Dog is constantly scratching? (4 reasons and what helps against it)
If your dog scratches, nibbles or rubs his fur frequently, he may be suffering from severe itching. It can be a real pain and needs to be treated early on. Today I will explain the possible causes of itching and what solutions there are. For this article, we have also sought advice from veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic for this article. So stay tuned!
Basically, scratching is a completely normal reaction against itching.
Dog itching
Depending on where the stimulus is located, your protégé scratches himself with his claws. He may also nibble with his teeth or rub against a solid object.
Clear signs of itching with a questionable cause are:
- Flapping or twitching movements with the hind legs during petting
- Persistent scratching
- Reddened skin
- Rash, pimples, scaling
- Incrustations and wounds
- Hair loss
The causes are many and range from parasites, allergies, skin problems, psychological causes to foreign objects and collars.
Parasites
Parasites are a major cause of itching in dogs, especially in the warmer months. It is important to recognize signs early and act accordingly.
Fleas
To identify fleas, use a flea comb and look for black crumbs of dirt in the coat, which are flea droppings. A bath with anti-flea shampoo and regular brushing can help with early infestations. It is important to remove all flea eggs and larvae and to thoroughly clean your dog's bedding and accessories.
Mites
Common mites are grass mites, autumn grass mites and burrowing mites. They prefer warm seasons and tender skin areas such as between the toes, ears, legs and on the lower abdomen. If the ears are constantly scratched, ear mange could be present, recognizable by dark dirt in the ears. Special cleaning products can help initially, but if pain or complications are suspected, a vet should be consulted. Red pustules and crusty elbows are further signs of a mite infestation.
Ticks
Ticks lurk on plants and can release pain-relieving secretions into the skin when they bite, causing itching. Quick and proper removal of the tick is essential to avoid skin injuries and the transmission of diseases such as Lyme disease. To do this, use tick tweezers and pull the tick out vertically without leaving the head in the skin. If you are unsure, it is advisable to consult a vet.
Allergies
Another big factor for itching is allergies. Unfortunately, they are also steadily increasing in our dogs.
Flea saliva
As a rule, the reaction is triggered by a single flea infestation and occurs predominantly in the groin, loin region and on the tail. If flea saliva gets on the skin, an allergic dog reacts to it with itching.
Affected are mainly animals from the second to sixth year of life.
You can recognize the disease by swelling and crusting of the skin and hair loss. The vet can confirm the allergy by means of a blood test. Treatment involves removing the fleas and soothing the skin.
Food allergy
It occurs in many cases and can afflict dogs of all ages. Chemical additives, flavor enhancers and colorants in the food are responsible. But the most common cause is usually certain protein sources and cereals. An intolerance to lactose can also cause allergies.
The clear symptoms of a food allergy are, in addition to itching:
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- Bad breath
- Mucus in feces and vomit
- increased hair loss
In order to combat the food-related allergy and the resulting itching, the trigger must be found. This can only be achieved with an exclusion diet lasting several weeks. The affected person is first given a food that they have never been fed before. If he reacts with itchy skin, he is given a different food and so on.
If a food does not cause a reaction, it is allergen-free and edible for your pet. Often, tests are then started with the usual food components to find out exactly which components your four-legged friend reacts to. These may then no longer be fed.
Environmental allergy
This is a grass or pollen allergy. Likewise, certain minerals in the water, water plants or water parasites can cause an allergy.
The main symptoms are:
- Dry skin
- excessive dandruff
- Incrustations and wounds
- Redness
- bald spots on the coat
For treatment, your veterinarian will administer tablets and soothing skin cream to contain the irritation.
Contact allergy
It occurs when your faithful companion comes into contact with pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, poisonous plants or metals through the nose or body.
The skin is increasingly affected by synthetic fibers and nickel on the harness. Be careful with collars with metal decorations, they may contain nickel.
The stressed skin develops red pustules and spots. The allergy disappears if the trigger is avoided. A soothing skin cream helps to relieve the itching until the skin has recovered.
Other causes
Scratching the buttocks
If your dog rubs its rear end on the floor or licks it conspicuously hard, this may be due to dirt residue or full anal glands.
With very young, older or sick pelt-noses, it can happen that defecation or keeping clean no longer works properly. Sometimes he eats a lot of grass and the stalks don't get all the way out and hang out of the anus. Such residues can be easily removed with a damp cloth.
If the anal glands are blocked, he will slide on the floor with his bottom. If the glands are blocked, it is best to have them drained by a vet. Other causes of an itchy anus are worms. These include tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms.
Dry or flaky skin
This can be caused by diet, too frequent bathing or genetics. If the skin suffers a deficiency or excess of vital nutrients such as zinc, minerals and vitamins, its metabolism becomes imbalanced. The skin dries out, forms scales and itches.
