The dog itches a lot at night. The dog has severe itching

Possible reasons

Most often, itchy dermatitis is caused by ectoparasites. But what to do when your dog itches a lot but doesn’t have fleas? The owner takes care of the pet, regularly treats the skin with insecticidal sprays or drops, but pruritus bothers the dog. Insect attacks most often occur in the summer, but the animal itches even in cold weather, when there are no fleas. The following factors cause itching are distinguished:

Stress.
Injuries.
Contact with irritants.
Exposure to heat or cold.
Parasites.
Allergy.
Infection.

In all cases, when eliminating itchy dermatitis, in addition to specific medications, antibacterial agents, as well as antimycotics, will be required.

Allergic reactions

If your dog itches regularly, this symptom may be due to an allergy. This means that the body reacts negatively to the introduction of a foreign element. Usually everything alien and useless is quickly removed from it. For dogs with allergies, everything happens differently. At the moment of entry of a foreign organism, an inflammatory process is started with the simultaneous release of the mediator of the allergic reaction (histamine) into the blood. It is this organic compound that is responsible for the activation of immune cells. Under the influence of foreign elements, it enters the active phase and manifests itself in the form of itching, rash, redness, swelling, hyperemia, etc.

Almost always, allergies to animals are transmitted genetically. Long-term stress and anatomical features of the endocrine and nervous systems can also provoke negative reactions in the body.

The most common sites of allergy in dogs

The course of the disease in dogs has the following characteristics:

its course is more complex, that is, it has more severe symptoms than other four-legged animals and people;
a large number of allergens;
symptoms appear most on the skin;
With age, the manifestation of allergies intensifies.

Cause unwanted body reactions in dogs:

change of feed, some food products;
care products for ticks, fleas and other parasites;
vaccination, taking certain medications;
parasite bites and excretion of their metabolic products;
viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminths.

An allergy can appear immediately after contact with an irritant or over time.

Allergies on the stomach and paws of a dog

Along with severe itching, the following signs appear:

a large amount of mucus is released from the nose and eyes (has no color, unlike infectious and viral exudate);
the skin on the paw pads is dehydrated, dry, flaky, and there is redness in the interdigital area;
rash, redness, swelling, scratching on the skin;
wet tracks in places where the dog rests (excessive sweating);
frequent bowel movements, possible diarrhea;
inflammation in the ears.

Important! Excessive sweating in dogs always indicates health problems. There are sweat glands between the toes and on the muzzle. The animal's sweat is not similar in consistency to human sweat. It is more viscous and has a smell (not dog!).

Here is a video showing the reasons for scratching dogs without the presence of fleas and ticks:

Video - Why is your dog itchy but there are no fleas?

Stress

Dogs, especially puppies, are impressionable creatures. After purchase, the baby is brought to a new home. Everything is unusual: the food, the decor, the people around you. The pet experiences a feeling of itchy skin. The puppy is itching, but there are no fleas.

Similar symptoms are observed in adults during or after an expert exhibition. Some dogs do not cope well with travel and transportation. An inadequate reaction to changes in living conditions also occurs in adult dogs. Transferring from a kennel to an apartment or vice versa causes a feeling of confusion. There are individual and breed predispositions to stress.

The irritated condition in most cases goes away without treatment, the itching stops spontaneously. However, the dog owner needs to watch the pet. If you notice that your dog reacts violently to changes in the environment, Stop Stress or Kot Bayun medications can help. They should be taken 5 days before the expected event and for the same time after.

Check out our review of sedatives for dogs.

Reasons why it itches

Before puzzling a veterinarian with such a problem, you should try to figure out the reasons yourself. In fact, itching is a severe discomfort that brings suffering to the dog. The animal suffers from nervousness and lack of sleep. The pet tries to bite the fur, gnawing something on it, although there may not be fleas on the body.

This behavior can be explained by several reasons, which can be divided into several large groups:

Parasites that have nothing in common with fleas. However, the presence of other types of “living creatures” is just as unpleasant as if the dog’s fur was attacked by familiar fleas.
Allergy. Manifestations from the body are characterized by some specific symptoms, for example, redness or watery eyes, constant itching of the skin, drowsiness, and weakness.
Various skin diseases. Unfortunately, the list of pathologies that cause itching in dogs is too long. In addition to scabies, there are other specific symptoms.
Disruption of the sebaceous glands. Provoked by internal failures. The reason must be determined by a specialist.
Emotional shock. In fact, this is a common reason for an animal's unusual behavior. However, it is quite difficult to diagnose. After all, the presence of other possible factors is first dismissed, and if their absence is revealed, then the pet’s psychological state is checked.
Systemic diseases. Among the dangerous diseases that cause itching in a dog can be diagnosed: oncology, diseases of the reproductive system, endocrine disorders and others.

