Itching Dogs and Cats

Learn about food allergies and the canine equivalent of hay fever with Dr. Dennis Cloud of the Cloud Veterinary Center.

Notes:

• Atopy, the canine equivalent of hay fever, is the number one cause of itching dogs.
• Up to 20% of dogs may have Atopy.
• Atopy can be seasonal, occurring from early spring until October or November.
• Food allergies are another common cause of pet itching.
• Purina Veterinary Diets HA Hypoallergenic Brand Canine Formula for the dietary management of dogs with food allergies, is available by prescription from your veterinarian.
• Sometimes the only symptom of food allergies is an ear infection.
• Another cause is fleabite dermatitis, where animals are allergic to the bite of the flea. This is a complicated condition because just one fleabite can cause the pet to itch for up to two weeks.
• Sarcoptic mites, or ‘the mange,’ can also cause severe scratching and itching.
• The mange can also be contagious to people.
• Most ear infections are due to an underlying problem. 99% of the time it’s an allergy.
• Secondary infections can include yeast or bacteria infections.
• Dogs these days are living longer, and we're seeing increased cases of canine senility.
• How can a caller stop her Springer Spaniel puppy from eating earthworms after rainstorms?
• A caller's five-year-old Rottweiler has recurring urinary tract infections.
• Trivia question: What famous Missourian said, “I simply can’t resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course’?
• Diabetes is increasingly common in cats. Some studies show that one cat out of 200 may become diabetic.
• Why is a five-year-old Australian Shepherd clawing into the drywall?
• Why is a seven-year-old Border Collie / Australian Shepherd mix scratching after his annual physical and shots?
• Why is a caller’s thirteen-year-old cat overeating and what can the caller do about it?
• Trivia question answer: Mark Twain.

• previous: Communicable Diseases
• next: Pet Selection