Learn When to Worry About Your Dog’s Itching. Illustration: Petepop
It’s time to raise the alarm if your pet starts scratching constantly. Excessive scratching can lead to hair loss, redness, wounds, and lesions, causing significant discomfort for the animal.
Experts warn that itching can be the most obvious symptom of a skin problem in your dog.
According to a 2016 study conducted by Zoetis, 63% of the 400 veterinarians surveyed reported that dermatological cases accounted for 31% to 50% of their consultations. More than half of the participants also said that dogs with pruritus made up between 31% and 50% of the treated cases. Among veterinary dermatologists, 62% indicated that itching was present in 51% to 80% of cases.
“These data show how significant dermatological problems are for dogs and how much they can affect the animal’s quality of life,” says Juliane Basso, Companion Animal Product Manager at Zoetis.
Several factors can cause itching in your pet: infections, parasites, or allergies. Fleas, food, or environmental allergens such as pollen, mold, or dust mites can trigger allergic reactions. The most common cases include flea allergy, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis.
“It’s essential that pet owners closely observe their dog’s behavior. For example, if the dog bites or licks itself excessively or rubs against objects frequently, in addition to any visible skin changes,” warns Alexandre Merlo, Technical Manager of Companion Animals at Zoetis. “A dog that scratches itself has a reduced quality of life, and this symptom should never be ignored by the owner,” the expert emphasizes.
For short-term treatments of allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis, Zoetis recommends using Apoquel, which provides fast and effective itch relief for 24 hours. If your dog is diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, Cytopoint is a great ally in treatment, according to Zoetis. This injectable medication, administered only by veterinarians, significantly reduces itching from the first day and remains effective for 4 to 8 weeks.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