It is still necessary to identify and eliminate the cause of the dog's hair combing. This problem should not be left to chance. Because any of the above reasons can provoke even greater complications.

Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites are living organisms that live and parasitize on the surface of a dog’s skin. Resident individuals live and reproduce in their familiar environment (on the host’s body). Temporary - use the skin and fur of an animal as a nutritional element (food for small parasites - blood and skin particles).

Most parasites belong to the arthropod family. These individuals have special fastening claws or spines that allow them to securely cling to the surface of the body or hair of the owner.

Parasites are divided into several classes. Many of the known common parasitic creatures belong to the class of insects (mosquitoes, mosquitoes), others belong to the arachnids (for example, ticks). A small group of bloodsucking animals is represented by leeches.

Among the parasites found in mid-latitudes, the most common are:

ticks (ixodid, gamas, subcutaneous and others);
lice eaters.

Mite

The first type of parasites can cause a number of dangerous diseases in dogs (pyroplasmosis, borelliosis, encephalitis and others). The subcutaneous tick can live for a long time on the surface of the animal’s body, but when immunity decreases, it penetrates deep into the skin epithelium, causing severe discomfort in its owner. The female mite lays eggs under the dog's skin, and inflammation and itching develop at the site of their localization.

The scabies mite gets its name from the disease it causes in a living creature. This variety is also called itching. Sometimes the owner, when examining a pet, clearly sees that there are no ticks. However, the problem may be located within the skin.

The skin of a healthy animal is attacked by itching only when the body surfaces of a healthy and sick animal are in contact with each other for a long time. It takes half an hour for the parasite to migrate. A fertilized female mite lays eggs in the outer layer of the skin. The hatched larvae begin to move under the skin, causing severe itching in the dog.

Vlasoed

The lice beetle is another type of parasite that lives on the body of an animal. This type belongs to flightless insects, and therefore prevention of occurrence should be similar to manipulations aimed against lice.

The parasite feeds on particles of the host's skin and hair. Unlike scabies or lice, the presence of lice is indicated by baldness and severe dermatitis. The entire period the parasite is on the body is accompanied by unbearable itching. In general, the picture strongly resembles scabies, so sometimes treatment is prescribed incorrectly.

Allergic reaction

It is known that some insects drink blood from the body of a living creature almost unnoticed. Take, by the way, a mosquito. The absence of sensation during skin puncture and blood suction is achieved thanks to the injection of natural liquid by flying insects. Through its proboscis, the mosquito introduces its saliva into the body of a living creature, and the skin of a person or dog begins to go numb.

Some organisms may react to a foreign protein. The bite site begins to itch and itch. The intensity of discomfort depends on the reaction given by the body. Basically, those dogs who have previously been allergic to food components react acutely to insect bites.

An allergenic dog may experience severe shock or swelling of the larynx from a mosquito or other insect bite.

Other factors can also cause allergies in a dog:

chemical or food poisoning;
transfer from one type of feed to another;
vaccination;
dust and other substances contained in the air.

The dog begins to scratch or chew its toes, belly, back, and base of the tail as much as possible. A rash in the form of red spots often forms on the pet's body. This symptom will be especially noticeable in dogs with short hair.

Some foods can cause food allergies in animals:

horsemeat;
milk serum;
beef;
mutton;
chicken meat;
soybeans

Also, the manifestation of an allergic effect can be triggered by the use of certain medications (eye or ear drops, vaccination serum, insect sprays). A dog may itch if the preparation for treating the fur is incorrectly selected, for example, after receiving flea drops.

Skin diseases

Dogs are susceptible to dermatological diseases. One of the main signs of dermatitis is constant itching. It is quite difficult to explain to a pet that it is better not to scratch the body, therefore, when skin diseases occur, severe swelling and irritation often form on the surface (up to the formation of wounds). The appearance of open wounds is very dangerous, as they can become infected.

