Itching, Scratching, Chewing (Pruritis) in Dogs

When your dog chews and bites himself, he is trying to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling of itchiness. If your dog is constantly itchy and scratching to the point of hair loss and redness, this is considered pruritus. It can be in one certain area or the whole body. Itching may be caused by several disorders, such as contact dermatitis, allergy, and infection. The itching can also be caused by parasites, such as fleas or mites.

Inflamed skin caused by chewing or licking is common in dogs. It is also known as pruritus (itching), and it is not actually a disease or disorder, but a symptom of another problem. The key to treatment is to find the cause of the itching.

If your dog is unable to stop the licking and scratching, take him to the veterinarian without delay before secndary infection affects the skin. Signs to watch out for include:

• Constant scratching
• Excessive skin licking
• Gnawing
• Rubbing
• Self-injury
• Redness of the skin
• Bald spots
• Whining
• Anxiety
• Aggravation

Your pet could display itching signs that are to the extreme, leading to distress and anxiety. Some of the causes for the uncontrollable itching, scratching, chewing or licking could be as follows.

• Allergy (atopic dermatitis)
• Infections (yeast, bacteria)
• Parasites (fleas, mites, ticks, lice)
• Contact dermatitis
• Hormonal disorders

The first thing your vet will do is a physical examination of your dog’s entire body. He will pay special attention to the areas of redness and inflammation where your dog has been itching. Provide your veterinarian with as much detailed information as you can about the itching, such as when it started, any changes in diet or shampoo, if the itchiness is getting worse, and what was going on at the time of the itching.

 A skin swab may be taken to be tested for bacteria or yeast infection while a skin scraping may help to identify any deep mites. The veterinarian may also do a CBC, blood chemistry, and skin allergy test to check for signs of a hormonal condition,, immune disorder, allergy, or other problems.

Your veterinarian will give your dog some anti-itch medicine to stop the itching while you are waiting for results from the tests. Once the cause of the itching is determined, your veterinarian will decide on the best course of treatment.

Allergy

• If the itching is caused by allergy, the veterinarian will administer antihistamines and steroids '(or other anti-itch medicine) to suppress the itchiness. You may also be given a prescription for a medicated shampoo to use for 7 to 10 days. While not always possible, it is useful to try to identify the allergen, such as new food or shampoo. Changing your dog’s diet or shampoo will prevent the itching from returning. If the problem does not get better or if it returns, bring your dog back to the veterinarian for further testing. Frustratingly, many 'allergic' dogs will react to more than one thing and will react to things that are difficult to avoid such as pollen, grass and dust mites.

Infection

• If your dog’s itchiness is caused by infection, your veterinarian will prescribe an oral antibiotic and medicated shampoo to use for 2 to 3 weeks.  They will also need an anti-itch medicine to break the itch scratch cycle. Infections are often secondary to other issues.

Parasites (including Scabies)

• Parasites (including scabies, a type of mange) are treated with anti parasite medicine and sometimes a special shampoo. Be sure to wash all the bedding that your dog has been laying on recently to keep the parasites from returning. Similarly, any in-contact animals must be treated.

Many forms of itching need to be treated continually to get rid of the problem. We cannot cure atopic dermatitis and flare ups are to be expected; the aim is to control signs as much as possible.

It may be necessary to use a prescription shampoo and anti-itch medicine for your dog for the rest of his life to prevent reoccurrence. 

Treating conditions related to pruritis can be expensive. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.