Itching in a dog is an unpleasant phenomenon, accompanied by severe scratching. It is not an independent disease, but only acts as a symptom, warning about the danger. If your pet constantly scratches its body, then without timely help it will tear off its skin. Numerous injuries will lead to secondary infection and aggravate the existing problem.
How does itching appear in dogs?
It's quite easy to suspect something is wrong. The dog constantly itches and chews itself in a certain area or throughout the body. Due to unpleasant sensations, she sleeps poorly and refuses games and favorite treats. Appetite decreases, which quickly affects weight. The hair gradually falls out until some areas become completely bald. The skin becomes red and inflamed.
The probable cause of itching in a dog can be determined by its location. Active scratching of the ears indicates a high probability of otodectosis. If your pet rubs all parts of its body against furniture and rolls around on the floor, it may suffer from a skin disease or an allergic reaction. Regardless of the cause, treatment is carried out only after diagnosis in a veterinary clinic.
Brief conclusion
Please note that when a dog itches and chews itself, you should not panic, you need to take specific measures. When you cannot independently determine the cause of this behavior, you should consult a doctor. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances, as this can make your pet feel worse. When the dog does not stop itching for a long period, there is no need to put off visiting the doctor, because sometimes the dog needs emergency help.
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Diagnosis and identification of the cause
Using medications before diagnosis can distort test results. Veterinarians recommend avoiding self-medication and seeking help immediately after an alarming symptom appears.
After a visual examination and history taking, the veterinarian performs the following diagnostic tests:
- stool and urine analysis;
- clinical and blood biochemistry;
- skin scraping, as well as scraping of secretions from the affected areas;
- allergy tests;
- Ultrasound and X-ray.
If there are symptoms of a fungal infection and negative results of basic tests, additional tests may be required. The most popular diagnostic method for this disease is the Wood's lamp.
Parasitoses
Most often, itching in a dog occurs when infected with external parasites. This is due to lack of timely processing.
Fleas
Flea infestations cause an allergic reaction to the parasites' saliva. It contains a foreign protein that is rejected by the body of an infected animal. If there is a severe infestation of blood-sucking insects, you can notice them yourself. They look like small black or brown grains.
Despite the species classification based on the final host, fleas quickly adapt and can feed on the blood of any animal, including humans. The most dangerous species is the rat. These parasites are more likely than others to carry dangerous infections. A bitten dog can become infected with rickettsiosis, helminthiasis, endocarditis and other diseases.
Ticks
It is possible to find out why a dog itches if it does not have fleas by observing the accompanying symptoms. Tick-borne infestations are characterized by yellowing and severe peeling of the skin, as well as the formation of purulent inflammations. With otodectosis, dark brown discharge forms in the ears, and the sick pet constantly shakes its head.
Infection with subcutaneous mites is fraught with problems with the lymph nodes, kidneys, stomach, spleen and liver. Due to numerous wounds, the risk of death from sepsis increases. Once a secondary infection occurs, the chance of recovery is only 50%.
Like fleas, ticks carry infections. An infected person may suffer from hepatozoonosis, ehrlichiosis, bartonellosis or piroplasmosis.
lice eaters
Lice eaters are the closest relatives of lice, resembling white grains of dandruff and characterized by a quadrangular head shape. They feed on particles of fur and skin, causing severe itching in the dog. Most often, the symptom of infection occurs at the base of the tail, ears, belly or thighs. The affected skin becomes rough and thickened. The condition of the coat is deteriorating. Bald patches form.
Puppies can become infected from a sick mother. In addition to the listed symptoms, the presence of lice in young animals can lead to developmental delays. Also, these parasites often carry helminth eggs, which is especially dangerous for pets under 1 year of age.
Itching
Itching quite often bothers our four-legged friends. Most often it is triggered by infection, food allergies or ectoparasites on the animal’s body.
You should know that itching is most often manifested by the appearance of numerous scratches on the body, bites, too frequent licking of various parts of the body, self-injury and scratching of the perineal area. And, of course, the dog rubs its head on the floor or furniture and often rides on its back. It is the accompanying symptoms that can help owners distinguish the itching from the dog's normal habit of cleaning the face by rubbing.