The peculiarity of dermatological problems is that the symptoms do not depend on the original source of the disease. There are several types of dermatitis:

Parasitic. In this case, the skin pathology is a consequence of an insect bite.
Contact. The skin is constantly in contact with the allergen. Any familiar thing - bedding, clothing - can become a provoking factor. If you put a flea collar on your dog, you should monitor its reaction in the first days. The itching may stop if you remove the medicinal element from the pet's neck. Very often, owners say that the dog is very itchy precisely because of the flea collar.
Traumatic. Formed as a result of damage to the skin - from the formation of wounds, scratches.
Allergic. In other words - atopic. The disease manifests itself due to the body’s strong reaction to banal things - flowering plants, pollen, materials, food and others.

Regardless of what the reason was, the signs of dermatitis will be as follows:

unbearable itching;
redness and swelling of irritated areas of the body;
increase in temperature in the affected area;
hair loss from the problem area;
the formation of wounds, and then hard crusts at the site of scratching.

Most of the causes of dermatitis are interrelated and are identified against the background of other symptoms with great difficulty. However, it is still worth getting to the truth and eliminating the factor that provoked the disease. Otherwise, constant scratching can turn into constantly weeping open wounds, and then into ulcers.

Hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands

There are sebaceous glands located around the base of a dog's tail. Sometimes their activity is disrupted, this leads to the sticking of hair in the indicated place, the appearance of black spots on the body and seborrhea. The dog tries to relieve the unbearable itching by gnawing its tail, moving on the ground on its butt, and licking the anal area.

The veterinarian will have to find out and eliminate the cause of hyperfunction of the glands. Until complete recovery, the only relief for the dog is treating the animal's fur with shampoos that stimulate the activity of the sebaceous gland.

Stress

If the skin is clean, there is no dandruff, there is also no redness on the body, but the dog scratches the skin all the time, you should think about your relationship with him.

Itching of the body can be caused by constant emotional turmoil or overexertion of the pet. A dog reacts to its environment in the same way as a human.

Signs of an unstable psyche in an animal are:

insomnia;
lack of appetite;
passivity;
digging holes;
severe itching.

Stress in a pet can arise due to seemingly ordinary actions:

travel in transport;
frequent visits to the veterinary clinic;
painful medical procedures;
loss or change of owner;
heated home environment;
severe hypothermia or overheating;
long illness;
pregnancy and difficult labor;
hard workouts.

To restore peace and good mood to your pet, you should surround him with attention, care and affection. It is important to instill in the dog that it is a full member of the family. In addition, it is necessary to review the diet and diet, add vitamins. It is also worth spending a lot of time with your pet in the fresh air. Physical activity should be reduced for the period until the cause of the dog’s itching is identified.

Other reasons

The reasons for scratching a dog's skin can be various infectious diseases. These include:

Aujeszky's syndrome. These are pseudorabies, acute meningoencephalitis, bulbar palsy. The disease is severe and manifests itself in the form of disruption of the central nervous system. The virus is transmitted from small rodents living in fields or forest areas. Therefore, city dogs are quite rarely exposed to this pathology. In addition to severe itching, the dog notices drowsiness, slowness of action, anxiety, and heavy breathing. The disease can lead to the death of the animal, therefore, if these signs are identified, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Ringworm (ringworm, weeping, pink). Occurs when infected from a large animal or a decrease in the body’s immunity. The disease can affect various parts of the dog's body. The spots that appear are very itchy and itchy. The doctor can prescribe the correct drug.
Staphylococcus. Symptoms of the disease are redness in different areas of the skin. In small puppies, the rash may appear in the form of blisters, which subsequently burst and crusts form in their place. The disease requires antibacterial therapy. In the absence of adequate treatment, the disease develops into a fungal form.

It is no secret that the fungus also provokes itching on the body of its owner. In medicine and veterinary medicine, this pathology is called mycosis. Young and elderly individuals are most susceptible to the appearance of fungus on the body, since their defenses are reduced. The situation is aggravated by taking medications, incorrectly prescribed formulations to eliminate parasites, and communicating with infectious animals.

The fungus can also be caused by:

frequent washing of the animal with shampoo or alkaline soap;
vitamin deficiency;
disturbances in the hormonal system;
improper grooming or complete lack of grooming.

The fungus spreads quickly on the animal's body and becomes increasingly difficult to cure over time. In addition, this disease can affect a person with reduced immunity.

A dog may constantly itch in hot weather (for no apparent reason). This is due to climatic conditions. The pet constantly sweats, and the moisture released quickly dries out on the body under the influence of the sun, causing itching. Excessive dry skin can also trigger scabies.

