The itchy and scratchy show

 

itchydog

It is that time of the year again. With the warm weather comes the pesky things that cause allergies. Fleas, ticks and other biting insects commonly set off an attack of the itches! Pets can also be allergic to grasses, trees, plant pollen, dust mites and moulds as well as certain foods.

Itchy dogs may bite, lick or scratch with their legs. Cats tend to over groom (constantly lick) certain areas causing hair loss.

Itching quickly leads to self-trauma of the skin and this causes secondary infections. Unfortunately, treatment becomes more complicated and more costly once infection occurs.

What can you do at home?

  • Be absolutely vigilant with flea treatment all year round. Fleas are a major cause of an itchy pet and regularly using a flea treatment is cheaper than treating an itchy pet! At GSVC we recommend you come in and discuss the flea treatment options we have on offer with our friendly staff. There is an abundance of products on the market and we will help you find the right one.
  • Keep your pet away from known ‘problem’ plants – including Wandering Jew and Paspalum grasses (See http://dermcare.com.au/_content_data/_files/Contact%20Allergy%20A3%20hi%20res.pdf  for futher information on problem plants)
  • Avoid fishy foods in cats – you may be surprised but these can often be an underlying cause of allergies (skin and gastrointestinal)

If you your pet has an itch that is driving both of you nuts come in and see us so we can make an assessment and get to the bottom of what is causing the problem. The earlier we intervene the better for your pet!