Sound familiar?
Itchy skin is one of the most common reasons dogs visit the veterinarian—and allergies are often part of the story. But allergies aren’t always as simple as “my dog is allergic to grass.”
So, Why Is My Dog So Itchy?
Dogs and cats can develop allergies for many different reasons. Some are seasonal, some are caused by things in the environment, and others can be related to food or even flea bites.
And sometimes, there’s more than one thing going on.
For example, your dog might spend the afternoon rolling around in the grass, come inside and start licking their paws, and a few days later you notice red skin between their toes. That licking can irritate the skin even more, creating a frustrating itch-lick-scratch cycle.
What Can Cause the Itching?
- Environmental allergies: Grass, pollen, dust and mold can all be triggers.
- Flea allergies: Some pets can have a big reaction to just one flea bite.
- Food allergies: Certain ingredients may cause skin or digestive problems.
- Skin or ear infections: Constant scratching and licking can damage the skin and allow infections to develop.
What Should You Watch For?
Keep an eye out for constant scratching, paw licking, head shaking, red skin, hair loss, hot spots or recurring ear infections.
Cats may show allergies differently. Instead of scratching, they may over-groom themselves, leaving thin or missing patches of hair.
When Is It Time to Call the Vet?
If scratching has become part of your pet’s everyday routine, it’s worth finding out why.
At The Corner Vet, we can help identify possible allergy triggers and determine what’s causing your pet’s discomfort so you can get them back to feeling like themselves.
Because sometimes that “little itch” is your pet’s way of saying something isn’t right.
Kim McQueen