Injuries and wounds

The skin around the affected area becomes hyperemic, swollen, and itchy. Ulcers form. The dog scratches the sore spot, the pathological surface expands. If your dog has had surgery, the healing stitch may also be itchy. Help consists in the destruction of microflora, the waste products of which cause pruritis.

I recommend Terramycin.

Use an antiseptic aerosol. If the itchy areas are covered with hair, cut it off and treat the wound surface with a spray as needed. Terramycin spray, Alamicin, and other antiseptics are in demand.

Contact with irritants

Indoor dogs are regularly treated with insecticides, because ectoparasites plague not only pets. The animal does not have fleas, but it is constantly itching. It is necessary to analyze what physical or chemical irritants can cause itching.

In winter, the decorative dog lives close to heating radiators. The skin dries out and cracks. Skin defects are inseminated by the microflora that constantly lives on the dog, and dermatitis develops. They use aerosol antiseptics and move the dog’s den away from the battery.

Excessive care for your pet leads to the opposite result. Bathing with a low-quality detergent dries out the skin and causes pruritis. If you frequently bathe your pet with a good shampoo, he will also develop itchy dermatitis. The protective fat layer is washed off from the surface of the skin, as well as hairs. The hairs break, the skin dries out. Dogs do not need to be bathed unless they are very dirty.

Most situations do not require drug treatment. Recovery occurs after the causes are eliminated.

Causes and treatment of itching in dogs

Neither age nor breed play any role in this disease, since itching is a symptom of many diseases in the animal. There are many reasons that cause itching in dogs. One of the causes of itching is fleas and ticks.

Fleas are invisible on the animal. Flea saliva is a strong allergen for animals. A few bites of this insect are enough for your pet to begin to suffer from severe itching. Such parasites need to be gotten rid of urgently. To do this, it is necessary to treat the animal’s skin, as well as the bedding on which the pet rests, furniture and carpets. Disinfection must be complete.

In addition to fleas, itching in a dog can be caused by different types of mites, which are conveniently located on the animal’s body in places where there is no hair. These are the ears, stomach, elbow joints. The dangerous period for the appearance of ticks is from early spring to late autumn. It is in cool weather that they find their prey. A tick bite can lead to encephalitis. This disease is fatal for the animal.

First of all, you need to examine your pet. If you notice that he is focusing on scratching his ears, that may be where ear mites have taken up residence. The appearance of crusts in the ears or the appearance of a disgusting odor indicates that a mite has settled in the animal’s ears. This can lead to deafness in your pet. The scabies mite also causes severe itching.

Another reason is fungal diseases. Ringworm, which is what we are talking about, can become infected by any family member and animals living in the house where the sick dog lives. This disease can be cured:

Antifungal drugs that cleanse the blood. They must be administered intravenously - these are handled by a veterinarian. As an analogue, you can use tablets or powder - in this case, the owner must monitor the intake of drugs, because Dogs often don’t really like the taste of the medicine, so it must first be disguised as a treat or food.
Spots that appear on the dog’s body are outlined with iodine or brilliant green, depending on the type of disease.
The dog is isolated because the disease is dangerous for people.
Complete disinfection of the house is also necessary. It is important to treat not only things that belong to the pet, but also everything that it may have come into contact with. Pay special attention to the sofa, bed, etc.

A meeting with a veterinarian is essential in such cases. Before a diagnosis is made, research is carried out. In particular, scrapings and smears are taken from damaged tissues. Based on the examination results, the doctor prescribes treatment.

You can carry out treatment yourself only if the animal is found to have fleas. In this case, spray, shampoos, drops, and soap are used. Products are purchased at pet stores or at a veterinary pharmacy. After such treatment, for preventive purposes, the dog is put on a collar treated with a special anti-parasite compound. If your dog has suffered from ticks or fungal infections, it is better not to self-medicate, but to seek help from a doctor, because self-medication can lead to health problems for your pet or even its death.

Exposure to heat or cold

The dog licks the burned or frostbitten surface. Acral dermatitis develops. Decomposition products of dying tissues cause intoxication. are not enough for this treatment . Invite a veterinarian and administer antibiotic therapy under his supervision. The specialist decides which drugs to use and how to administer them - orally, intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

In the hot sun, the skin dries out and bursts. The microflora, which is ubiquitous, is activated. The slightest abrasion or mosquito bite opens the gates for infection, pustules form, and itchy pyoderma develops.

