Dog Itching

The actual health-related terminology often mentioned by vets for extreme dog itching is pruritus. Itching in dogs generally isn’t cause for alarm, however, if it gets to be extreme it may perhaps be a sign pointing to a far more severe condition. There are several diverse skin problems in dogs that can perhaps be the reason for the scratching and itching. If a canine’s itchy skin is contributing to the occurrence of additional skin issues such as soreness and reddening of the skin, skin abrasions and hair loss, or you observe the dog chewing at his or her paws, then the canine should be taken to a veterinary clinic for an examination for these are all signs of a more severe skin condition. If it isn’t treated, the animal’s scratching could lead to infections. Even though any breed of dog may develop pruritus, Westies, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers appear to have a greater frequency of occurrences than most other breeds of canine.

The Reasons Behind Dog Itching

Itchy skin in canines takes place as a result of a chemical response that takes place at or just below the surface of the skin. In the event it is extreme, it’s typically a clue that the canine is coping with at least one of several skin problems of a more significant nature.

Intense dog itching could be an indication of these skin problems in dogs:

• Flea allergies are the most popular cause of dog allergies. As a flea bites your pet, it drops a minute amount of saliva beneath the skin which causes a chemical reaction that causes scratching and itching in dogs.


• Seasonal allergy is also a typical cause of itching in canines. These allergies are like asthma and hay fever in humans. As the canine breathes in allergens like dust, pollen and molds, it brings about an allergic reaction from the animal’s immune system. This form of allergy can also lead to respiratory troubles as well as triggering a canine’s itching and scratching.


• Another kind of allergy that is less common but is a source of scratching and itching in canines is a food allergy. A food allergy is triggered by the animal consuming food or a food ingredient that it’s allergic to.


• We can also add dog mange to our list of skin conditions in dogs that can cause itching. Scabies, medically known as sarcoptic mange, is triggered by a mite digging directly under the surface of the skin. The mite feeds on materials at or beneath the canine’s skin producing uncontrollable and ceaseless itching.


• Bacteria and yeast infections might also be causing a dog’s itching and scratching problems. Infections are normally brought on by lesions and cuts which are not adequately taken care of. Ear mites often bring about this form of skin problem in dogs.

Diagnosing Skin Problems in Dogs

Figuring out why a dog is scratching has typically turned out to be very difficult for a lot of dog owners and veterinarians. To diagnose the cause of the difficulty, several examinations and treatments might possibly need to be performed meaning the diagnosis might take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a number of months. Based mostly upon the canine’s symptoms and medical history, a vet will run a number of laboratory exams which typically include drawing samples of blood, skin scrapings, taking culture samples and performing a biopsy of the skin.

How to Treat Dog Itching

Even if the rudimentary source of an animal’s itchy skin is still not known, there are remedies offered to restore the dog’s skin and put an end to the itchiness. A vet might possibly propose the use of antihistamines, shampoos, skin creams or possibly even immunotherapy in less serious instances. In the more severe circumstances, he may possibly advocate treatment utilizing steroids. Steroids are known to cause undesirable side effects like urinary incontinence, excessive panting and dehydration, and sustained use may perhaps bring about the development of Cushing’s disease or diabetes, so if you do decide to try them, heed extreme care. Most canines may well need constant help for their skin problem.

All-natural Dog Itching Remedies

A lof of small animal clinics are currently recommending natural itching dog remedies as a safe and soothing type of therapy. It’s an alternative to using corticosteroids and other sorts of medicines that might cause adverse side effects. You can choose from a number of safe and successful holistic canine skin treatments that offer patients some needed relief by revitalizing the dog’s coat as well as purging and treating the dog’s skin.

Post Resources

• Diagnosing Itching And Scratching In Canines And Locating Remedies


• The Potential Causes Of Itching And Scratching In Dogs And Ways Of Treating It


• The Possible Causes Of Scratching In Dogs And How To Treat It


• The Reasons For Itchiness In Dogs And How To Treat It


• The Causes Of Scratching And Itching In Dogs And Locating Treatments

Itchy Pug - Itching Scratching Series

Dog Skin Allergies

The itchy Pug may suffer from allergic skin disease. Allergic skin disease in the Pug may be caused by an adverse food reaction to a food allergy. Allergic skin disease in the Pug may be caused by canine atopic dermatitis.

