Why Do Dogs Scratch?
December 10, 2012 by Tyler // Kibbles and Tidbits, Pet Health, Pet Health Advice
Dogs scratch themselves from time to time. It’s only when that scratching becomes a little more frequent that your pooch may have a more significant underlying issue. What it "might" be may surprise you.
It's not just fleas that can cause your dog to itch.
Mighty mites and mange
Excessive scratching can be a sign of mites, which cause the condition known as mange. While mites naturally live on dogs, they can cause skin and hair problems when the quantity reaches a certain level. The two most common forms of mange are caused by the mites Demodex canis, which causes demodectic mange, and Sarcoptes scabei, which causes sarcoptic mange.
Demodectic mange is most commonly observed in puppies and dogs that may have a compromised immune system. It’s not contagious; rather, it is caused by a weakened immune system. Sarcoptic mange, on the other hand, is highly contagious and if left untreated, can spread across the entire body.
Symptom of Mange
The symptoms of mange include:
- excessive itching and scratching
- localized wounds and scabs
- areas of hair loss
- illness
- infection.
How to treat mange
Treatments for mange are limited and typically involve a chemical dip performed by a veterinarian where your dog is submersed in a chemical liquid that kills off all of the mites. Some veterinarians may first prescribe medications if the condition is not severe. Both treatments carry some amount of side effects and should be considered alongside other, more natural options such as sulfur dips and herbal remedies. Remember to bathe your pooch with a disinfecting shampoo at least once every other week and avoid contact with other canines that may be displaying the symptoms of mange.
TAGS // demodectic mange, dog scratching, mange, mites, sarcoptes scabei
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I need to help for my dog...She lost some hair and scratched all times..After bath, she was fine until few days later it came back.. Many yrs ago I used sulfate to rub old dog as mange was gone as he was fine...Today I can't find sulfate anymore in any store..
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 1:27 am
Kathleen,
Thank you for your comments. I am sorry to hear that your dog is suffering from some form of skin inflammation that is causing her to scratch and lose hair.
As the skin is the body’s largest organ, there are a variety of factors that can contribute to skin problems including:
Inflammation: allergic skin disease (seasonal or nonseasonal environmental allergies), food allergy, flea allergy dermatitis, irritation from topical products or shampoos, etc.
Infectious organisms: bacteria, yeast, mange mites, etc.
Endocrine/Metabolic: hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, hormonal imbalances, etc.
Nutrition: Nutrient imbalances, etc.
Other: cancer, etc.
If your dog showed improvement after bathing, it's likely that there's some component of irritation from the environment and from infectious organisms like bacteria and/or yeast (or even mange).
It’s in your dog's best interest to be thoroughly examined by your veterinarian. Basic diagnostic testing, such as skin scraping and skin cytology are important in helping to rule in or rule out certain infectious diseases (bacteria and yeast infection and mite [mange] infestation). Additional tests, such as blood or urine, can help to rule out other problems.
Pending your veterinarian's evaluation, the appropriate treatment (medications, shampoos, supplements, etc.) can be recommended to help to resolve his issues.
Thank you,
Dr. PM
Patrick Mahaney VMD, CVA
Resident Veterinary Expert
Flexcin International, Inc.
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Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:14 pm