The affected surface is treated with an antiseptic spray. For prevention, cooling scarves, blankets or mats are used. Do not put wet cloth on your dog. Slowly evaporating moisture overcools the pet and causes pneumonia. If the air conditioner is on, the dog is placed in another room and the door is closed to avoid drafts, which can also cause pneumonia.

Dogs can only be bathed in clean waters. Otherwise, the microflora rapidly developing in warm water will begin to develop on the dog’s skin, causing itching.

Cooling gussets are provided for hot weather.

When to start worrying

Every dog itches periodically - this is natural, and if the pet sleeps well, has not lost its appetite and previous motor activity, you should not pay attention to periodic scratching. It’s another matter if the dog itches constantly, but there are no fleas, if it refuses food, its eyes become dull, and other signs of ill health appear. It's time to contact the veterinarian, and you can't hesitate. Itching in a dog can be caused by various reasons.

The itching irritates the pet, and it begins to actively itch, while the skin becomes inflamed, and sharp claws can injure it, and then pathogenic microorganisms will gain access to the animal’s body through scratching and micro-wounds. Without treatment, skin lesions cover increasingly large areas, hair falls out, and scratching becomes painful. As a result, the pet's life becomes unbearable.

Parasites

Pruritis is a symptom of a dog being infected with subcutaneous mites and nematodes . Clinical signs appear primarily in puppies and older dogs with weakened immune systems. Short-haired dogs get sick more often than long-haired dogs. Animals kept in unsatisfactory conditions and receiving unbalanced feeding are predisposed to illness. The peak of the disease is observed in the warm half of the year.

Demodexes are permanent inhabitants of dog skin. They inhabit sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and eat their contents. In animals with a strained immune system, clinical signs of the disease do not occur. Scabies is accompanied by dermatitis. The scratched surface becomes infected with microbes.

Treatment is developing in the following areas:

Destruction of parasites . The wool is cut. Use external acaricidal preparations based on amitraz at weekly intervals. Pesticides eliminate sexually mature individuals. The eggs hatch into larvae that must be destroyed before they become sexually mature. The course of treatment consists of 3-5 treatments. An alternative is acaricidal tablets Milbemycin or Sayfli. They are safe and easy to use. But the course of treatment continues for months.
Elimination of symptoms of dermatitis . Bacteria and fungi develop on damaged skin, which are ubiquitous. Therefore, antibiotics are used in combination with antimycotics.
Immune stimulation . The injection agents used are Gamavit, Katozal, Phosprenil, Maxidin.

Ticks that cause sarcoptic mange, notoedrosis and otodectosis get on the skin of dogs with weakened immune systems through contact with cats or stray relatives. The principle of treatment is the same as for demodicosis. Notoedrosis is mild and often ends with spontaneous recovery. Otodectosis is characterized by damage only to the inner side of the ear. Experts consider Surolan, which is instilled into both ear canals, to be an effective drug for treating ear mites.

High infestation with nematodes is characterized by skin rashes, disheveled fur, and baldness. Parasitic worms consume all the vitamins supplied with food, block their absorption from the intestines, and release metabolic waste into the blood.

Treatment consists of deworming. Use Dirofen, Drontal or Kanikvantel. Dying parasites secrete poisons, so detoxicants are used.

Parasitic diseases and associated financial expenses for treatment can be avoided in the following ways:

feed and maintain the dog in accordance with veterinary and sanitary requirements;
carry out quarterly deworming;
limit contact with stray animals.

Itching as a symptom of possible pet diseases

Itching is one of the most annoying and uncomfortable sensations not only for people, but also for pets.

If your dog is scratching with alarming regularity, it is worth taking a closer look at his behavior and appearance; perhaps this is no longer a harmless scratching, but a symptom of upcoming problems.

Sometimes the causes of itching lie on the surface, and the owner does not take them into account; more often, to find out the root causes of itching, it is necessary to undergo examinations and identify the pathogen using the “test method”.

Too obvious to notice

A very common situation is when the owner takes the pet to clinics, undergoes expensive tests, the veterinarian struggles to find the cause, and in the end the dog itches even more just from the stress it has experienced. Therefore, before going to the clinic, let’s consider the most harmless causes of itching.