Dog Skin Allergies

Flea allergy dermatitis is common and easy to treat. Flea allergy dermatitis usually involves the dog scratching or rubbing its back and the base of the tail. Flea dirt which looks like black specks will be seen against the skin deep in the dogs‘ hair coat.

Dog Skin Allergies

Food allergy the Pug may start very early in life. If your Pug had skin and ear problems from the day you brought it home as a puppy, your Pug may well have a food allergy. Food allergy causes chronic ear infection, itchy rashes and an itchy bottom which causes scooting (rubbing the anus along the floor).

Dog Skin Allergies

The itchy Pug may have canine atopic dermatitis. Canine atopic dermatitis is an allergy to pollen, dust mites and household spores. The allergens can be inhaled or breathed in, ingested by licking the skin or can pass transdermally. Until recently, it was thought that canine atopic dermatitis was caused by inhaled allergens. This is still partly true but the vast majority of allergen passes transdermally across the skin. This is because the dog with canine atopic dermatitis has a faulty skin barrier. The protective skin barrier is deficient in a protein called sphingosine. The skin loses moisture and dries out and pollens come in causing an allergic reaction which manifests as an itchy rash.

There are some natural treatments that really work. It is best to seek a qualified opinion on natural treatment. There is a lot of uninformed opinion that is promoting treatments that are unsatisfactory.

Itchy Pug – Itching Scratching Series

Dog Skin Allergies

Dog Skin Problems – My Dog Can’t Stop Itching!

We often hear of dogs with a chronic and insistent itching problem. And guess what? The problem can’t always be prevented by a flea collar. There are a number of reasons why your dog might non-stop scratch and require some form of pet medication. Below I will list and try to explain 6 reasons why your dog might scratch himself.

1. Environmental Skin Disorders - Dogs with environmental skin problems are otherwise healthy, but present with signs of itchy skin and/or hair loss. By matching what is visible on the dog’s skin with a probable environmental irritant – the cause of the skin problem can be determined and corrective measures taken. Contact with some plastics can create an environmental pet skin disorder.

2. Nutritional Skin Disorders – Correction of these cases of itchy dog should be a very simple and no pet medication is required. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats live their entire lives in less than optimum health because their caretaker feeds them the least expensive food in the grocery store and feels secure in doing so because of that “Complete and Balanced” statement on the packaging! Without proper nourishment this dog’s entire body, not just its skin and coat, will be continuously under stress.

3. Parasitic Skin Disorders - Pet owners most commonly associate dog scratching with fleas. Often, but not always, this guess is correct.

There are a number of highly effective and safe flea medications and natural flea remedies. Repeated exposure to fleas can trigger a hypersensitivity to the bite of even a single flea. In some cases a simple flea bite can turn into an allergy itch from the flea’s saliva. It is very important to get rid of dog and cat fleas as soon as possible. Cheyletiella mites are often called “Walking Dandruff” because upon close inspection it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually moving about. These mites can be eliminated easily by using any common flea shampoo and no further pet medication is needed. Sarcoptic mites can be a terrible problem and can only be solved under vet care and with pet medication. Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Pet Skin Disorder. There are also Demodex mites (mange). These parasites live just under the skin surface in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of the dog’s skin. Demodex mites can be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. Demodex is most commonly seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a differnt and more serious problem

4. Infectious Skin Disorders – Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms can lead to awful skin and coat problems. Ringworm is an example of a Fungal organism. Yeasts can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Yeast infections typically create greasy, smelly and itchy signs in affected dogs. If a yeast infection is diagnosed, there’s generally some other problem going. Bacterial problems rarely occur spontaneously on a dog with normal healthy skin.

Infectious pet skin disorders are often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at a spot and undo any healing that has taken place. These spots can spread rapidly to other areas of the skin through chewing, licking, biting and scratching of previously healthy areas.

