Why is my pet so itchy? A guide to allergic skin disease in dogs and cats.

Every dog or cat has an occasional scratch, but repeated scratching, licking, chewing, rubbing or head-shaking is different: it can mean that the skin or ears are itchy and uncomfortable.

Allergic skin disease is one possible cause, but it is not the only one. Fleas and other parasites, bacterial or yeast infections, and several less common conditions can look similar and so getting veterinary advice is always a good starting point. To complicate things, some dogs have more than one problem at the same time.

Sometimes the useful first question is not “Which allergy is it?” but “How itchy is my dog, where, and does it vary over time: maybe it gets worse in the summer or with different foods?”

Monitoring your pet’s Itch Score in the Boop App. can be a helpful starting point to help you and the family monitor changing behaviour. In our Wellness section, you can record scratching, licking or rubbing—and gives you a baseline you can compare with the next flare-up or after trying some treatment.

What does itch really mean?

In Dogs, itch is not always obvious scratching. Look for:

·     licking or chewing the paws;

·     rubbing the face on furniture or carpet;

·     biting or nibbling the skin;

·     frequent head-shaking or scratching at the ears;

·     rolling or rubbing more than usual;

·     broken hairs, thinning fur or hair loss; and

·     disturbed sleep or difficulty settling.

Commonly affected areas include the paws and between the toes, ears, face, tummy, groin, armpits, skin folds and the area under the tail. The skin may initially look normal. With time, self-trauma and infection can lead to redness, spots, scabs, odour, discharge or sore, thickened skin.

Cats most often scratch at their neck or face, or start overgooming - in particular on their tummy which can often go bald before starting to become red.

What can cause itchy skin?

Getting to the bottom of itchy skin can be time consuming and at times a little frustrating, so working with your vet is a good place to start. Often it is a case of ruling out common issues and starting treatment to help relieve the signs, whilst trialling other changes around the home or with diet.

Fleas and other parasites

You may not necessarily see fleas - 90% of the flea lifecycle is around the home rather than on the pet and a dog or cat that is allergic to flea saliva can be extremely itchy after only a small exposure. Many dogs and cats can be extremely good at licking off the fleas so you don’t see them. Treating all the pets in the household using an effective (ideally prescription) flea treatment is a good start, but remember you often need to treat more than once, and consider spraying the house as well.

Environmental allergy

So called atopic dermatitis is a common, usually long-term skin condition involving the skin barrier and immune system. Triggers may include pollens, house-dust mites and other environmental allergens. Symptoms can be seasonal or present throughout the year, and finding the allergies responsible can be difficult. Your vet may be able to perform blood tests or skin pricks with the aim to eventually desensitise your pet to the allergy.

Food allergy

Food can also be involved, but signs alone cannot reliably distinguish between environmental allergies and foods. If your vet suspects a food allergy, diagnosis usually requires a carefully controlled elimination diet followed by a planned food challenge. Randomly changing brands or excluding ingredients can make the picture more confusing and, in a growing dog, may risk an unbalanced diet so taking a planned approach is much better.

Skin or ear infection

Bacteria and yeast can add to itchy skin and may also need specific treatment such as topical washes or medications from your vet. There are lots of treatments advertised online as well but we recommend caution when buying these as often they are untested and not proven to work, despite sometimes very convincing advertising.

Because these problems overlap, an online list or photograph cannot provide a reliable diagnosis. Your vet may examine the skin and ears, check for parasites or infection, and build a stepwise plan based on the history.

How the Boop Itch Score (PVAS) can help

Itch varies from day to day. At an appointment it can be hard to remember whether your pet was scratching much more or less the week before, or whether the paw-licking is truly better than last month.

The itch score helps you record problems and turn it into a trend which you can then discuss with your vet. You can record the score regularly and add useful context, such as:

·     the body areas affected;

·     whether itch interrupts sleep, play or meals;

·     any ear signs;

·     changes in the skin or coat;

·     parasite treatments, food changes and prescribed medicines; and

·     photos of visible flare-ups.

Within Boop Wellness, you can enter an Itch Score record how your dog is doing before you change food, bathing routines or parasite treatment. Add a photo if the skin or coat looks different. Repeat the score regularly so you can see whether the itch is improving, staying the same or getting worse.

When should an itchy pet see the vet?

Arrange veterinary advice if the itching is persistent, keeps returning, is getting worse or is affecting sleep and normal life. Book sooner if you notice:

·     raw, bleeding or rapidly spreading sore skin;

·     a bad smell, pus, discharge or marked redness;

·     painful ears, repeated head-shaking or a tilted head;

·     significant hair loss;

·     your dog seeming unwell, quiet or off their food; or

·     little or no improvement with a plan already prescribed.

At the appointment, open your dog's Boop record and show your vet the scores, photographs and dates of any treatments or food changes. A clear timeline can help your vet understand what happens between visits.

Avoid giving human medicines or applying creams unless your vet has advised them for this dog. Also never use a dog flea product on a cat: some dog products contain permethrin, which can be fatal to cats.

Itchy skin can be frustrating, and allergic disease often needs long-term management rather than a one-off cure. A clear record helps replace guesswork with evidence.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Contact your vet for advice about an individual pet.