Why the Scratching?
The most common reason for an itchy dog or cat is fleas.
Flea allergies are much more common than food allergies, according to Dr. Domenico Santoro of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Even an indoor dog or cat can pick up fleas drag into a home on the bottom of shoes.
“The only real way to prevent a dog from ever contacting fleas is to put it in a bubble,” said Dr. Santoro.
In order for a flea to be successful, they have to find a dog or cat and then inject their saliva (which prevents blood from clotting) into the animal. Then, while holding onto the animal’s skin, they begin to enjoy their blood meal.
The one good thing about dog and cat fleas is that owners needn’t worry about contracting them from their pets. Fleas generally don’t like humans.
Dogs afflicted with flea allergies have very distinct clinical signs: hair loss, scabs, and flakiness, especially localized at the base of the tail, thighs, and abdomen.
Fortunately, there are several products on the market to treat fleas, some of which are better than others. Many flea products available at the grocer are less expensive than what can be purchased through a veterinarian, but be cautious. Some ingredients can sound similar to one another and while one may be okay to use, the other one may be deadly.
Even among the flea preventatives sold only through veterinarians, some actually prevent the flea from even coming near the dog, while others only kill the flea after it has had its last supper and bitten the dog.
It is important to note that fleas are by no means the only reason for an animals’ itchiness. Dogs can have allergies as the seasons change, as do humans. Food allergies could also be to blame, as well as a long list of other parasites, bacteria, and fungi.
Only a veterinarian can effectively diagnose the problem and provide the right treatment.
Source: University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