The treatment for Infectious skin disorders often include clipping the hair from the area to allow the air to dry it. The application of topical pet cream is helpful as is the administration of oral antibiotics.

5. Allergic Skin Disorders – These can be a challenge to diagnose, and once identified they can be difficult to treat. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.

Even common bacteria on the dog’s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research for diets to help dogs and cats with food allergies.

The treatments of allergic skin disorders include topical medicated soothing baths and ointments. The use of oral antihistamines can relieve some of the itch. More effective in alleviating the discomfort of allergies is cortisone.

6. Neurogenic Skin Disorders - This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a specific area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at a specific area, the cause of these problems is unknown. Most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, confinement, separation anxiety, family disruption, new environment, frustration or even a minor physical origin such as a tiny wound that catches the dog’s interest. No specific pet medication can be used to prevent this skin disorder.

In summary, keep in mind that any dog whose skin and coat are not in good condition needs vet attention and possibly pet medication because that dog likely does not feel very well.

If your dog is suffering from Chronic Itching, all is not hopeless, but you must consult your vet as soon as possible.

I hope you found this information on pet skin disorders helpful. This article was condensed from a much longer article which can be found on the my-dog-has-fleas.com website at: dog skin problems

By: Jen Moore

About the Author:

J.Moore writes on pet issues for http://my-dog-has-fleas.com/

Dog Skin Problems - My Dog Can"t Stop Itching!

We often hear of dogs with a persisting and insistent itching problem. And guess what? The qoute can’t all the time be prevented by a flea collar. There are a amount of reasons why your dog might non-stop scratch and want some form of pet medication. Below I will list and try to illustrate 6 reasons why your dog might scratch himself.

1. Environmental Skin Disorders - Dogs with environmental skin problems are otherwise healthy, but gift with signs of itchy skin and/or hair loss. By matching what is illustrated on the dog‘s skin with a probable environmental irritant – the cause of the skin qoute can be carefully and healthful measures taken. Contact with some plastics can create an environmental pet skin disorder.

Dog

2. Nutritional Skin Disorders – correction of these cases of itchy dog should be a very simple and no pet medication is required. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats live their entire lives in less than optimum condition because their caretaker feeds them the least expensive food in the grocery store and feels obtain in doing so because of that “Complete and Balanced” statement on the packaging! Without permissible nourishment this dog‘s entire body, not just its skin and coat, will be continuously under stress.

Dog Skin Problems – My Dog Can’t Stop Itching!

3. Parasitic Skin Disorders - Pet owners most generally associate dog scratching with fleas. Often, but not always, this guess is correct.

• There are a amount of very sufficient and safe flea medications and natural flea remedies. Repeated exposure to fleas can trigger a hypersensitivity to the bite of even a singular flea. In some cases a simple flea bite can turn into an allergy itch from the flea’s saliva. It is very prominent to get rid of dog and cat fleas as soon as possible.


• Cheyletiella mites are often called “Walking Dandruff” because upon close inspection it seems like limited flakes of dry skin are unquestionably consuming about. These mites can be eliminated unquestionably by using any base flea shampoo and no additional pet medication is needed.


• Sarcoptic mites can be a terrible qoute and can only be solved under vet care and with pet medication. Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.


• There are also Demodex mites (mange). These parasites live just under the skin face in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of the dog‘s skin. Demodex mites can be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. Demodex is most generally seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a separate and more serious problem

4. Infectious Skin Disorders – Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms can lead to awful skin and coat problems. Ringworm is an example of a Fungal organism. Yeasts can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Yeast infections typically create greasy, smelly and itchy signs in affected dogs. If a yeast infection is diagnosed, there’s generally some other qoute going. Bacterial problems rarely occur naturally on a dog with general salutary skin.

Infectious pet skin disorders are often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at a spot and undo any curative that has taken place. These spots can spread rapidly to other areas of the skin straight through chewing, licking, biting and scratching of previously salutary areas.

The rehabilitation for Infectious skin disorders often contain clipping the hair from the area to allow the air to dry it. The application of topical pet cream is helpful as is the supervision of oral antibiotics.

