Does Your Dog Have Itchy Skin?

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Non-stop scratching, chewing and licking. Then comes wounds and bald patches where fur should be. Sounds familiar? Skin problems are actually quite common among dogs. Here at Gaia Vets, we see many patients come in with skin lesions, infections and fur loss from scratching and chewing on itchy spots.  

Itch is a symptom of many possible skin issues/dermatitis. For treatment to be effective, this also means your dog will need to see a vet to find the root cause of the itch. 

 Broadly, there are three probable causes:

1. Allergies (Environment or Food)

2. Hot Spots

3. Mites

1) Dermatitis Caused by Allergies

The environment or food can trigger skin allergies. These allergens are not easy to identify. To pin down the culprit, your dog may need to go through several detailed tests.

Environmental/Atopic Allergies

This is Olive, one of our patients who suffer from atopic dermatitis. Blood test results show she is allergic to palm trees and dust mites.

Your dog can inhale the allergen or absorb it directly through his skin. This triggers a sensitive reaction and results in itching. Allergens can also be substances which are normally harmless to many other dogs e.g. grass, plants, pollen and house dust mites. 

Hypersensitivity to such allergens are usually inherited. This is especially so if the allergies appear when your dog is still a puppy. This allergic reaction could be due to a genetic defect in his skin barrier, which in normal cases, should protect him from the allergens.

Other symptoms of atopic dermatitis can include sneezing and watery eyes.

What can we do about it?

Environmental dermatitis needs long-term management in consultation with your vet. If the allergens can’t be avoided completely, other possible ways to manage this is to remove the allergens from the skin and repair the skin barrier. 

This can be done by using mild medicated shampoos and conditioners containing ceramides. Ceramides are natural building blocks of the skin and holds the skin together by forming a protective layer. This will repair the skin barrier, so it is less susceptible to environmental allergens. 

Oral supplements containing Omega-6 fatty acids may help by strengthening the skin barrier. For example, Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid which your dog cannot synthesise on his own.  Consult your vet and ask for recommendations. 

For atopic dermatitis, your dog will need medication such as antihistamines or antibiotics. These will reduce inflammation, ease his itching and prevent secondary bacterial infection. For long term management, medication such as steroids, cyclosporine, apoquel and cytopoint may be prescribed.

Food Allergies

Did you feed your dog something new and he started itching? Your dog’s immune system may be reacting to a protein, viewing it as a threat, and triggering a hypersensitive immune response. Contrary to popular belief, allergic reactions caused by food are less common compared to those caused by environment.

Symptoms also go beyond itching and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, bloated-ness, redness of skin, shedding skin flakes/dandruff etc. 

What can we do about it?

Your vet may start your dog on a food elimination diet trial for around 4-8 weeks to try and identify the offending substance. It is best to find the root cause so you can check the ingredients list before buying any treats or new food off the shelves. 

Flea Allergies

Not very common in Singapore but some dogs can be allergic to flea saliva and develop a reaction to it, resulting in itching. It doesn’t require a heavy flea burden for this allergy to develop. One or two fleas feeding on their skin is enough to cause a reaction. 

What can we do about it?

Make sure your dog is up to date with preventive medication for fleas and ticks. 

If your dog is diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis, your vet will be able to prescribe topical, oral or injected medication to treat and ease the symptoms. This also means it's time to do a thorough cleaning of your carpet, bedding etc. which may be harbouring eggs or larvae. 

2) Dermatitis caused by Hot Spots

Hot spots are also known as moist dermatitis which can spontaneously appear anywhere on your dog’s body. There’s a possibility that hot spots are triggered by underlying allergies mentioned above. It presents as a red, moist and sticky patch of skin. 

It is best to dry your dog thoroughly after a bath.

It happens when something irritates or breaks the skin. Coupled with moist conditions and if contaminated with bacteria, creates the perfect condition for infection. 

Moist conditions are instances where your dog is not thoroughly dried off from a recent bath or water play. Under the right conditions, a small scratch or tiny lesion can also develop into hot spots.

Particularly in Singapore’s humid weather and during rainy seasons, hot spots is one of the most common dermatitis in dogs.

“The problem is usually exacerbated by your dog licking at the wound, and biting at it to ease the itch. This keeps the area moist and perfect for bacteria to thrive and spread the infection to surrounding areas. It may be hard for pet owners to catch on because it can spread under the cover of fur. By the time it becomes noticeable, it’s already a sizeable and painful hot spot.” - Dr Claire Tan, Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Gaia Vets

Hot spots are usually accompanied by fur loss and can become purulent (or discharging pus).

What can we do about it?

The area surrounding the hot spot should be kept clean, cleared of fur and dry. So your vet may shave or clip away the fur surrounding the hot spot so it can be exposed to air and dry up any moisture. Your dog may also need to wear an e-collar to prevent him from licking and scratching the hot spot. 

Your vet may prescribe topical antibiotics and/or steroids to reduce itching and promote healing. Antiseptic lotions may also be prescribed for wound cleaning. It is important for pet owners to monitor the hot spot and ensure it stays dry and clean. 

You can also prevent hot spots by grooming your dog, especially if he has long and thick fur. You can also make sure he is completely dry after a bath or playing in the water. This will prevent thick matted fur from forming a damp cover over his skin and facilitating bacterial growth. 

3) Dermatitis Caused by Mites

What Demodex mites look like under the microscope.

The Demodex mite is common in Singapore and causes a skin disease called mange. Interestingly, you can find Demodex mites on all dogs but they don’t normally cause any problems until there is a compromise in the dog’s immune system. When this occurs, the Demodex mites start to feed in the hair follicles and oil glands of the skin and proliferate. This results in skin damage and hair loss, and can be followed by secondary bacterial infections and itching. To diagnose this condition, your vet may take multiple skin scrapes from your dog. 

Not to worry, Demodectic mange is not contagious to other animals or humans. However, Demodex mites can transmitted to puppies from their mother during the first few days of life.

What can we do about it?

The damage can be localised (lesions in patches) or generalised ( more widespread and appear across your dog’s body). The latter is more severe and may need long-term medication to kill off the mites. In the case of Demodex mite infestation, the best thing you can do it to be regular with your dog’s mite prevention medication. 

Skin diseases can be very uncomfortable and annoying but they are also very treatable. The key takeaway is that pet owners have a major part to play in managing skin diseases together with the vet. So call us today for a consult, our team of caring professionals will be able to help your dog live his best life, itch-free.