Dogs are known all over the world as man’s best friend. Therefore, it is right that we give them back all the love and friendship that they have for us in the form of care, guaranteeing their health and well-being. Between playing, sleeping and feeding, dogs have a normal scratching behavior, however, you should be careful if your puppy scratches too much, too often.
There is no cure for itching in a specific dog, treatment will depend on the clinical condition of the animal, so more accurate medications are prescribed. But don’t worry if you have an itchy dog at home, at Animal Expert we offer this article to help you with information about the main causes and treatments of itching in dogs.
- Before knowing the causes and treatments of itching in dogs.
- You should be careful if your puppy is more itchy than usual.
- A few quick scratches during the day are normal dog behaviors.
- But if the situation is a very frequent itchy dog.
- Prolonged durations and hair loss.
- You should seek the help of a veterinarian to understand what treatment to follow.
To be able to take good care of your dog, nothing better than knowing the possible causes and treatments of canine itching, guaranteeing greater safety for your pet.
Some psychological conditions such as stress and anxiety can cause excessive itching in your dog. In addition to itching, these conditions can cause other behaviors in your dog, such as:
Stress and anxiety can be caused by various situations, such as energy accumulation, lack of play, isolation for long periods, among others, and can be aggravated in other diseases. Therefore, it is very important that you help your dog cope with these situations. Many guardians wonder what to do if their dog is stressed and you can do some activities to care for your dog:
Scabies are a skin disease caused by mites and, in addition to causing your dog to bite and lose hair, it can cause red spots on the dog’s belly. The main symptoms caused by scabies are:
Some factors can make your puppy more prone to scabies, including
If your puppy has scabies, you should take it to your veterinarian as soon as possible, so that the diagnosis is made accurately and the best treatment is prescribed to your pet. Treatments that the veterinarian may recommend are acaricide medications, usually ivermectin, selamectin, moxidectin and milbemenine oxime. Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, skin soothings and medications for secondary problems, such as chlorhexidine, which acts as fungicide and bactericide, may also be indicated, preventing itchy bruises from becoming infected.
Allergies are immune system responses to a substance that should have no effect on the animal. These substances can be pollen, food ingredients, herbs, seeds, tick saliva, flea saliva, cleaning chemicals, among others.
The effects of allergies are not limited to itching in your dog, symptoms can range from skin irritation to the death of your pet. In addition to itching, some effects caused by allergies include:
The treatment that can be used for allergies may vary depending on the substance to which the dog is allergic. Discovering these substances isn’t always easy, but your veterinarian can give you some directions to alleviate allergy symptoms and ensure your pet’s comfort. Some oral antihistamines may be used, in addition to creams, shampoos, lotions and medications to eliminate dog itching.
Pyoderite is usually a secondary disease, that is, it is the result of other diseases of the dog. This disease is mainly caused by Staphylococcus pseudointermediusna, a microorganism normally present in the flora of the dog. However, when the animal’s immune system changes, this microorganism proliferates exaggeratedly, resulting in pyodermite. The main causes of this disease are: fungi, atopic dermatitis, parasites such as mites, fleas and ticks, endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperatenocticism).
In addition to dog itching, symptoms of pyoderite may include
To treat pyoderite, it is first necessary to follow a treatment for the disease that causes changes in your dog’s immune system. Once this disease is found and treated, the veterinarian may prescribe shampoos, gels, creams and antibiotics to treat only the symptoms of pyoderite.
Fleas are parasites that usually affect dogs, being the first hypothesis in case of itching in dogs. In addition to severe itching, the flea animal may have other symptoms such as:
Symptoms may get worse if your dog is allergic to flea bites. There are several methods to remove fleas from the dog, such as constant bathing in animals with anti-flea shampoo, using special combs to remove fleas from fur and using anti-chip drugs, such as Bravecto.
Dermatitis is a common disease that affects dogs after allergies to flea bites. This clinical picture can be caused by bacteria and fungi, but it can also be influenced by psychological and emotional disorders, genetics, humidity, hypothyroidism, among others. In addition to excessive itching, dogs with dermatitis may have the following symptoms:
Before treating dermatitis with medication, you should look for the substance that causes this disease in your dog, so that it is possible to keep your pet away from the substance in question. Your veterinarian can help you in this process by performing blood tests to identify substances that cause dermatitis in your dog.
If this prevention is not possible in dogs, you can use a treatment with medications such as antihistamines, hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, clemastin, chlorpheniramine, prednisolone and methyl prednisolone. In addition, you can also choose to use bactericidal and fungicide treatments, with the use of chlorhexidine for example.
Lembrando que a utilização de medicamentos precisa estar de acordo com o aval de seu médico veterinário.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Skin Problems section.