Painful, itchy skin is no fun for your dog
THE warmer weather we have experienced over the last few weeks has heralded a large increase in the number of calls from clients whose pets are experiencing itchy skin.
During the pandemic, our vets, nurses and receptionists have been working in small teams. This expected peak of skin cases through the warmer months can cause pain, suffering and distress in pets so, even during the current continued lockdown, our vets have been working hard to treat these animals.
Although there are many causes of skin disease in our pets, there are two main reasons why skin problems are especially prevalent during spring and summer: number one is fleas and number two is allergic skin disease.
Fleas can be an issue all year round, however, the flea’s lifecycle speeds up in warm conditions. When conditions are optimal, each flea can lay several hundred eggs which will hatch out within a couple of weeks, leading to a population explosion. It is essential to treat fleas all year round since just a few fleas living in your house over the winter can lead to many hundreds of flea eggs, larvae and pupae in your carpets and soft furnishings and a serious infestation on your pet at this time of the year. Fortunately there are some highly effective products available.
When it comes to allergic skin disease, there are hundreds of different challenges which your pet may come across. Many, such as food allergy sensitivities, reactions to household cleaners and fabric conditioners, housedust mites and storage mites may be present all year round. At this time of the year, however, there are many seasonal allergens that can cause significant problems.
Pollens from grass, trees, etc increase in concentration and, as any sufferer of hayfever will tell you, the pollen level can fluctuate dramatically day by day. Some dogs react for just a few weeks at the same time each year when their allergy cause is at its highest levels.
Most skin cases present with varying degrees of itch, hair loss, scabs, skin reddening etc and it can be difficult to determine the cause and may not be curable, however, with tests and medication, the distress and itch can usually be managed well restoring quality of life for both you and your pet.