5. Allergic Skin Disorders – These can be a challenge to diagnose, and once identified they can be difficult to treat. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.

Even base bacteria on the dog‘s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! Food allergies are so base that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in explore for diets to help dogs and cats with food allergies.

The treatments of allergic skin disorders contain topical medicated soothing baths and ointments. The use of oral antihistamines can relieve some of the itch. More sufficient in alleviating the discomfort of allergies is cortisone.

6. Neurogenic Skin Disorders - This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a exact area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at a exact area, the cause of these problems is unknown. Most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, confinement, divorce anxiety, house disruption, new environment, discontentment or even a minor corporal origin such as a tiny wound that catches the dog‘s interest. No exact pet medication can be used to forestall this skin disorder.

In summary, keep in mind that any dog whose skin and coat are not in good condition needs vet attention and perhaps pet medication because that dog likely does not feel very well.

If your dog is suffering from persisting Itching, all is not hopeless, but you must consult your vet as soon as possible.

I hope you found this data on pet skin disorders helpful. This article was condensed from a much longer article which can be found on the my-dog-has-fleas.com website at: dog skin problems

Dog Skin Problems – My Dog Can’t Stop Itching!

I need information on Shih Tzu skin problems and itching.?

We just adopted a seven year old Shih Tzu. She is spayed and a very sweet dog. She licks and scratches too much and hurts herself. What can I do to help her out. I am a first time owner of a Shih Tzu

I need information on Shih Tzu skin problems and itching.?
My dog had this when we first got him. He scratched so much that he had sores all over his body. We took him to the vet and she presribed him with steroids and a shampoo called Malaseb. I don’t know if you can but this over the counter but my advice would be ask your vet or buy your dog a special shampoo. Hope I could help!
Reply:Wash her with an anti-itch shampoo for dogs. Also, make sure she doesn’t have fleas or mites. Get Frontline or a comparable product from the Vet to take for fleas, ticks, etc. If she has a raw spot that is healing, it will itch. You can buy skin cooling spray for dogs. My Mom has a shih-tzu and used it on her when she was spayed, to keep her from biting and licking her stitches. You can find the shampoo and spray anywhere that pet care products are sold.
Reply:She could have fleas or allergies. If she has allergies and you use flea medicine she could aggravate her skin even more. Go to your local pet store that allows you to take the dog in with you and ask them; IF you can’t afford a vet bill already.. Or call the animal shelter where you got her from and see if they gave her a flea treatment that she may be allergic to!! ……………Good luck
Reply:What is the back ground on the dog? did she scratch and itch before coming to your house? could be food allergies?
Reply:u know..my 3 month all bichon does the same thing..we are going to the vet this saturadyyy..cuz im scared for him..but i reserched a little bit..and it could be allergiesss..or if nottt.. they just scratch themselves..the licking is normal from wht i know… they like to wash themselvessssssssssssssss
Reply:Could be allergies to anything. Could also be reactions to vaccines given by whoever you got her from. Please check out new recommendation for dogs and cats. Also see reactions from Duke University.
Reply:i would suggest a vet first. then look at what you are feeding her. poor quality foods will cause itching. for a good quality food check out animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/ click on dogfoodsbyrating
Reply:i have a shitzu, he used to scratch alot until we took him to a groomer and shaved his coat down to about an inch long, also if there is matting that will cause hot spots which are very painful and irritating, also if you bathe him too often that can very easily dry out his skin. you need to find the source of the irritation then address the problem….if you dont know it’s safer to take him to a vet

My dog"s skin problems, Hot Spots, Itching

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Expert: Valentina Vayntraub – 8/5/2010

Question
Hi, I have an eight-year-old Norsk Buhund and he has skin problems. He has patches of red skin, some spots where the skin seems to have been scratched off, and he pulls out his own fur at these areas. He had this really badly once before, but over time it went away. The other day I saw him itching, and even grabbing at his fur and trying to pull it out, and when I checked on him, I realised he had this problem again.
I took some photos of it, please look at them: http://www.deviantart.com/download/174055448/dog_skin_rash_by_threevoices.jpg
Please get back to me! I know they went away before but I’m just worried about him. He is a European dog, and we moved to Asia a few years ago, so it might be the humidity, but this has only happened recently.
We feed him only pedigree dog food and use frontline, heartguard and worm pills, so I’m concerned …
Thanks for your time,
Naomi Answer
Dear Naomi,

Some dog breeds are notorious for hot spots and skin rashes.  They are usually caused by mites, fleas, other parasites, low quality foods, allergies, and boredom. There are several things you  can do to help aid this situation.

