Dog scratching is commonly triggered by fleas, food allergy or fixation on their skin. Persistent dog scratching can cause skin problems such as hot spots and skin infections. You’ve got to stop dog scratching at its early stage. If it is not timely addressed it might escalate and become more severe and harder to treat.
The Causes of Dog Scratching
There are lots of causes of dog scratching that need to be identified in the first place. Knowing these causes will definitely stop dog scratching for good.
Infection – bacteria and fungi are the primary causes that trigger dog scratching. Some indications of the presence of bacteria or fungi in dogs are greasy sores, hairless patches or blisters.
Neurogenic – this is a case of nervous origin that can be manifested by excessive licking. This may be caused by lack of exercise, lack of motivation, or separation anxiety.
Allergenic – allergies caused by the dog’s food intake, fleas, and allergy-causing plants and dust in the dog’s surroundings can infect the dog’s skin. These are all very itchy.
Nutritional – Dry skin resulting from poor nutrition can bring eczema, sores or dry hair.
Environmental – a dog’s exposure to excessive water due to swimming, burrowing or too much play outdoors can trigger scratching.
Parasites – ticks, fleas, flies, gnats and mites are all parasites that can cause itching. These can be eliminated by the right medication.
By properly identifying its causes and addressing them properly, a dog’s scratching is automatically stopped.
Visiting the Vet
One of the most effective ways to determine the root cause of your dog’s scratching is to take your dog to a vet for a complete checkup. Knowing the real cause of the problem will bring about the formulation of precise countermeasures to eliminate the problem for good. Remember, scratching is just an indication of an underlying problem which could be a more severe one. Stop dog scratching by going deeper into its cause.
Dealing with Neurogenic Scratching
Among the six factors that cause dog scratching, the most difficult to cure is the neurogenic type. The other five causes can be treated either through medication, proper nutrition or by simple exercise routines while persistent itching triggered by neurogenic causes can be addressed by establishing the cause of the dog’s compulsive desire to scratch.
Dogs need sufficient exercise. Pet owners need to make their dogs active and alert to prevent them from developing boredom. A bored dog will grow “neurotic ticks” which give it the urge to scratch or lick for no reason. Another way to stop dog scratching due to boredom is by applying bitter apple spray or cayenne pepper on your dog’s favorite licking spots.
Using a Vet Cone Helps
A vet cone also helps to stop the dog from reaching itchy spots. Make sure to continue exercising your dog while it is wearing the cone. By the time the dog becomes active with exercise, you may gradually bring it back to its regular routines. By close observation, you can determine exactly if it is time to remove the cone and discontinue the spray.
It is assumed that your dog has stopped scratching at this point, but if its scratching persists, you should pay another visit to the vet in order to properly identify the real cause of your dog’s problem.
It is essential for a pet owner to keep an eye on his dog if it starts scratching, and to take the necessary steps to address the problem. Dog scratching is a minor problem that is easy to remove if we are sensitive enough to address it before it gets worse.