Hespeler Animal Hospital

Itchy pets not always due to fleas

Some of the most common diseases that veterinarians see are those of the skin. Here are some of the questions we often hear:

1. My pet doesn’t have fleas, so why is he constantly scratching himself?

Fleas aren’t the only cause of itching in pets. Allergies may be to blame for all that scratching. When pets touch, eat or inhale things they’re sensitive to, their skin reacts by becoming inflamed. That makes them itchy. And, if they get secondary bacterial or yeast infections, it’s even worse.

Flea allergies usually result in itchiness and rash of the lower back, back of the legs and belly area. Dogs with environmental or food allergies tend to be itchy all over. Hay fever-like allergies are often seen in the spring and fall, with the face, ears and feet being more affected.

2. Why does my pet need tests?

It’s hard to treat something if we don’t have a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, most skin conditions in dogs and cats become a life-long thing. So it’s important to know what the cause is. Trial-and-error treatments that don’t work often end up costing you far more than a proper work-up.

Also, skin can only do so many things: get red, itchy, bumpy, crusty or oily. There are many conditions that look alike. It’s really hard to determine the reason just based on physical exam findings alone.

To confirm or rule out food allergies, your veterinarian will recommend an elimination diet trial. A food with a new protein and a new carbohydrate source must be fed to see if the itch disappears. This can take up to 8 weeks. If the itch improves, it’s important to re-introduce the old diet, to make sure it was a food allergen and not something else that resolved as a coincidence.

A microscopic exam is done to check for mites such as Demodex or Sarcoptes, and to rule out bacterial or yeast infection. Intra-dermal skin testing or blood testing for high antibody levels against certain allergens is used to diagnose environment allergies.

3. What’s the cure?

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for allergies. We can manage them, but your pet will always have recurrences. Likewise, secondary yeast and bacterial infections can be treated, but are likely to return because the underlying cause is always there.

4. Why do we need to go back for so many rechecks? Can’t I just monitor my pet at home?

Rechecks are very important for pets with skin and ear conditions. First of all, a recheck will allow your vet to make sure any infection being treated is really gone, and to monitor for recurrence. Even if it looks better to you, we need to look into the ear with an otoscope, and examine samples under the microscope to be sure. Otherwise, your pet will continue to get worse.

Secondly, your pet’s doctor will review response to treatment, and the plans for managing your pet’s disease during each follow-up visit.

Even though there’s a cost involved with all those rechecks, it’s usually less than the expense of having to start all over again if your pet has a relapse. Not to mention the aggravation for your dog or cat. It’s a lot easier to deal with things when they’re mild than waiting until the condition is out of control.

Itchiness in pets is complex, but you and your veterinarian can tackle it together to keep your pet as comfortable as possible.