Pruritus (Itching) In Dogs
Pruritus, the medical term for itching, is very common in dogs. Some pets will quite obviously scratch continuously, while others deal with the itch by chewing their feet, licking excessively, or rubbing themselves along the carpet. Pruritus is a symptom, not a condition in its own right, and there are lots of possible causes. Some skin diseases cause intense itching as a primary symptom. Other conditions cause changes in the skin that make it prone to secondary infection; it is this that then causes itching. If the underlying condition isn't treated, then the infection and subsequent itching will rapidly return. Several tests may be required to identify the underlying issue, but this is important to determine effective treatment and stop the problem recurring.
The most common causes of pruritus are:
- Allergies/atopic dermatitis
- Parasites
- Infection with bacteria or yeast
Skin scrapes, hair plucks and tape strips
Culture and sensitivity
General blood tests
Allergy blood tests
Diet trial
Biopsy
Parasite treatment
Antibiotics
Anti-pruritic
Immunosuppressants
Immunotherapy
Skin barrier support
Diet
The prognosis for pets with skin disease is good, however, managing skin disease is not always about cure. Conditions such as allergies are permanent, and long-term treatment is required. Although one treatment may prove particularly effective for an individual, usually several of the above components are needed together to manage symptoms. Sometimes, it can take time to learn the most effective combination for an individual.
Most pets have a threshold of what they can tolerate before the itching, secondary skin trauma and infection starts. By having good parasite prevention and giving additional skin barrier support, we can sometimes stop them reaching the "itch threshold" even though we may not be able to remove the environmental allergens.
