A quick jab can stop your dog from scratching incessantly
The human-animal bond lies at the heart of pet ownership. The role our companion animals play in our lives and homes cannot be overstated. Home is where the heart is, and dogs, cats and other pets make sure there is even more heart to go around.
Our animals don’t only live in our homes. They are in our living areas, bedrooms, and sometimes even our beds. We cohabitate with them which means life-threatening diseases aren’t all we need to worry about. We need to focus on the overall wellness of our animals as well.
Tarryn Dent, business unit lead: companion animals at Zoetis South Africa, a global animal health company says: “The comfort of [a person’s] animals impacts on their own well-being. A pet that is constantly itching and scratching or has a slight odour or that is always uncomfortable impacts the entire household.”
According to research, one in six pet owners complains about itching in their dogs.
“Scratching is one of the top three reasons why people take their dog to the vet,” says Dent. “The good news is that it’s possible to spot signs of irritation caused by skin conditions and treat them so your dog can continue to be its wonderful self.” Holistic health and wellness Dogs love a good scratch, but how do you know when it’s a sign of an underlying skin condition?
“Fifteen to 20% of dogs struggling with itching have atopic dermatitis, which is a common allergic skin disease,” says Dent. “The most common causes are flea allergy, food allergy, inhalant or contact allergy and allergy to the normal bacterial flora and yeast organisms of the skin.”
Unfortunately, atopic dermatitis only rarely goes into remission or spontaneously resolves, and if left untreated, allergies can change a dog’s personality.
“The constant itch and frustration can lead dogs to shy away from people or even become aggressive when touched,” says Dent.
Zoetis has invested heavily in research and development of a medication that alleviates the discomfort of dermatitis, a single injection that gives veterinarians and pet owners an excellent opportunity to help control the itch without leading to any secondary signs that can be more difficult to manage. – Citizen reporter