1. Bathe him in oatmeal shampoo and get an oatmeal after rinse (conditioner type of product). Oatmeal soothes dry, itchy skin and helps it heal. This is one of my favorites: http://www.petco.com/product/111501/Nature-s-Dog-Fresh-Goat-s-Milk-All-Natural-O…
2. Make sure you are feeding him a good quality diet. By products, fillers, and grains can aggravate this issue. Heres a link that can help you make sense of what your dog is eating:
http://lapofluxurypets.com/blog/choosing-your-pet-food/
3. There are hot spot specific sprays and ointments that have worked wonders
4. Keep your home allergen free. Frequent dusting, vacuuming, and air purifiers can help.
5. In some cases unflavored Benadryl with vets permission may do the trick.
6. If it is boredom, get your dog walking, running, playing, and learning new tricks. This will help keep his mind off of it.
7. A vet can prescribe antibiotics or cortisone if the above doesn’t work.

Dog Skin Problems – My Dog Can’t Stop Itching!

By Jen Moore

We often hear of dogs with a chronic and insistent itching problem. And guess what? The problem can’t always be prevented by a flea collar. There are a number of reasons why your dog might non-stop scratch and require some form of pet medication. Below I will list and try to explain 6 reasons why your dog might scratch himself.

1. Environmental Skin Disorders - Dogs with environmental skin problems are otherwise healthy, but present with signs of itchy skin and/or hair loss. By matching what is visible on the dog’s skin with a probable environmental irritant – the cause of the skin problem can be determined and corrective measures taken. Contact with some plastics can create an environmental pet skin disorder.

2. Nutritional Skin Disorders - Correction of these cases of itchy dog should be a very simple and no pet medication is required. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats live their entire lives in less than optimum health because their caretaker feeds them the least expensive food in the grocery store and feels secure in doing so because of that “Complete and Balanced” statement on the packaging! Without proper nourishment this dog’s entire body, not just its skin and coat, will be continuously under stress.

3. Parasitic Skin Disorders - Pet owners most commonly associate dog scratching with fleas. Often, but not always, this guess is correct.

• There are a number of highly effective and safe flea medications and natural flea remedies. Repeated exposure to fleas can trigger a hypersensitivity to the bite of even a single flea. In some cases a simple flea bite can turn into an allergy itch from the flea’s saliva. It is very important to get rid of dog and cat fleas as soon as possible.


• Cheyletiella mites are often called “Walking Dandruff” because upon close inspection it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually moving about. These mites can be eliminated easily by using any common flea shampoo and no further pet medication is needed.


• Sarcoptic mites can be a terrible problem and can only be solved under vet care and with pet medication. Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.


• There are also Demodex mites (mange). These parasites live just under the skin surface in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of the dog’s skin. Demodex mites can be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. Demodex is most commonly seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a different and more serious problem

4. Infectious Skin Disorders - Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms can lead to awful skin and coat problems. Ringworm is an example of a Fungal organism. Yeasts can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Yeast infections typically create greasy, smelly and itchy signs in affected dogs. If a yeast infection is diagnosed, there’s generally some other problem going. Bacterial problems rarely occur spontaneously on a dog with normal healthy skin.

Infectious pet skin disorders are often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at a spot and undo any healing that has taken place. These spots can spread rapidly to other areas of the skin through chewing, licking, biting and scratching of previously healthy areas.

The treatment for Infectious skin disorders often include clipping the hair from the area to allow the air to dry it. The application of topical pet cream is helpful as is the administration of oral antibiotics.

