Itchy Skin on Dogs

Itchy skin is one persistent problem that many dogs suffer from. There are certain causes, precautions and cures for this ailment. Itchy skin is caused by a variety of reasons, and is curable with the help of simple and timely remedies. The symptoms, causes and appropriate remedies for such conditions that cause itchy skin have been discussed in the following paragraphs.

Causes of Itchy Skin on Dogs

Infection
Infection is a common ailment of itchy dogs. Skin, fur and hair of dogs is prone to be contaminated by many microbes like bacteria and fungi. Staphylococci, which is also known as Staph Bactria, infects the hair and fur of dogs. An early symptom of this infection is an itchy skin and the presence of yellow pustules in the fur. In the later stages, infected rashes, loss of hair and reddened skin is also observed. If it is not treated on time, Staph bacteria is capable of entering the blood flow, making your dog violently ill. The best precaution that you can take is cleaning the fur of your dog with a comb as regularly as possible. More number of baths per week is also advisable. If you spot any lesions or yellow pustules, rush your canine friend to the vet. This bacteria can be eliminated with the help of a variety of measures such as vaccination, antibacterial shampoos and powders. In some cases, bandaging of rashes and lesions, also becomes necessary in order to stop the spread of infection.

With the bacteria invading your dog's fur, the fungi are not left far behind. There are primarily two types of fungi, Microsporum and Trichophyton, which are classified as ringworm fungi. Infection by fungi is commonly observed in young dogs. Dry itchy skin is characterized by dead skin tissues, is the first symptom of this infection. The symptom of dry skin is soon followed by hair loss. The hair loss occurs in circular patches and has a dry and crusty appearance. Fungicidal shampoos and topical lime sulfur are used by vets as remedies for dogs with itchy skin, who suffer from fungal infection.

Allergies
A dog with itchy skin does not necessarily mean that he has been infected with bacteria or fungi. Sometimes, allergies are also a cause of itchy skin. Pet dogs are sometimes allergic to some or the other substances like pollen, dog fleas, dust, etc. Out of all the allergens, many dogs are allergic to flea saliva. The skin of such dogs is sensitive to flea saliva to such a large extent, that a small flea bite sets the dog off on a frantic scratching spree. This dog allergy is also known as Flea Bite Dermatitis. There is no concrete cure to this allergy, but keeping the fur of the dog clean and giving him a bath as many times as possible is a great method of prevention of the problem.

Atopy or Atopic dermatitis is a allergy-related skin disorder that occurs as a result of inhalation of allergens such as pollen or dust. In some cases, dogs suffering from Atopy, are also allergic to substances such as wax, soap, cloth detergents, etc. Itching is the basic symptom of such allergies. The itching can also lead to other skin related ailments, such as red patches (also known as hot spots), rashes and skin infections.

There are several other causes of itchy skin in dogs, such as parasites, unhygienic conditions and lack of nutrition. The best preventive measure against such ailments is to keep the fur and hair of your dog as clean as possible. Appropriate pet care such as giving your dog regular baths or brushing his fur is also an excellent measure. In case you see anything abnormal about your dog's itching, take him to the vet, as the itching might also be a result of an unknown allergy, parasite or infection.