If you notice two or more of the above clinical signs in an animal, you should not try to eliminate itching with drugs whose effect is purely symptomatic.
As mentioned earlier, itching often indicates parasites, allergies or infection, which means that eliminating it will not get rid of the underlying problem that is undermining the animal’s health. It follows that the best option in such a case would be to take the animal to a specialist, undergo all diagnostic measures, determine the cause of the itching and eliminate it, which will force the dog to stop rubbing against objects, and also relieve the pet from scratching and discomfort in general.
Skin diseases
Owners often do not understand what to do if the dog is itchy all the time, but it does not have fleas or other parasites. The fact is that parasitosis is only one of the possible causes. The symptom may also occur due to allergies, exposure to high or low temperatures, fungal or bacterial infections, or malfunction of the exocrine glands.
Allergy
Increased sensitivity to certain irritants causes the dog to experience itching, peeling of the paw pads and redness of the interdigital area. Watery discharge appears from the eyes and nose, and swelling and rash appear on the skin. Diarrhea and excessive sweating may occur, which can be easily detected by a damp sleeping area.
Allergic reactions in four-legged pets are more severe than in humans. They get worse with age, so it is recommended to stop attacks immediately after they occur.
Irritation from cold or heat
Overheating and frostbite injure the skin, so the animal constantly licks itself. This leads to the development of acral dermatitis - compulsive licking, leading to the formation of dense ulcerations and tissue death. This disease causes severe intoxication and is difficult to treat. Heat can also cause itchy pyoderma and even cancer.
Fungus (lichen)
The most dangerous fungal infection is ringworm. It is caused by fungi of the genus Microsporum. A sick dog constantly scratches its hind legs, neck and head. As the disease progresses, the fungi spread to the back and eventually affect the entire body. Infected skin develops circular redness, dry scabs and bald areas with well-defined borders.
Bacterial infection
Skin diseases are often caused by bacterial infections. The most common causes of pathology are streptococci and staphylococci, which cause pyoderma. This disease is accompanied by the appearance of erosive and ulcerative formations, purulent papules and skin inflammation. The patient's body becomes covered with dandruff and begins to emit a pungent smell of rot. The dog itches and bites the itchy areas, becoming weak and lethargic.
The hips, anus and base of the tail are primarily affected. The affected areas become covered with a rash, and their temperature rises. When touching the inflamed areas, the pet experiences a feeling of pain. Without treatment, inflammation spreads to neighboring areas, which can lead to necrosis and sepsis.
Hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands
Hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands, or sebaceous tail, occurs due to a disruption of the secretory function. The exact cause of this pathology has not been identified, but veterinarians identify several predisposing factors:
- lack of regular skin and coat care;
- the presence of other skin diseases or allergies;
- being kept in poor conditions and having a poor diet;
- sudden decrease in immunity.
Itchy sensations appear near the anus and at the base of the tail. Blackheads, redness, lumps and dandruff appear in these places. The fur begins to stick together and fall out.
What diseases can manifest themselves in this way?
An animal may scratch in different places due to itching, and specific diseases can be identified by the localization of areas of skin irritation. If a dog scratches its back near the tail and above, then this may be one of the symptoms of the following diagnoses:
- Allergy. The reason why dogs itch until they bleed when infested with fleas is not the bites themselves, but an allergic reaction to them. So, even one flea can lead to allergies. Therefore, preventive treatment is recommended, and not treatment of already results (very disastrous). Also, similar manifestations of allergies occur due to food intolerance. In dogs, it often occurs due to oatmeal porridge (in a natural diet) or cheap, low-quality food.
- Sarcoptic mange. Most often, the subcutaneous mite manifests itself through itching around and on the muzzle, but the most difficult cases to diagnose are manifested by scratching the back. Not every veterinarian will suspect sarcoptic mange. One of the signs is hair loss at the site of the lesion and the appearance of scabs.
- Neurodermatitis. Otherwise, the disease is called atopic dermatitis. The causes of its occurrence can be very different, but treatment usually does not begin until the one that matters in each specific case is found. Neurodermatitis is often used as a general diagnosis for allergies and other skin irritations.
