When is a scratch more than an itch?

Some signs in dogs are obvious – itching, scratching, redness – but some may not be. So, look out for:

• Recurring ear or skin infections
• Licking excessively at their paws (other than just to clean them)
• Rubbing their face along furniture or the ground, or with their paws
• Scooting their bum along the ground – this can occur with full anal glands and occasionally with worms, but also with allergies
  
  

Cats are a bit different but may show the following signs:

• Licking until they cause a red raw lesion
• Multiple small raw spots
• Overgrooming causing bald areas, even with no obvious lesions on the skin itself
  
  

Twenty percent of dogs with food allergies will have both a skin irritation as well as vomiting and diarrhoea. Dogs that are allergic to a plant or pollen may only itch in the warmer months, when these plants are going to seed and pollen is rife. A dog allergic to something in his diet will tend to itch all year round.

To make things more complex, a good proportion of itchy dogs have multiple triggers for their skin problems.

When it comes to allergic skin disease, the most important messages are:

• There is no cure, but it can be managed
• Normally a combination of diet, shampooing and medication will be required
• Allergic skin disease is lifelong. There will be flare-ups, and management strategies will need to change with the dog as they age.
  
  

Come and have a consult with us and we can put together a management plan for your cat or dog’s skin problems.