Why is Your Dog so Itchy?

 Why is My Dog So Itchy?

Do you notice your dog stopping play to itch, shaking their head, constantly licking their feet or belly or even waking up during the night and waking you up too? Have you tried over the counter sprays and shampoos from the pet shop that make little difference?

There are various reasons for increased itchiness in dogs. The most common cause, especially in the humid, warm weather is allergic skin disease. This is similar to eczema in humans. We can help your dog with medications to help stop the itch and treat any infections so you can all sleep easily. 

 Allergens are very small substances from trees and plants, some parasites and some moulds. Some dogs react to allergens in an exaggerated way. This causes inflammation and itchiness of the ears and skin especially the skin on the underarms of the front legs, the paws, the back of the lower legs, the belly and inner thighs.  Some dogs have itchy eyes and anuses.

If your dog has allergic skin disease, you will likely notice a waxing-waning pattern.  Sometimes your dog will be itchy and at other times they will be relatively normal.  

Increases licking of the paws is a common sign.  The levels of itching varies.  Stopping play to scratch is a sign of moderate discomfort and waking up to itch is more severe.  Increased licking of paws and skin, stopping play and waking in the night would suggest a problem which your vet is able to help with.

While allergic skin disease is seldom cured it can be very well managed so your dog has a comfortable life. Medications used to reduce itch may be monthly Cytopoint injections, daily Apoquel tablets and short courses of corticosteroids. Shampoos, conditioners and mousses treat bacterial and yeast infections and improve skin health. Ear drops treat ear infections and reduce inflammation. Samples from skin and ears are checked under the microscope help guide treatment.

Dogs are generally treated because they are itching a lot.  This can be due to the allergic reaction alone but is often a combination of this and a secondary infection of bacteria or Malassezia yeast.  

Treatment needs to address both issues and for some dogs ongoing maintenance treatment to reduce itching and reduce the frequency of flare ups is needed.

Skin issues can be successfully managed with home visits by working with you to find solutions that keep your dog most comfortable, reduce secondary infections and suit your lifestyle and budget.