- Ringworm. The disease is characterized not only by severe itching, but also by baldness of the area, its redness and the formation of peeling around the edges. The affected area usually has a clear round shape. Ringworm can be successfully treated; you just don’t have to wait for the moment when a scratched wound forms in its place, which can become infected.
- Burn. Both thermal and chemical burns will, of course, cause severe discomfort to the dog. Because of the latter, an allergic reaction may also develop, complicating the condition. Deep burns can be very dangerous for animals, so they must be immediately treated with suitable means, and then the pet must be taken to a veterinarian for pain relief.
Most of these reasons may seem obvious, but quite often dangerous diseases are masked behind seemingly simple reactions of the body. Therefore, if the dog’s problem does not subside within 3-5 days, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian.
Other reasons
The remaining causes are associated with psychological and internal disorders, as well as inflammation of the anal glands - small sacs with secretions that allow animals to distinguish each other by smell. With frequent inflammations, four-legged patients have to regularly visit the veterinarian for preventative cleaning of the glands. You can also learn this on your own.
Past stress
Constant scratching may be due to severe stress. It occurs due to experiences associated with moving, changing owners, having new family members, traveling by car, going to the veterinary clinic or grooming. If the animal’s condition returns to normal after a couple of hours or a day, then the stress is considered short-term and does not require medical intervention. In other cases, the resulting disorder is considered chronic. Without treatment it will only get worse.
Symptoms of mental disorders may include:
- mood swings;
- prolonged licking until the formation of bald patches;
- refusal to execute commands;
- excessive intrusiveness or desire for privacy;
- gnawing fur and biting the body;
- slight trembling and drooling;
- running in circles accompanied by barking or squealing;
- the emergence of interest in inedible objects;
- digging holes contrary to the owner's prohibitions.
Feeling changes in its body, the pet tries to get support and help from a person. To do this, he can spoil your favorite things and defecate directly on the floor. If your pet is well-bred, then such sudden changes are a serious reason to contact a veterinarian.
Diseases of internal organs
Itching in a dog is one of the symptoms of diabetes, endometritis, liver and kidney failure. Ultrasound and x-rays are used to identify pathologies of internal organs. These studies help determine the exact area and extent of its damage.
Inflammation of the anal glands
The anal glands are located just behind the entrance to the anus. The secretion they contain allows them to mark territory during bowel movements. When these pouches become inflamed, the dog rolls on its butt, bites its tail and licks the anus.
The cause of the inflammatory process is denser stool or clogged glands. This interferes with the natural release of secretions and leads to stagnation.
Treating the root cause
The main goal of treatment is to eliminate the root cause. Symptomatic therapy is carried out in combination. Depending on the diagnosis, the following treatment options are offered:
- Parasitoses
. The four-legged patient is prescribed insecticidal drugs (Spregal, Anandin, Frontline) that destroy the causative agent of the disease.
- Allergy
. Allergic reactions are suppressed with antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Diphenhydramine). Food allergies are blocked with a therapeutic diet that excludes allergenic foods, or with therapeutic hypoallergenic food.
- Irritation from cold or heat
. Secondary infections are suppressed with antibiotic therapy and glucocorticosteroids. Damaged areas are restored with anti-inflammatory ointments with a healing effect.
- Fungal and bacterial infections
. Eliminated with antibiotics and antifungal drugs. An animal with lichen is isolated in a separate room to prevent infection of other family members.
- Hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands
. It is treated with antibiotic therapy and treatment of inflamed areas with antiseptics.
- Stress
. The animal is protected from irritating factors or gradually accustomed to them. The veterinarian may also recommend taking sedatives (Fitex, Stop-Stress) or collars with pheromones that reduce anxiety.
- Diseases of internal organs
. Treatment focuses on repairing the damaged organ.
- Inflammation of the anal glands
. In case of severe inflammation, the veterinarian prescribes a course of antibiotics and suppositories. In other cases, the stagnant secretion is released by manual stimulation.
If the dog itches, then bathe it more often, relieving inflammation with the help of special shampoos. For faster healing, the affected areas are lubricated with linseed oil. For the same purpose, it is recommended to use decoctions of oak bark, birch leaves, oat grains and strawberry roots.