5. Allergic Skin Disorders - These can be a challenge to diagnose, and once identified they can be difficult to treat. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.

Even common bacteria on the dog’s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research for diets to help dogs and cats with food allergies.

The treatments of allergic skin disorders include topical medicated soothing baths and ointments. The use of oral antihistamines can relieve some of the itch. More effective in alleviating the discomfort of allergies is cortisone.

6. Neurogenic Skin Disorders - This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a specific area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at a specific area, the cause of these problems is unknown. Most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, confinement, separation anxiety, family disruption, new environment, frustration or even a minor physical origin such as a tiny wound that catches the dog’s interest. No specific pet medication can be used to prevent this skin disorder.

In summary, keep in mind that any dog whose skin and coat are not in good condition needs vet attention and possibly pet medication because that dog likely does not feel very well.

If your dog is suffering from Chronic Itching, all is not hopeless, but you must consult your vet as soon as possible.

I hope you found this information on pet skin disorders helpful. This article was condensed from a much longer article which can be found on the my-dog-has-fleas.com website at: dog skin problems

J.Moore writes on pet issues for [http://my-dog-has-fleas.com/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Moore

Dog skin problems - irritation and itching and scratching dog Hot Spot

Dog Skin Allergies

There are many different opinions on the causes of dog skin problems: itching, scratching and chewing, often referred to as “hot spots”. These dogs eruptions are largely self-inflicted and generally called “hot spots” because they are often associated with heat. “Hot spots” are often diagnosed as eczema, pyoderma, seborrhea, flea allergies, allergies to food, grass, mold or other allergens, alopecia, pemphigus; Acral lick dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, staph, yeast infections and stress.

Dog Skin Allergies

It does not seem to be any skin problems at a consensus on the cause of these dogs, but they have a number of symptoms. It seems that dogs suffer from “hot spots” of itching so severe that dogs chew and scratch and develop their own trauma. This process results in open wounds, infections, hair loss and sometimes rawLeather> (elephant skin). These symptoms seem to be more common in warm, moist and sweet as the Sun Belt in the United States, although cases are as far north as Newfoundland and Alaska have been reported. “Hot Spot” conditions are global and affect millions of dogs. Statistically, no breed of dog more or less likely to develop this problem and the hybrids are just as likely to develop a “Hot Spot” show dog was bred. Agedoes not seem to be important that puppies can develop skin problems a couple of months. geriatric dogs may suddenly show signs of this condition if they had problems in his life.

Dog Skin Allergies

Because of different opinions on the cause of this problem there are many different treatments prescribed by the municipal veterinarian. The first choice of treatment is to relieve short-term usually prednisone or perhaps an antihistamine, in an attempt toThe itching and inflammation. The use of steroids is a serious treatment and can cause adverse side effects. The order of treatment is usually antibiotics or others to fight infections because of the dog’s skin to the point where you have an open wound is irritated. These treatments are only designed to treat the symptoms not the cause of the itching. Treatments such as special diets, allergy tests and home remedies such as shampoo, coal tarall basically a shotgun approach, hoping that something works. At this stage there is no statistical evidence that none of these treatments actually work.

Dog Skin Allergies

More than 25 years, Cornell University Veterinary School in New York, a study of the dog’s skin problems and found that the results of a treatment is not used in their tests were inconclusive. In fact, once again, about 30% of dogs with this problem with no treatment.

These 30%Recovery rates with or without treatment led to an important sector, questionable treatments for this disease produces painful skin of dogs. They are not statistical or scientific research methods and in accordance with the “products” with little or no evidence, scientific allegations.

Recent research has argued with some treatments with new scientific evidence and actual statistics for the effectiveness of these therapies are a new hopeabout 100 million or more dogs in the world who suffer from this painful disease of the skin.
This research is readily available on the Internet.