The first common reason is stress. Remember one of the difficult periods of your life when you went to bed and felt as if there were ants running under your skin or the sheet was covered with sand. My head and whole body began to itch, hair loss was observed, and my overall health was far from “great.” Dogs react in the same way, only their sensations are stronger.

Restless sleep and at the same time the pet's fur is coming out - most likely the reason is overexcitation due to nervousness. Provide the animal with peace and plenty of food, avoid group walks, literally protect it from children or new family members. The dog adapts, but it takes time.

Itching that occurs after washing is guaranteed to be associated with poor quality water or detergent. Your pet's skin is more delicate and more susceptible to irritation, so frequent bathing is contraindicated for dogs. If your dog has dandruff and an itchy body, eliminate shampoo and bathe your pet with clean water. This will protect the skin's natural lubrication from damage, but will remove dirt and dust.

Allergies are the most difficult deviation in terms of identifying the root causes. If your dog has itchy paws and face, skin reactions, nasal discharge, or brittle fur, there is a possibility of an allergy.

It is quite difficult to determine what a pet’s body reacts to. At the veterinary clinic, a set of tests is carried out; in case of failure, the substance causing the allergy is determined by exclusion.

The average family living in a three-room apartment independently brings about 120 allergens into the house, including dust on shoes, and old buildings can be allergenic in themselves. If you suspect an allergy in your pet, stock up on antihistamines and take action. Gradually, you will find the reason.

Itching as a symptom of possible pet diseases

There have been no officially recorded deaths from itching yet, but the possibility of serious complications due to blood poisoning or a weakened immune system cannot be ignored.

A healthy dog does not itch chronically; no one forbids lazily scratching the ear after sleep. A pet tearing its claws or gnawing its skin is a reason to immediately contact a veterinary clinic. A short list of possible diseases is below.

Wet and dry eczema is a disease from which no one is immune. The causative agents of eczema are constantly in the dog’s blood and are suppressed by the immune system. The primary symptoms are expressed only by severe itching, while the dog itches until it bleeds and chews out the fur. As a result, either a bare area of dry, flaky skin in the growths or a bleeding wound is formed.

Risk areas: base of the tail, areas behind the ears, sides, armpits. Treatment is selected individually, depending on the season of the year, the general condition of the body and the degree of damage.

In the progressive stage, the affected areas become bald, the dog's back and base of the tail are constantly itchy, acne can spread to the ears and stomach. There is only one way out - regular cleaning of the pores and keeping the dog in accordance with the rules of hygiene.

Ear diseases - accompanied by itching, moist ear discharge, crusts, unpleasant odor, up to overgrowth of the ear canal. If otitis media, neoplasms and mites are excluded, then the causes of the itching lie much deeper; most likely, the dog has an autoimmune disease or an internal inflammatory process.

Endometritis is a chronic inflammation of the uterus. Symptoms: the dog itches and drinks a lot, leukocytes in the blood are elevated, body temperature is normal or elevated, lethargy is observed, at first the appetite and coat condition are normal. A special risk group is untied purebred females of advanced age.

The diagnosis is confirmed using ultrasound. At the stage of manifestation of the “full picture” it can only be stopped by surgery - removal of the uterus, sometimes the ovaries.

Itching can be a symptom of many other diseases and abnormalities. In combination with vomiting and increased salivation, itching may indicate poisoning. Excessive sun exposure can cause itching due to invisible skin burns.

If your dog, in addition to itching, experiences dehydration, a change in base body temperature, or behavioral abnormalities, write down your observations and consult with a doctor, at least by phone.

There have been no officially recorded deaths from itching yet, but the possibility of serious complications due to blood poisoning or a weakened immune system cannot be ignored. A healthy dog does not itch chronically; no one forbids lazily scratching the ear after sleep. A pet tearing its claws or gnawing its skin is a reason to immediately contact a veterinary clinic. A short list of possible diseases is below.

Seborrhea is a disease that can be a symptom of a disease or a genetic disorder. Due to constant scratching in one place, the affected area becomes bald, the skin thickens, and becomes covered with a rough crust with scales. Due to the fact that seborrhea is often a symptom of a progressive disease, the pet must be examined, or at a minimum, taken to the clinic for examination.

“Greasy tail” – accompanied by severe itching in the area of the sacrum and anus. Within a few days after the first symptoms appear, blackheads - acne - are clearly visible on the skin. In the case of a lesion under the tail, the dog may “ride” on carpets or asphalt while sitting (the same symptom is observed when infected with worms).

