Skin Health and the Itchy Pet
In honor of August’s Itchy Pet Awareness Month, BoosterPet’s medical director, Dr. Kobi Johnson, answers some common questions about itchiness, skin health, and general grooming.
Q. What are the most common causes of an itchy pet?
The common causes of itchiness are fleas and other parasites as well as allergens. Allergens fall into four main categories:
Environmental, such as seasonal reactions to pollen, grass, and mold,
Flea allergies, referred to as Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). Just one flea bite can cause an allergic reaction that begins a cycle of extreme itchiness, skin trauma, and infection. Many pets – and humans – will experience some form of flea allergy symptoms which makes flea prevention even more important,
Food allergies (more often triggered by the protein source in pet food than the presence of grains), and
Contact allergies, such as a reaction to the specific fabric softener used to launder you’re pet’s bedding.
It also depends on the time of year. In the Pacific Northwest, seasonal (spring, summer, and fall) environment allergies are the most common and most severe skin allergies we treat; fleas are a close second. Additionally, dogs with seasonal environmental allergies are more likely to have a flea allergy.
Q. What are the signs of allergies in pets; why don’t dogs show allergic reactions similar to humans, such as a runny nose?
Dogs show their allergies through their skin and gastrointestinal tract due to the large number of histamine-releasing mast cells in these areas. Aside from scratching, itchy pets may also shake their head, scratch at their ears, obsessively lick (especially paws and area around tail base), burrow in furniture, roll excessively on the ground or rub against surfaces. Frequent rashes and ear infections are often a sign of allergies and itchiness as well.
I even had a patient who loved to be vacuumed, despite being generally scared of loud noises. It turned out that the sensation of being vacuumed was particularly pleasing to his itchy skin!
Q. Why does my dog seem to have a greater issue with allergies than other dogs?
A condition called atopy, or atopic dermatitis, may be to blame. Atopy is a genetic predisposition to an exaggerated immune response to allergens, making their reactions more frequent and/or severe. Certain breeds, such as Golden Retreivers, Lhasa Apsos, most Terrier variations, and Bulldogs are more commonly affected, though atopy can affect any dog. Dogs with atopy often chew and lick their feet and are prone to ear infections.
Q. How can I prevent itchiness in my pet?
If environmental or contact allergies are suspected, chances are your pet will require regular medication to keep skin and ear infections under control. Prioritizing these treatments is key to keeping your pet comfortable. Consider rinsing your pet off at the end of every day during high allergen times and choosing fragrance-free home products over harsh chemicals that may be irritating to your pet’s skin.
Every pet should be on year-round parasite prevention. This makes parasitic causes of itchiness much less likely, allowing your medical team to quickly rule it out and move on to other possible causes.
If food allergies are suspected, your veterinarian may recommend a food trial that focuses on a different protein source or a prescription diet that prepares food in a way that neutralizes allergens. A note about grains: many grain-free food are advertised to be beneficial for allergies. However, most veterinarians agree that protein - not grains - are the most common source of allergic reactions in pets. Furthermore, especially for dogs, a lack of grain in a pet’s diet has been shown to result in a deficiency of taurine, which has been linked to dilated cardio myopathy, a disease of the heart muscles that can have serious to fatal health effects.
Q. What are the options for treating itchiness in pets?
There are safe, non-steroidal injectable and oral medications designed to work with your pet’s immune system to reduce the symptoms of atopy. These treatments will vary depending on the frequency and severity of the issue. For severe situations, your veterinarian may recommend a combination of short-acting and long-acting treatments that provide your pet with immediate comfort while preventing future flare-ups.
Your veterinarian may also recommend a prescription shampoo, which could have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-histamine, or even numbing properties to provide your pet some relief while helping to treat or prevent skin infections. Always follow frequency directions and remember that the product needs to sit on the skin and haircoat for five-10 minutes before rinsing.
Lastly, topical and oral antibiotics, cortisone products, and other medications can be useful for specific and small breakouts.
Q. Are their veterinarians who specialize in skin health for pets?
Yes! There are veterinary dermatologists and they have many tools at their disposal. They may be able to conduct allergy tests and prescribe specific medications based on the results of those tests. They are the experts in this field, and should be consulted whenever possible!
Q. My pet is on parasite prevention but I still suspect a flea bite
These naturally-occurring parasites live mostly in the environment (grass, soil, carpet, walls, etc.) and part-time on your pets. We’ll never be able to fully eradicate them from our environment, and these products work in different ways and within differing time frames to keep parasites from affecting your pets and your family. Therefore, flea bites may still occasionally occur, and unfortunately, this one flea bite can cause itchiness, especially in pets with FAD.
