The medical term for itching is pruritus. In the following video, we discuss the most common causes of itching in dogs as well as possible treatments.
What causes itching in dogs?
It's an inflammatory reaction that causes the itch. During this reaction, cellular mediators are released. These mediators are varied and can come either from the body or from outside. They are irritating to the skin. This triggers a reflex in the animal: it scratches.
Among the factors causing irritation and inflammation, we first think of parasites. Indeed, an infestation of fleas or scabies is very often the cause of itching. When the animal is properly protected against these parasites, the veterinarian directs his diagnosis towards an infectious cause.
A bacterial proliferation or a fungus developing on the skin can also be sources of itching. The most common infectious agents are bacteria from the Staphylococci family and fungi belonging to the Malassezia genus.
Dog itching is also associated with different allergies: pollen, insect bites or certain foods. This is a hypersensitivity reaction that can occur throughout the life of the animal. A dust mite allergy can also be involved in the onset of itching. Some dog breeds are atopic, which means that these dogs are predisposed to develop antibodies against environmental allergens, which cause allergic reactions.We can cite the Bulldog, the West Highland Terrier, or the Labrador among the breeds affected.
Finally, excessive scratching can also be considered a behavioral disorder. Many cases have been reported where an animal exposed to a source of stress or, on the contrary, living in a poorly stimulating environment, has developed excessive pruritus.
Dog itch and diagnosis
To establish the cause of the itching, the veterinarian first treats the most probable cause before starting heavier therapies or carrying out more tests. This is called a diagnosis of exclusion.
As we said before, during itching, the veterinarian first looks for the presence of parasites. He uses a comb to detect fleas in your pet's coat, but he can also scrape the skin or apply a Scotch-test which he then analyzes under a microscope.These simple and painless tests allow you to quickly find out the origin of the itching and thus treat the animal appropriately.
To diagnose an allergy, the veterinarian may recommend an avoidance diet of the suspected allergen. An elimination diet consists of feeding the animal with a single source of protein. Indeed, the source of protein is most often the cause of food allergy in dogs.
The case of atopy is more complex since there is no test to establish its diagnosis. However, the location of the lesions and the lack of response to the various previous treatments allows the clinician to conclude on this hypothesis.
What treatments to consider?
The treatment adapts to the cause of the itching. If they are parasites or bacterial infections, pest control products and antibiotics are used. If it is a fungus, an antifungal is used and the treatment is spread over a fairly long period, ranging from 2 to 10 weeks.
In the case of allergies or atopy, corticosteroids are often prescribed, which are very effective in relieving the itching sensation. However, when administered for a long time, they are responsible for some undesirable side effects, such as diabetes mellitus or a drop in immunity.
For cases that do not respond to conventional treatment or to avoid prolonged administration of corticosteroids, other molecules, such as immunomodulators, are used.
Often, the veterinarian combines several substances in order to increase the effectiveness of drugs and quickly relieve the animal.