Itchy Dogs
188 Boundary Rd
Bardon 4065
Control Parasites
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This can be achieved with a spot on product such as Advantage®, Advocate® or
Advantix®, applied monthly (Advantix must be applied fortnightly to control paralysis
ticks) or a tablet, Comfortis®, monthly
o If your pet has an allergy to fleas, even one bite can cause a severe itching reaction. In
this case any top-spot must be applied fortnightly to eliminate every single flea.
Comfortis® may still be given monthly, but will not control paralysis ticks
Regular Bathing
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Bathing twice weekly initially, then weekly or fortnightly with a medicated shampoo such
as Pyohex® or Malaseb® have antibacterial activity and can reduce allergens on the
skin surface. These shampoos must be left in contact with the skin for 10 minutes to be
effective.
This can be followed by a leave in conditioner such as Pyohex conditioner® (with
residual antibacterial activity) or Aloveen® (Which helps prevent the skin drying out,
reducing itch)
Fatty Acid Supplementation
o Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids act to block certain inflammatory pathways and can
be beneficial in reducing your pet’s skin irritation and reducing reliance on other
medication.
o Fish oil capsules can be given orally or Megaderm® liquid can be used daily.
Clipping
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For longhaired pets prone to skin infections (hot spots), especially in summer, regular
clipping to allow the skin to breathe and allow the shampoo to penetrate can be very
beneficial. However, in some dogs, the heat and vibration of the clippers may initially
cause an increase in skin irritation.
Avoiding Contact Allergens
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Some dogs are allergic to certain plants in the garden, pollens or grasses. If this is the
case, removing these plants, avoiding walking in certain areas, or even doggy t-shirts
and doggy boots can help avoid contact with these allergens.
Antihistamines
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Anti-histamines block the mediators (histamine) of itchy skin. They have very few side
effects (some dogs may experience a little sedation) but unfortunately do not work in all
dogs. They are a good first line treatment, and can be used intermittently if the dog is
only occasionally itchy.
Topical Creams
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Neocort® or Neotopic® are steroid based creams that have an antibacterial component.
A thin layer of cream may be applied twice to three times daily to the affected areas to
reduce the irritation. This can be stopped when the skin heals. For mild infections,
regular bathing and Neocort as necessary may be all that is required.
Our priority is your pet’s well being.
Itchy Dogs
188 Boundary Rd
Bardon 4065
Hypoallergenic food trial
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Some pets are allergic to certain food products, usually red meat proteins but can be
anything. Your pet may develop a food allergy despite having been on the same diet long
term
Food allergies may be the cause of, or contribute to skin irritation. A hypoallergenic food
trial involves feeding a specifically formulated food such as Hills z/d or Royal Canin
Hypoallergenic can determine if your pet is allergic to something in their food.
These foods must be fed exclusively (no treats, no flavoured wormers, no supplements
etc) for 6 weeks to determine if there is any benefit. After this time, specific foods can be
reintroduced one at a time to try and determine what your pet is allergic to. Some pets
may have to be on these diets long term to control their skin allergies.
Antibiotics
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If your pet has a skin infection your vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics to help
eliminate the initial infection. It is important that you complete this course to eliminate all
bacteria, even after your pet starts to feel better there are still low levels of bacteria
present and not completing the course may lead to recurrent infections or resistant
infections
Steroids
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If your pet is particularly itchy, your vet may prescribe a short course of steroids. These
act to reduce the immune response, thereby reducing the itch.
It is important that you taper the steroids as directed, as your pet’s body makes it’s own
low levels of steroids, which are suppressed when we give steroids. If the steroids are
stopped suddenly, your pet’s body isn’t producing steroids and this can make your pet
ill.
Steroids can make your pet drink more and urinate more, and have other side effects
throughout the body, which is why we prefer to use them only when necessary
Control other factors
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Warm weather can contribute to itch. Keeping your pet cool by keeping them inside,
or even using doggy T-shirts dampened with water
o Anxiety – if your pet is particularly anxious this can contribute to itchy skin. Flare-ups
can be precipitated by sudden changes in routine or the dog’s lifestyle. If your dog
has anxiety issues these can be discussed with your veterinarian
Referral to a Dermatologist
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Dermatologists can do specific skin testing to try and determine exactly what allergen
(e.g. pollen, grass, dust mites) your pet is allergic to, and in some cases your pet can be
vaccinated using specifically prepared solutions against these allergens, to reduce their
allergic response to them.
Our priority is your pet’s well being.