On the packaging of the dog food you can see and check the information of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. If there is a deficiency of vitamins, sometimes a small dose already helps Fish oil, a nutritional supplement or a change of feed.
Other causes of the skin reaction are an infestation of pests and substances in the dog shampoo. It is important that the shampoo is thoroughly washed out of the coat and that the rinsing water is crystal clear. The trade offers products containing mink oil, tea tree oil and aloe vera. These help to balance the skin flora.
Body care
Dogs often scratch themselves due to a thick coat, matting or dirt. You can prevent this by regularly brushing or clipping the coat in summer. The hair should not be cut too short so that the skin is protected from the sun's rays. If you don't have the confidence to do this yourself, a professional groomer is recommended.
Itching on the teats or sebaceous glands
In addition to parasites and allergies, an ulcer on the udder and a false pregnancy can be the cause of scratching. In this case, the teats are red, injured and swollen. Wiping with a damp and cool cloth can help spontaneously.
Reminding your dog to scratch sometimes helps, otherwise you should take your four-legged friend to the vet. Another problem is inflammation of the sebaceous glands. They are located on the dog's lips, among other places. If they are blocked, this can cause itching.
Psychological scratching
This is mainly due to separation anxiety and boredom, which cause scratching even without itching. If your pet only scratches itself when you touch it, when it meets other dogs, when it is alone or when it is resting, the trigger may be stress and nervousness.
The triggers are usually excessive loneliness, fear of conspecifics and people, thunderstorms, darkness or noise.
If your furry friend suffers from separation anxiety, this must be treated at an early stage. It can only be brought under control through lengthy and patient training. The training consists of gradually increasing the phases of being alone.
Ideally, your pet will gently learn that he does not have to be afraid when being alone and that you will always come back to him. Professional dog trainers have a lot of experience with this difficult problem. Training is worthwhile!
If your dog is bored, soft music and an activity toy such as a chew bone can keep him entertained while you are away. Ideally, you should only leave your pet alone very briefly and rarely, as he is a pack animal.
Eliminate itching
Some causes of itching are easily remedied:
Foreign body
Sometimes the ear itches because an ant or bug has got lost in it and is irritating the skin. Your faithful companion tries to get rid of the intruder by scratching, rubbing or shaking. It will hold its head at an angle and make itself known to you by looking, nudging or rubbing. Be careful, as the eardrum could be affected.
If the foreign body is deep-seated and your pet expresses pain, you must be very careful.
Collar, chest harness and muzzle
As a rule, your darling gets used to wearing these things after a while. But at the beginning he often tries to get rid of the load by scratching or shaking.
First you should determine whether the attached part fits properly and whether there is dirt, parasites or stitches underneath. If you take the harness off for a while and the reaction stops, you will be able to tell whether this is the cause of the scratching. After a slow familiarization phase, your pet will accept the harness.
Spot-on medication from the vet
To prevent parasites such as fleas and ticks, we recommend using a spot-on product. This is applied directly to the dog's neck where it cannot lick it off.
Grass mite prevention
To minimize grass mite infestations, keep the grass areas around the house short. This reduces the mites' habitat. Shoes to protect the paws can be useful for particularly susceptible dogs.
Worming
Regular worming is important to prevent worm infestation. The vet can recommend the right product depending on your pet's needs.
Feed quality and allergy prevention
A healthy intestinal flora can prevent allergies. Therefore, choose high-quality food without sugar and artificial additives. Barfeeding (organic raw food) can also be beneficial for your dog's health.
Regular personal hygiene
Grooming the ears, teeth, toenails and, if necessary, the rear end helps to prevent itching.
Healing processes and skin care
Itching can be a sign of the healing process and disappears as the skin heals. Frequent stroking promotes the skin's oil production and keeps it supple.
Social needs
As dogs are pack animals, it is important that they are alone as little as possible to avoid stress and the resulting itching.
Skin regeneration and Bach flowers
After overcoming the cause of itching, the skin needs time to regenerate. Bach flowers for animals can play a supporting role in the treatment.
By combining these measures, you can protect your dog's health and reduce the risk of itching.
Itching can have many causes. Some of them are harmless and can be easily fixed by you. Others, however, definitely need the help of a veterinarian. Here is another infographic with the most important points to pin or print.
If you are not sure about the cause and solution of your pet's itching, I recommend you not to waste time. Even if there is no serious disease behind it, itching itself is a nuisance enough. You know it from your own experience.
My article gives you clarification and assistance, but is not a substitute for a veterinarian. The exact search for causes is tedious, but it will be worth it for you and your dog.
