog Itch

There are many things that will cause a dog to itch. The most common are fleas, dry skin, food hypersensitivity, and allergies. Other conditions that will cause dogs to itch include mange, mites, chemical burns, autoimmune diseases, ringworm, etc.

Etch-Triangle

Every animal has an itch triangle. The triangle is made up of the things that cause a dog to itch. The most common causes are fleas, food sensitivities, and hay fever or atopy (allergies). Each dog's triangle is composed of different combinations of the above causative agents.

Diagnosis

The first thing is to rule-out the common causes of itching. The veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination that may include skin scrapings, fungal cultures, impression smears, or looking at the skin through a magnifying lens. Many times shaving the hair from the affected sites may reveal the cause of the problem.

Treatment

1.   Your veterinarian can give an injection that will bring the itching to a stop. He may even prescribe an oral medication. The most common drugs to use against itching are steroids. While these drugs are very commonly used, they do have side effects, which your veterinarian will discuss with you.

2.   The steroids only stop the itching, and if the underlying problem is not properly treated the itching will return. The steroids act to raise the itch line over and above where the dog stops itching, and their affect are only temporary. With some dogs a single annual injection will help to alleviate their problem while other dogs may require injections much more often. For some patients, however, steroids might cause more harm than good in the long run.

3.   Many times once we treat the cause of the itching, there is no need to treat with anything else. Medicated/insecticide baths or drugs, or topical creams and lotions are helpful in many cases. Commonly used oral medications are antibiotics, antihistamines, and fatty acid supplements. If your veterinarian suspects food allergies your dog may be placed on a restricted or hypoallergenic diet.

4.   For prevention regular bath and brushing are the best things that you as a dog owner (& lover) can do for your dog. With the proper shampoo your dog can be bathed as often as once or twice a week if needed. With regular grooming of your dog you will also be alerted to skin conditions early before they turn into big problems.

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