Itchy DogScratch me - I'll scratch YouItchy dog problems - account for over 25% of all visits to the vet. Your dog's skin is constantly under attack, licking tongues, nibbling teeth, scratching feet and parasites. Allergies to food and autoimmune disorders all contribute to this widespread and common problem dog owners have with their small dog breeds (big ones too!). All dog lovers, should be very concerned when their little friend scratches for no apparent reason. A dog with a healthy skin will not scratch at all and any signs of your dog scratching is a sign something is not right which needs to be identified, cause found and a cure sought. Many problems are external which may be easily remedied. General itching meaning your dog scratches regularly all over, but there are no visible signs of a problem. This type of itchy skin can most often be improved by rectifying the dog's diet, adding omega oils to his diet. Naturally the first thing would be to check for ticks and fleas, and the necessary treatment given. These tick and flea problems can be treated with over the counter medication from your veterinarian and with ongoing use, as well as regular cleaning of their bedding, it's usually successful. A hot spot is a common and extremely painful skin condition, which can occur overnight. Chronic, localized itching usually identifies this pyotraumatic dematitis. The area is warm to the touch and emits pus and has a bad odor. Hot spots need urgent care with many available remedies, but not only that it would be necessary to identify the cause. Loss of hair ( from the infected area, is another sign of a "hot spot". The infected dog will also bite and scratch, as it is not only painful but also extremely itchy, causing the condition to rapidly spread. These may be seasonal, possibly due to sensitivity to grasses and pollens. Other causes are a parasitic mite that causes a skin disease, Demodectic Mange. These microscopic mites live in the hair follicle and oil glands of your little pet's skin. Proper diagnosis from a skin scraping will assist your vet to the appropriate treatment. Most healthy dogs with a good diet will be able to resist these mites, however, once mange is established, veterinary care is essential to prevent the mange from spreading over the entire dog. Go to our veterinary articles. Particularly if there is alopecia (hair loss) this could indicate mites, which can be ultimately be fatal if left untreated for too long. The vet information on dog mites and other skin conditions are very informative for diagnosis and treatment. Itchy dog skin conditions could be caused by one of these mites, some can actually cause death if left untreated, therefore take your scratching dog skin condition very seriously. Allergic skin diseases are becoming more and more common. An allergy which is a hypersensitivity reaction to allergens, allergy causing substances. Dogs can develop allergies at any age and the signs can appear suddenly. Usually dogs that have an allergy have more than one type. There are no cures for allergies and it is usually life-long, requiring ongoing management to improve the quality of your dog's life. Insect Bite Allergies are fairly common. The most common allergy a dog develops is to flea saliva. Flea and Tick control is part and parcel of protecting your helpless friend from these tiny creatures that can cause havoc with their well being. Proper parasite control is essential. See our Veterinary Article on Ticks and Tick Bite Fever. Alopecia (hair loss) can result from itchy dog skin, read this veterinary article Alopecia X in our dog health conditions chart. Contact allergies are usually due to shampoos, carpets, grasses etc. Some are easier to avoid than others, but if you have identified what triggers the itchy dog problems, you are half way to solving the problem. Avoidance is essential if possible. Food allergens can only be diagnosed with a food trial. A food trial involves feeding a specially designed, hypoallergenic diet for at least 8 to 12 weeks. No other food can be given to your small dog breed, including any treats or snacks. The smallest morsel of another food type will contaminate the trial and cannot provide accurate results. This is a time consuming process but productive if it establishes your dog's underlying skin problems. Even the healthiest and most beloved pet can result in an itchy dog which is very distressing for both the loving owner and the sufferer. Keeping your dog free of fleas and ticks, a healthy balanced diet and regular dog grooming and keeping his kennel and bedding clean and mite and tick free goes a long way to avoid most of these dog skin conditions. Return from Itchy Dog to Small Dog Breeds Home Page Information on Dog Scooting
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| Our Veterinary Articles cover many Congenital Dog Health Conditions (see our chart). Kindly provided By Dr Sunelle Strydom. See our other common health issues.Such as an itchy dog problem or dogs arthritis - a condition which affects most dogs at some stage of their precious lives.
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