Q. How often should I be bathing my pet?
This will depend on the type of haircoat and their lifestyle. Most cats will not need bathing. Dogs suspected of suffering from seasonal allergies could use a daily rinse during periods of high pollen count or after swimming.
Otherwise, dogs need bathing every three to four weeks for general maintenance. A gentle aloe vera-or oatmeal-based shampoo is recommended.
Q. How often should I trim my pet’s nails?
This will vary by pet. Nails grow at different rates (similar to humans) and will receive some natural filling based on a pet’s activity levels and walking surfaces. Most dogs and cats will benefit from a nail trim every three to four weeks. Outdoor cats should keep at least their back claws sharp for self-defense.
Q. What are anal glands and what should I know about them?
Anal glands are small glands located at about 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock around the anus. They are scent glands intended to release a small amount of pungent material when a pet defecates or during stressful or fearful events. They are much less useful in domesticated animals such as dogs and cats, and they can range from an inconvenience to a medical issue. If not routinely emptied through defecation, these glands can become too full and require manual expression. Without manual expression, an anal gland can become infected and/or rupture, which requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of full anal glands in dogs includes biting or licking around the base of the tail, scooting their bottom on the ground, or seeming uncomfortable when they defecate. It’s best to have their anal glands checked by a veterinary professional if you see these signs. Sometimes anal glands can be full and an animal will show no signs. Veterinarians who do rectal exams during routine wellness visits are likely to identify pets whose anal glands were full and increase patient comfort through expression.
Note: cats have anal glands too, but with typically less complications. It’s rare for a cat to need medical attention due to these glands.
Some things that may affect natural anal gland expression include frequent diarrhea vs. regular firm stool, and excessive body weight or mobility issues that affect how a dog postures when defecating.
Q. How do skin infections occur?
Skin contains a baseline level of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These organisms can flourish and grow to unhealthy populations - resulting in infections - when there is a break in the skin or trauma from scratching. Many pets, due to the genetic integrity of their skin or exposure to parasites or allergens, are prone to continuous cycles of trauma and infection. This can include recurrent hot spots during allergy season or when fleas are present, and may also include or solely manifest as ear infections.
Skin infections in dogs most commonly occur on the rump, tail base, belly, inner thighs, and tail.
Q. How does food play a role in skin health?
A balanced, commercially produced diet is crucial for skin and haircoat health. For this reason, those who choose to make homemade diets should be careful to include enough skin-supporting nutrients. The website BalanceIT provides great resources for those who intend to make their own pet food: https://shop.balance.it/collections/all.
There are some foods produced and marketed for skin health, and these are likely to contain higher levels of fatty acids than other commercially available foods. These are thought to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
Q. Should I use skin supplements for my pet?
Sources of fatty acids, such as fish and flax seed oil, are great additions for pets with infection-prone or sensitive skin. They alone will not provide enough treatment or prevention for a pet with chronic itchiness, but can be a great supplement.
Q. My pet gets really matted, what should I do?
Matts on a pet should be prevented or removed immediately, as they can pull on the skin and be painful. Also, when a pet’s haircoat is in good condition and free of matts, it plays an important role in temperature regulation, either by trapping heat next to the skin or allowing the skin to release heat through haircoat movement.
For this reason, it’s important to keep your pet’s haircoat in great condition, i.e. free of matts, tangles, and debris and utilize brushing to help them effectively expel their undercoat during times of shedding.
It should be noted that long haired pets who are overweight and/or senior will often struggle to groom themselves properly and therefore need more help in maintaining a healthy haircoat. This may be especially true for cats.
Q. Should I shave my pets in the summertime?
Though a shorter haircoat seems intuitive for achieving a cooler body temperature, haircoat layers, length, and movement actually plays a role in temperature regulation. A general rule is to avoid altering your pet’s haircoat as it was designed protect the skin from sun or cold and trap or release heat as needed. A shortened or altered haircoat won’t be able to function properly in this regard. Additionally, many breeds, such as Pomeranians and Huskies, may struggle to grow their haircoat back effectively, resulting in a rougher, coarser haircoat than before.
Q. Are their behavioral reasons for a pet acting itchy?
Yes, we do see some pets displaying signs of itchiness or skin discomfort (licking, excessive grooming, etc.) that stem from anxiety or compulsive disorders. These cases account for a small percentage of the pets we see with these kinds of symptoms but it is something to consider, especially if that pet shows other signs of anxiety, had a recent stressful event, or if all other causes of itchiness have been explored.