Dog skin problems – irritation and itching and scratching dog Hot Spot

Dog Skin Allergies

Dog Itching, Scratching and Hot Spots Can Be Due to Food Allergies

Wanted to provide more information about dog itching, scratching and hot spots. Many times, people go from veterinarian to veterinarian, searching for the answer as to why their dog continues to scratch constantly, chewing, licking on paws. If the owner is using flea treatment and has ruled out parasites and other infections, chances are it is allergies. Pets can have both food and environmental allergies as well as difficulties digesting the foods they eat. Many commercial diets are loaded with carbohydrates and fillers such as corn, wheat gluten, etc and many people shower their pets with allergy provoking wheat-filled dog biscuits!!! More and more, there are alternate choices but the bulk of all dog treats are loaded with wheat–which for many is a recipe for allergic reactions. We urge you to discontinue these potentially itchy treat and use hypoallergenic treats such as Wildside Salmon Treats which contain good healthy fats to actually help your pets skin and coats. Other alternatives are venison jerky, carrots or sliced apples.. If your dog has chronic skin and coat problems, itching, scratching, hair loss, most likely it is due to the food you are feeding and poor digestion. Take a look at the brand you are using—does it contain corn and other grains???? Even hypoallergenic diets that are full of potatoes can be potentially problematic because of the high carbohydrate count and the propensity this can cause in creating yeast. A list of potential foods to be avoided can be seen below. There is no “one” allergy diet that works for everyone. Each pet is different. You will need to try a few diets and/or learn how to prepare a homemade diet. We offer Holistic Pet Health Telephone Consultations and also in-person office visits at VCA Arroyo in Lake Forest, CA to assist you with this.

Common Allergens in Pet Food:

Corn

Soy

Gluten (found in wheat, barley, spelt and other grains)

Milk Products

Casein (found in cheese)

Beef (problem for some dogs)

Chicken (problem for some cats and dogs)

Fish (cats can often be allergic)

Peanut Butter (big allergen!)

Ask Ariel offers supplements to help with environmental allergies:

Amazing Omegas— potent formula for lustrous skin and coat
Proaller— homeopathic remedy that reduces a itching, red, itchy eyes and all allergy symptoms
Notatum— works great with Proaller and helps fights infection and inflammation
Syallgen— very helpful for itching and environmental allergies
AllerEaze— excellent for environmental allergies

Dogs: skin problems, itching

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Expert: Patti – 12/16/2009

Question
I have a weimareiner and he is the grey/blue color, he has major skin problems.  he itches constantly and has whelps that are red and raised and even has a yeast smell to his skin.  he has been to the vet, numerous times and got antibiotics, steroids, itching pills, pills to make him sleep so he won’t scratch. But I don’t know what else to do, he is miserable. Answer

Hi Vicky,

Skin problems can be a long term chronic problem with many dogs. They are usually hard to treat. Even though you’ve been to the vet a number of times, you need to continue working with your vet and try to find the underlying cause of the itch. The medication your vet prescribed treats the itchy symptoms, not the problem itself, so it might be effective in suppressing the itch for a while but the underlying problem remains. Itching can be caused from many things, ranging from a habitual behavior caused by boredom, to an allergy, an infestation of mites (which can be microscopic). Chronic itching can be caused by an inherited predisposition such as a thyroid disorder. On top of the thing that main thing causes of the itch, it sounds like your dog has a secondary yeast or bacterial infection which requires separate treatment.

You didn’t say what diagnostic tests have already been run on your dog, what treatments have been tried, and which (if any) have worked. If your vet seems stumped by your dog’s problem, having a veterinary dermatologist examine him would be helpful. If your vet can’t give you a referral to a veterinary dermatologist, you can locate one here: https://www.acvd.org

Talk to your vet about the possibility of a food allergy. Dogs with a food allergy usually develops itching on it’s feet, tail area or ears. Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause food allergies than others. In order of the most common offenders in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat, and soy. A food trial is something to try if diet is the suspected cause. A food trial consists of feeding your dog a “novel” food source of protein and carbohydrate for at least 12 weeks. A novel food source would be a protein and carbohydrate that your dog has never eaten before. Examples would include be rabbit and rice, or venison and potato. There are a number of such commercial diets available on the market, or you can buy a prescription hypoallergenic diet from your vet’s office. Regardless of the diet used, it must be the only thing your dog eats for 12 weeks. This means no treats, no flavored medications, no rawhide or pig’s ears; absolutely nothing but the special food and water. In addition, your dog should not be allowed to roam, which may result in him having access to food or garbage.

