August has been named “Itchy Pet Awareness Month” by a top pharmaceutical firm. Itchy Pet Month? Really? Well, yes. According to veterinary insurance companies, skin conditions are among the top reasons owners bring their pets into their vet, accounting for about 22% of all dog insurance claims.
These skin conditions range from excessive scratching to ear infections to lumps and bumps on their skin. Chronic itch/scratch behavior (or “pruritis” in medical terminology) can get in the way of everyday activities. Not every dog itch has the same cause.
While some itching can be caused by something in the environment, others could be from diet. This why it’s important to work with a veterinarian to determine why they are scratching and the best way to stop the itch. Itching can be seasonal or year-round and, in some cases, the seasonal itch can become chronic.
Seasonal itch in dogs. Atopic dermatitis is the medical term for a common skin disease characterized by excessive itchiness (pruritis). Particles in the environment, like mold, pollen, grass, and different types of trees can cause allergies in dogs just like in people.
While many people may experience sneezing or a runny nose, in dogs, these allergies often show up as itchiness and red skin. Seasonal itch, as the name implies, happens periodically throughout the year, and lasts anywhere from a week to a month’s time. A dog will usually experience itch around the same time every year.
As the seasons change, so do t.