Why is My Pet So Itchy?
If your dog or cat won’t stop scratching, you’re not alone. Here in Evans, GA and the greater Augusta area, allergies and skin issues are one of the most common reasons pets visit the vet. Constant itching can make pets miserable and leave owners feeling frustrated and exhausted.
Hair loss, scratching, paw licking, or face rubbing are all signs that something isn’t right. The challenge is that there isn’t just one cause of itchy skin in pets. From environmental allergies to fleas and food sensitivities, finding the right source and the right treatment takes a thoughtful approach.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common causes of itchy pets, how we diagnose the problem, and what treatments are available here at Southern Trails Vet to help your pet feel comfortable again.
Common Causes of Itchy Pets in Evans, GA
There are lots of things that can make our pets itchy in the short term, but lasting problems are either environmental allergens, food allergies, fleas/mites, or skin infections. The tricky thing about itchy pets is that it can easily be from multiple issues. In order to ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, it is important to make sure each option is addressed and controlled.
Environmental Allergies in Dogs and Cats
Environmental allergies are probably the most common source of itchiness in pets over 1 year old. Most of the time, these allergies are seasonal, but triggers can be everything from pollen, to grass, to dust. The easiest way to think about allergies is the body having an overreaction to whatever the outside trigger is. Unfortunately, that means it is something that is typically managed, rather than cured.
Food Allergies in Pets
Food allergies can be especially tricky to figure out. Most of the time, the protein source in the food/treats the pet is receiving is the problem. About 20% of itchy dogs have food as some part of the issue. They may also have environmental allergies, but we can make them much more comfortable by also addressing the food. Food allergies can be difficult to pick up on because they include everything that goes into their body, including treats and flavored medications.
Fleas and Mites
Fleas and mites are a very common source of itchiness in pets in Evans, GA, and they can be difficult to get under control. A flea infestation, for example, takes a minimum of 3 months to get completely under control in your home. And this becomes even trickier if you have multiple pets. Mites are common in our young or immuno-compromised pets. They can also be seen in some of the more dilute hair color pets, such as your gray and blue coats. Luckily, there are some great preventatives on the market that can stop it from ever becoming a problem.
Skin Infections and Itching in Pets
Lastly, skin infections can be a terrible source of itchiness and discomfort for your pet. Whether it is secondary to scratching from allergies, a buildup of yeast, or a scratch that got infected, it is important to address the issue in a timely manner. Even if you get rid of the fleas or the seasonal allergy ends, your pet will remain uncomfortable if the skin is infected.
How We Diagnose Itchy Pets at Southern Trails Vet
Now that we know about the main sources of itchiness, we are going to discuss how we approach your pet to figure out the best treatment at Southern Trails Vet. The first thing I do with an itchy pet is look for hair loss and skin lesions. The pattern of hair loss can make me more suspicious of fleas or mites. We can comb for fleas and take a skin scraping if we think mites are involved. Scabbing, crusting, or pimples on the skin are all signs that the skin is infected. If scabbing/pimples are noted, we try to get a sample to look at under the microscope. This ensures we pick the right antibiotics for the job. If your pet is constantly itching, schedule an exam at Southern Trails Vet in Evans, GA today.
Environmental vs. Food Allergies – How We Tell the Difference
Differentiating between environmental or food allergies can be quite tricky and require a bit of time. If the itchiness is seasonal, then I tend to assume it is environmental. There are some environmental allergy testing options on the market, and we tend to consider doing them based on your treatment goals. Year-round itchiness is much more complicated because it could be either an environmental trigger and/or the food. We tend to have to consider both options to make sure we can keep your pet comfortable.
Food Allergy Testing for Pets
Diagnosing a food allergy consists of a very strict food trial for a minimum of 2 months. This typically consists of a special diet that may or may not be required for long-term use. All treats and medications must fit within the diet limits, or you won’t see relief. Once we know how much of an issue the food is, we can focus on finding the easiest and safest option to keep your pet comfortable.
Treatment Options for Itchy Dogs and Cats in Evans, GA
Treatment for itchy dogs depends on the cause. We break up treatment into what needs to be done immediately and what we need to do chronically to keep your pet healthy and happy. I start by addressing any infections/infestations and decreasing immediate itchiness. The treatment for skin infections almost always requires topical treatment and sometimes oral antibiotics. We have both medicated shampoos as well as leave-on conditioners for those dogs that won’t tolerate a full bath. Flea or mite infestations are treated with prescription flea/tick preventatives. Prescription options from your veterinarian are incredibly effective in treating infestations. Over-the-counter options are much more hit-or-miss depending on your specific population, as we see breakthroughs with all of them.
Short-Term Itch Relief Options for Pets
There are 3 options we tend to choose from to help with short-term itchiness. Cytopoint is an injectable, anti-itch option that lasts for 4-8 weeks depending on the pet. It tends to take 2-3 days to see good relief but is definitely the gentlest option on their system. The next option I reach for are jak-stat inhibitors (Apoquel, Zenrelia, Numelvi). These are oral chews they would take daily. They start providing relief within 2-4 hours and stop working when you quit giving them. This makes them a great option for short-term use. Oral steroids are the last option for short-term use. They are cheap and very effective but come with side effects and a more complicated dosing regimen. All of these options are safe to use while we take care of the immediate skin issues.
Long-Term Allergy Management for Pets
Once we have fixed the immediate issues, we need to address if your pet is still itchy/uncomfortable. As most environmental allergies are seasonal, treatment tends to not be year-round. Food allergy pets need to avoid their triggers and environmental allergy pets need a long-term plan to keep them comfortable. Cytopoint and jak-stat inhibitors (Apoquel, Zenrelia, Numelvi) are both great options for long-term control in dogs. Cytopoint is technically the gentlest on their system, but not all dogs tolerate getting shots every 4-8 weeks. For very severe allergies, medications like cyclosporine or steroids may be recommended. Cats are regularly placed on cyclosporine as there are not a lot of treatment options on the market. Regular steroid use is a last resort. Not only do steroids have side effects, such as eating more, drinking more, peeing more, and potential behavioral changes, but long-term use is very bad for overall organ function.
Immunotherapy for Pet Allergies
All the long-term options previously mentioned are targeted at covering up the symptoms rather than treating the source of the problem. Immunotherapy, like for people, does exist for pets with environmental allergies. It requires testing to determine your pets’ specific triggers and comes in either a sublingual tab or an injectable option. The goal of therapy is exposing your pet to their allergens and to train the immune system to not overreact to them. It is not an immediate fix as it tends to take 1-2 years to see full results. It is, however, a great way to address your pets’ needs for the course of their life.
Get Help for Your Itchy Pet in Evans, GA
Itchy pets are uncomfortable and that translates to stress for those that love them. As you can see, finding relief for them is often a process, but there is a lot we can do together to make them comfortable and improve their quality of life. Dogs and cats provide all levels of joy and they look to us to take care of them. If you have an itchy, uncomfortable pet in Evans or the CSRA, reach out to us at Southern Trails Vet so we can help give them the life they deserve.