Showing posts with label Dog Scratching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dog Scratching. Show all posts
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Dog Scratching

The Causes of Scratching in Dogs

The Causes of Scratching in Dogs

December 06, 2017
Dogs scratch for any number of reasons. They generally do it to relieve a real itch – the result of an allergy, a flea bite, or an irritation that they might get from time spent out of the house in water, mud, or other irritants.

When your dog starts to itch, the easiest way to identify the source is to watch him and his other symptoms.

If you see dandruff, a dull coat with no oils, or constant sneezing, he is probably suffering from dry skin and allergies.

If he starts developing red spots or sores, he may have a skin infection that can grow and actually make him ill. If this is the case, you need to see the vet immediately to get treatment for the infection.
Other possible sources might be neurological. A dog that spends far too much time licking and scratching and not enough time outside, getting exercise or enjoying the nice weather is highly likely to develop dry, itchy patches that will need treatment.

When to Worry About Scratching, For the most part, you can ignore when a dog starts to scratch. However, when it becomes chronic, or any form of damage starts to appear as a result of their scratching, you need to rethink your allowance.

For example, if you see any sores start to open up or the dog gets particularly vicious in his scratching, think about taking a trip to the vet to see if there might be a deeper underlying cause for their issues.

A veterinarian will do a series of blood tests and checks on the dog's skin to make sure there are no serious diseases or problems related to their scratching. For example, if they start bleeding or have swollen ears or other infections, it could be a deeper underlying issue that needs to be dealt with.

How to Stop Excess Scratching

There are a few ways to curb all that scratching. First up, try to treat any issues that may have developed as a result of infection or allergies. Get him tested and then get the necessary flea medications or antibiotics.

After treatment, you can curb further scratching by applying deterrents to the spots such as bitter apple or cayenne pepper. You can also tape it up so he cannot scratch the surface, and then use a cone of some sort that will keep him from getting to it.

If your dog scratches his neck every now and then, it’s just an itch. Don’t worry about it. However, if your dog sits and scratches endlessly at his backside or bites his leg for hours at a time, there is something at work that should be dealt with.

It could be fleas, an allergy or a neurological impulse to scratch for no good reason but that your dog is bored. Whatever the case, tackle it head on, and if you can’t get him to stop, see your vet to rule out any medical causes.


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Stop Dog Scratching Before It Becomes A Major Health Issue

January 31, 2017
A dog that scratches over and over again is an annoyed dog so it is necessary to stop dog scratching immediately.

Dog owners around the globe are anxious about helping their dog to learn not to obsess over scratching.

Scratching can be initiated by external irritants like fleas or internal forces like being bored and under-stimulated. Skin problems occur when over scratching is not addressed appropriately.

Why Do Dogs Scratch So Much?

A dog owner must first discover the underlying cause prior to being in a position to stop dog scratching. There can be a variety of reasons.
  • Allergies – Allergic reactions can be produced by plants, dust, fleas, and food. Just like they do for humans. These allergies can cause a dog to scratch incessantly.
  • Lack of Proper Nutrition – Dry skin created by an improper diet can result in open sores, eczema, and bad hair.
  • Infections – Fungus, bacteria, and yeast can cause infections of the skin. Signs of this include, but is not limited to swelling and redness, patches of skin without hair and sores that may or may not ooze.
  • Bugs – Fleas, flies, mites, gnats, and ticks can motivate a dog to scratch the same spot over and over again. There are many choices in medication to end these annoyances. 
  • Environmental – A big change in the environment, prolonged exposure to water, or other obsessive behaviors like digging can lead to scratching.
  • Neurological Issues – Separation anxiety, a lack of mental or physical exercise can all end in a nervous pet. A nervous pet may soothe himself by excessive chewing, licking and scratching.

 The Imminent Vet Visit

Stop Dog ScratchingOnce you think you know why your pet is scratching you can visit your veterinarian for confirmation and for treatment choices. Don’t be shocked if full check-up is needed to help make a diagnosis to stop dog scratching. Allergies will probably be treated with little changes to your pet’s diet and antihistamines. Parasites can be destroyed with medications as well along with timely flea baths. Infections will require creams to use externally and antibiotics to treat the internal infections.

Stop Dog Scratching – Neurological Scratching

The cause of neurogenic scratching is harder to pinpoint and eliminate than the physical causes of scratching. The physical effects can be treated with medication or small changes in diet and exercise habits. But for obsessive, prolonged neurogenic itching, a special approach is needed.

Plenty of exercises is vital to stop dog scratching. It helps fight boredom. Boredom can lead to a nervous tic that causes your dog to lick or scratch constantly in a hypnotic fashion. Besides exercise, try adding a non-harmful spray that contains cayenne or bitter apple to his favorite spot to lick. This will help break them of the habit.

You can request a cone from your veterinarian. These cones will not let your pet to scratch those sore and itchy spots. You can remove the cone once they overcome the habit of scratching in those particular places and their activities more closely identify with normal behavior for dogs.

If these remedies do not work, or your dog seems to respond appropriately and then goes back to scratching and licking, you may want to consider a return visit to your veterinarian to stop dog scratching. They can once again rule out any physical problems that may have cropped up in the process of treatment.

You can never be too overprotective when it comes to protecting your dog. Paying proper attention to your pet will help in identifying why your dog is scratching so much, thus helping you stop dog scratching. Often the treatment is simple and the ailment is swiftly cured.

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