Allergy

Immune bodies protect the body from foreign proteins. Protective cells compare the structures of proteins received from outside with their own. If they do not match, a violent inflammatory reaction destroys the alien. When the foreigner recognition mechanism fails, an allergic response develops. Cells mistake harmless compounds for virulent ones.

A dog with a damaged immune system experiences reactions characterized by dermatitis, swelling, and conjunctivitis. If your pet itches frequently, but no fleas are found on its skin, an allergy is suspected.

An inadequate response to stimuli occurs for the following reasons:

side effects of medications;
response to external stimuli (atopic dermatitis);
feed allergy.

Side effects of medications

Skin itching is the least evil that occurs as a side effect of medications. Typically, a reaction occurs to the use of medicinal serums and antibiotics. If your dog is itching, you need to find out what medications he is taking and stop them . To relieve allergy symptoms, antihistamines are used - Suprastin; Tavegil; Diphenhydramine.

Prevention of disease is the responsibility of the veterinarian prescribing treatment. The use of drugs with side effects should be avoided, and if this is not possible, oral therapeutic forms should be preferred to parenteral ones.

Atopic dermatitis

Difficult to diagnose. However, attentive dog breeders note that the acacia tree has bloomed and their beloved dog is itching. The owner used new perfume, a friend came and lit a cigarette - the dog started having problems.

Atopic dermatitis

An allergic response can occur to household chemicals, plant protection products, the smell of gasoline, indoor plants, cat hair, and street dust. Antihistamines provide only momentary relief. You can get rid of the disease if you give up your own habits and interrupt your pet’s contact with the allergen. It’s painstaking work, but the pet’s health is more important.

Feed allergy

I remember an interesting incident. A big man with a Caucasian Shepherd puppy in his arms visited the Kennel Club. The baby was 4 months old, weighed 25 kilograms. His whole face was covered in acne. The owner worked as a cook in a restaurant for sailors, fed the pet table scraps and wondered why the puppy had dermatitis. They explained to him that the cause of the illness was spices.

If you give your dog human food, be careful. Adherents of natural food need to be prepared for the fact that the pet will react to any component of the food. It is difficult to identify the irritant.

The use of ready-made feed mixtures can also have a negative impact. Therefore, change feed gradually. On the first day, mix 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 of the old. The next day, the portion of replacement food is increased. Most often, an allergic response occurs to chicken meat. Therefore, choose a recipe with duck, fish or lamb.

If such a change in diet does not help, use Hill's z/d or Royal Canin Anallergenic therapeutic food for dogs with food allergies and intolerance to food components.

Treatment

After determining the causes of itching, treatment is carried out. The following drugs are used for therapy:

Antihistamines. They block histamine receptors that cause allergies.
Antiphlogistic drugs. Remove swelling and itching.
Chatterboxes with sulfur. Relieves skin irritation.
Aloe ointment. If you treat a wound with it, the healing process accelerates.
Colloidal solutions. Relieves inflammation.
Corticosteroid drugs. Reduce pain.

Treatment for hypothyroidism is lifelong. It may be necessary to support the cardiac system, monitor the condition of the skin and other systems damaged as a result of hypothyroidism.

Having discovered itching in an animal, the owner’s main task is to contact a qualified doctor and not self-medicate. Only a veterinarian can tell you what to do if your dog is itching. The right approach, timely diagnosis, treatment and care will help eliminate the problem, helping the animal get rid of discomfort.

To eliminate dermatitis caused by overexertion, mainly soothing herbal remedies are used internally: Stop-stress and Kot Bayun, and antiseptic aerosols are used externally.

To counteract staphylococcal infections, external or injectable antimicrobial and antiphlogistic agents, as well as immune correction, are used. Wound-healing ointments, powders, and antiseptic aerosols are in demand.

Discontinue medications to which a hypersensitive reaction may occur. If necessary, use antihistamines. They optimize the diet - switch to ready-made low-allergenic food.

Immune stimulation is carried out after changing the diet and reducing the workload of the service dog. After 2...4 days, injections of medications are administered that stimulate the body’s defense system - Gamavit, Catazal or Phosphprenyl.

If microscopic fungi are found in the pathological material, external and internal antimycotic drugs for cats and dogs are used. For small lesions, ointments are used - Mycozon, Clotrimazole or Yam, aerosol antimycotics - Fungin, Exoderil and its analogues. If the fungal infections are significant, use bathing solutions - Imaverol or Fucoricin, or oral medications, among which Griseofulvin is the most popular.

