Excluding fleas and flea allergy
Fleas are by far the most common cause of itching and skin problems in dogs and cats. If your pet is allergic to fleas, you may not see any live fleas on their coat, yet they can still suffer from intense itching. The itchiness often occurs on the back and around the base of the tail. To rule out this cause, a thorough flea treatment with an appropriate product is essential.
Take a look at our full selection of flea and tick treatments for dogs.
Excluding skin infections
An infected skin can also cause itching. When the natural skin barrier is disrupted, bacteria and yeasts that normally live on the skin can start to overgrow and lead to additional problems. Products containing chlorhexidine can often help to manage this overgrowth. These are found in shampoos such as Dr Ann’s Chlorhexidine Shampoo. Your vet can take a skin impression and examine it under a microscope to check whether bacteria or yeasts are involved, helping to avoid unnecessary treatment.
Ruling out mite infestations
Mites can also cause skin problems. This includes coat mites, scabies mites, and demodectic mange (Demodex), which is commonly seen in young dogs. A vet can take skin scrapings and examine them under a microscope to check for the presence of mites. If mites are found, they should be treated with an appropriate product. In cases of Demodex, treatment can be particularly challenging.
Ruling out fungal infections
Fungi can also be a cause of coat problems. These infections are usually not itchy at first, but itching can develop due to secondary disruption of the skin barrier. A fungal culture performed by your vet is necessary to rule out a fungal infection. Fungal skin infections are difficult to treat and highly contagious, so it’s important to know whether they are contributing to your pet’s symptoms.
Once skin infections have been ruled out, allergies come into focus. Flea allergy is often addressed during the very first step of the process.
Ruling out food allergies
Food allergy is not the most common type of allergy in dogs, but it is one that can be diagnosed. In cases of food allergy, the dog reacts to certain proteins in the diet, which may be of either animal or plant origin.
In dogs, the most common proteins that trigger a reaction are:
- Beef
- Milk protein
- Chicken
- Wheat
- Soya
- Lamb
A food allergy can be tested through an elimination diet. This involves feeding a diet based on novel proteins for the dog, or one that contains hydrolysed proteins. Hydrolysed proteins are proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces. The smaller the fragments, the lower the risk of an allergic reaction. A commonly used diet with hydrolysed proteins is Royal Canin Anallergenic. However, not all diets containing hydrolysed proteins are suitable as elimination diets, as the term ‘hydrolysed’ alone doesn’t indicate the degree of hydrolysation. Always seek advice from your vet before starting an elimination diet.
An elimination diet should be given for at least 6–8 weeks. If the itching improves during this period, you should then reintroduce the previous food to ‘challenge’ the system. If the symptoms return, a food allergy is confirmed. If the symptoms do not come back, your dog is not allergic to food.
Once a food allergy has been confirmed, you can continue feeding the diet used during the elimination phase. Alternatively, you can look for another (often more affordable) food that your dog does not react to. This is usually a hypoallergenic diet with hydrolysed proteins, such as Vetality Hypoallergenic or Royal Canin Hypoallergenic. Another option is a diet based on a single source of novel protein, such as TROVET Hypoallergenic Horse (HPD) Dog or Hill’s Derm Complete – Prescription Diet – Canine.
Atopy or environmental allergy
An environmental allergy, or atopy, is a common type of allergy in dogs. Unfortunately, it is also the most difficult to diagnose. This is because the diagnosis is made by ruling out all other possible causes of skin problems. As a result, the process can be quite extensive. Additional diagnostic tests, such as blood tests or skin tests, can help support the diagnosis and guide treatment options.
Supporting a dog with skin problems
The treatment of skin problems partly depends on the underlying cause. However, you can always support a dog with skin issues through specific diets or supplements.
Supporting dogs through diet
Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete is an example of a food that can be used for skin problems, regardless of the underlying cause. Thanks to the addition of the Histaguard Complex and the use of a single animal protein source (egg) and a single carbohydrate source (brewer’s rice), it helps support the skin while helping to prevent hypersensitivity reactions and allergies.
Vetality Skin Support – Dog Food is also a great option for improving your dog’s skin and coat condition.
Helping dogs with the right supplements
There are also dietary supplements and skin care products that can generally be used for itching and skin issues. Examples include Puur Derma, Pet’s Relief Atopi-3, and Redonyl Ultra.
Supporting your dog externally
External support can include the use of soothing shampoos and mousses, such as Douxo Calm, or moisturising pipettes like Allerderm Spot-On. These products help to calm the skin and strengthen the skin barrier, reducing moisture loss and dryness. Linkskin is a supplement that can support the restoration of healthy skin flora.
Besides supplements, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to relieve itching.
We understand that finding the right support for your dog can be challenging. You can always consult your vet for the best approach. You’re also welcome to send your question to us at [email protected] – we’ll do our best to help you further.
