Have you got an itchy pooch or a scratching cat? Are you woken in the middle of the night by the sound of a paw thumping on the ground or the flapping of ears? Does your cat scratch itself to the point of making its skin sore or licking itself bald? These are all very common symptoms of dermatitis and skin pruritus (itchiness). Persistent itchy skin can be quite distressing for you and your pet, driving you both to distraction!

There are a variety of common causes of the itchy pet but most will fall into one of three categories – parasites, allergies or infections.

The number one trigger of skin itch in pets is still fleas and flea bite allergies. Some cats and dogs are very sensitive to flea saliva and only a few bites can trigger an intense irritation. Conversely, other pets can be inundated with fleas and are barely bothered. A flea comb is a cheap and useful diagnostic tool at home but, even if you can’t see any evidence of fleas, a good monthly preventative treatment is the first thing to do with any itchy patient.

Not all flea treatments are that effective, so make sure you are using a really strong, safe treatment. Mites are another common parasite and are impossible to see with the naked eye – the mange mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) is common in wildlife (classically seen in foxes) and causes an intense itchiness that is hard to distinguish from other causes of itch. A blood test or skin scrape will usually detect the presence of the mange mite and weekly injections or topical treatments are effective.

Lots of effective medications
Allergies are commonplace and – believe it or not – dogs can get a form of hay fever. However, instead of the itchy eyes and sinus symptoms that humans get, dogs tend to react to pollens and airborne allergens by getting dermatitis. They can also be allergic to house dust mites, fungal spores and even cats! It is possible to do allergy testing in pets and ultimately a desensitisation vaccine can be made up for severe cases.

Food allergies are less common but can also trigger skin problems. A simple hypoallergenic food trial is sensible for any persistent skin problem. Several brands of pet foods are made for skin allergies or you can make a home cooked hypoallergenic diet by changing the protein and carbohydrate sources in the diet.

Finally, skin infections – both bacterial and fungal – can cause irritations. These can also be seen as opportunistic infections when the skin is inflamed due to allergies or parasites, so a careful examination and sometimes various diagnostic tests are needed to work out the underlying trigger of a skin problem.

There are lots of effective anti-inflammatories, medicated shampoos and skin supplements that can ease skin irritation, and, in really frustrating cases, we may choose to do skin biopsies and allergy tests to get to the bottom of the itch. If your pet is persistently bothered by sore itchy skin come in and talk to us about what we can do to help.