Treatment of itching in dogs

Infection

Infectious diseases are rarely the main cause of pruritic dermatitis. Conditionally pathogenic fungi and bacteria always live on the skin of dogs, but are activated only when the immune defense fails. The main reasons are unsanitary conditions and unbalanced feeding.

Intradermal mites gnaw passages and destroy capillaries. The ichor emerges - an ideal breeding ground for microbes. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics destroys bacteria - the main competitors of microscopic fungi. We discussed above how to resist bacterial infections. But what to do if fungi become active?

Most often, infectious diseases of mycotic etiology are called ringworm. Accurate diagnosis is carried out in the clinic. If the pathological focus occupies a limited area, ointments are used - Yam, Clotrimazole or Mycozon. Aerosols - Exoderil or Fungin - are considered more convenient means.

In case of large-scale lesions, the dog is bathed in a solution of Fucoricin or Imaverol. In severe situations, take Griseofulvin tablets.

On topic: The dog has red spots on its stomach.

Prevention

Prevention is better than cure in moral and material terms. I will tell you what needs to be done to minimize the risk of developing the disease. Fulfill the following conditions:

Ensure that the living conditions comply with sanitary standards. The optimal air temperature is 15-16°C, humidity is from 40 to 70%.
Natural food is better than prepared food, provided that the diet is balanced in nutrients and energy. In practice this is difficult to achieve. Recipes from the Internet are not suitable because the actual nutritional content of the ingredients may differ from those given in the recipe. Therefore, use factory-made food . If your dog has a food allergy, appropriate nutrition is always an option.
quarterly deworming .
Avoid bathing your pet with detergents.
In hot weather, use cooling mats, scarves, or blankets.
In the presence of a dog, do not smoke, do not use perfumes, and prevent your pet from coming into contact with household chemicals.

Non-infectious skin lesions

Pathologies can be congenital or develop as a result of exposure to various environmental factors, feeding habits and place of detention. Non-infectious skin diseases are not transmitted from one animal to another through direct contact and through care items.

Power supply errors

An unbalanced dog's diet can affect its appearance. A lack of vitamins and microelements and other nutrients can cause skin problems - flaking and itching, dull hair, baldness, rashes on the body. The cause of the pathology may also be frequent changes in feed - since manufacturers adhere to their recipes and use different combinations and proportions of nutrients.

The veterinarian’s selection of a balanced diet, taking into account the dog’s age, general health and individual needs, will help normalize the condition of the skin and coat. To reduce negative manifestations - itching, rashes on the body - the veterinarian may prescribe symptomatic therapy.

Allergic reactions

Allergies are most often accompanied by skin irritation, hives and itchy skin. This disease can occur in dogs regardless of age, gender and breed, but some animals have a genetic predisposition to it. These include Labradors, French bulldogs, West Highland white terriers, etc.). There are many reasons that cause allergies in dogs:

saliva and waste products of fleas, ticks and other external parasites;
low-quality industrial feed;
some food products;
medicines;
chemicals, including those contained in cosmetic products for animal care, reagents that are sprinkled on paths in parks and courtyards, household chemicals used in cleaning premises, etc.

Atopic dermatitis

This is a type of allergy that manifests itself in an irritation reaction to substances contained in the environment. The difficulty of diagnosis and treatment lies in the fact that it is impossible to establish and then exclude a specific allergen. Chronic skin disease can manifest itself when an animal comes into contact with plant and flower pollen, tiny dust particles, and mold microspores contained in the air. Atopic dermatitis has no cure; medications prescribed by your veterinarian will help reduce the itching.

Even the sun can affect your pet's skin. Some animals have increased sensitivity to the sun - photodermatosis, manifested by inflammatory processes on the skin. Such animals are advised to avoid long walks during the day, during maximum sun activity.

Stress

When an animal gets too excited, it begins to scratch nervously. A similar reaction of the body is typical for humans. Dogs have many reasons for stress - a long absence of the owner, moving to a new place or a visit to the groomer or veterinarian. Some animals are so sensitive that they are afraid of loud noises - thunder, gunshots, fireworks, or even just a door slamming too loudly.

Some dogs begin to bark loudly, others show aggression, others try to hide from the noise, and others fall into a stupor and scratch nervously. Veterinarians recommend giving your pet special sedatives to reduce anxiety, after which the nervous scratching will go away.