If after the food trial, your dog shows no improvement in his condition, you can rule diet out as the cause of the problem, and other diagnostic tests would be needed to get a diagnosis.

Steroids are powerful drugs that can have serious side effects with long term use. You should work to find the cause of the itch (if possible) and only use the steroids for the worst itching episodes. Besides treating your dog with the steroids, you might try an Omega Fatty Acid supplement to see if that helps. Veterinarians have found that fatty acids play important role in the health of the skin and coat, and also helps with allergies. Marine fish oil such as Salmon Oil  (not Cod Liver Oil) or Flax seed oil, as well as several over the counter brands such as Drs. Foster and Smith, 3V Caps, or Derm Caps ES  can be considered. You would need to give the Omega Fatty Acid supplement daily for at least a month before results may be seen. You should talk to your vet about using an over the counter antihistamine to control the itch. Different over the counter antihistamines have different active ingredients, you you may need to try more than one before finding one that works for your particular dog, which means your vet would need to give you dosing info on whatever brands you try.  Antihistamines can make your dog drowsy, so watch him around stairs!

I hope I’ve been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti

Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs

by Lorie Huston, DVM  

Dogs can become itchy and begin to scratch for many different reasons. However, allergies of various types are among the most common causes.

Canine Flea Allergy Dermatitis

An allergy to fleas is one of the most common reasons dogs become itchy. When a flea bites a dog, it injects a substance into the dog’s skin which causes the allergic response.

For a sensitive dog, one flea bite can make the dog extremely itchy. 

One of the most difficult things to understand is that often no overt evidence of fleas is present even though a flea allergy is the reason for the dog’s discomfort. This inability to find evidence of fleas stems from the fact that only one flea need be present and bite the dog in order for the allergic reaction to occur.

In addition, dogs frequently groom themselves and remove the evidence of the fleas through their grooming behavior. Therefore, not being able to find fleas does not rule out a flea allergy as a cause of itching in a dog.

Canine Atopy

Canine atopy is a type of allergy that causes a hypersensitivity reaction to environmental stimuli, such as dust mites or pollens. It is a common disorder in dogs and typically causes scratching and itching. Finding the source of the allergy in these cases can be challenging.

Food Allergies in Dogs

Food allergies are another common cause of itching in the dog. Food allergies can result from reactions to any ingredient within the food but beef, chicken and wheat are some of the most common culprits.

Bacterial Skin Infections in Dogs

Bacterial infections in the skin, commonly called bacterial dermatitis, are another common cause of itchiness in dogs. Bacterial skin infections frequently occur as complications to canine allergic skin disease and are usually a secondary disease.

Bacterial dermatitis must be successfully treated with antibiotics in order to evaluate and control the underlying allergic skin condition.

Canine Yeast (Malassezia) Skin Infections

Yeast skin infections most commonly involve a specific type of yeast known as Malassezia. Like bacterial skin infections, yeast infections are generally secondary to another underlying disease, often allergic in origin. Antifungal medications, such as ketoconazole, are needed to treat canine yeast infections.

Most Common Causes of Itching in Dogs

The three most common causes of itching in dogs are flea dermatitis, atopy and food allergies.

Any of these three types of allergies can be complicated with secondary bacterial or yeast invaders resulting in bacterial and/or yeast skin infections in affected dogs. These skin infections can become quite itchy in their own right and cause extreme discomfort and distress for the infected dog.

Less commonly, other causes, such as canine ringworm (dermatophytosis) or sarcoptic mange may cause itchiness and discomfort as well.

***

Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. 

Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. 

Articles by Dr. Huston:
Lyme Is Lame (Pun Intended)
The Ticking Bomb
Don’t Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!
Summer Perils: Blue-green Algae
Your Dog And Leptospirosis
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Distemper Virus