Solutions For Your Itching Dog: Antibiotics, Steroids or Benadryl For Dogs!
Just like people, animals can suffer from dry skin, allergies and intense itching. Itching can occur all over your pet’s body or it can be localized to just one small area. Regardless, uncontrollable itching is a serious annoyance to your pet and efforts should be made to help your pet find relief!
Causes of Skin Itching in Dogs
There are many different reasons why your dog may be so itchy that include:
- Parasites: You may notice your pet scratching if he is affected by fleas or ticks. Other pests that can cause itching include mites and lice. Often simply eliminating the offending creature from your pet’s life will resolve the itching. Sometimes steroids or benadryl may be given to improve your pet’s comfort level are the inflammation and skin irritation heal.
- Infection: Skin infections that are caused by bacteria or yeast can cause your pet to feel itchy. Pets with skin infections will often have localized hair loss, rashes, scaly skin or a foul odor. Often your veterinarian will trial your pet on antibiotics or antifungal medications to see if these will help your pet’s symptoms.
- Allergic Skin Disorders: Food, environmental or flea allergies are just a few causes of skin rashes and disorders in dogs. The most common causes of allergic itching in dogs is from insects, such as fleas and mosquitos. Dogs with food allergies tend to show symptoms year round.
- Serious Health Problems: Liver disease and certain types of cancers can cause itchy skin for your pet.
Only your veterinarian can diagnose your pet and fully understand what is causing your pet to feel so uncomfortable. It is important to have your pet checked if he suffers from persistent itching. Most do not require a costly work up to diagnose the problem and treatments are typically simple and inexpensive.
Treatment of Itching For Your Dog
Benadryl For Dogs That Itch
Benadryl is a medication that is part of the anti-histamine drug family. This medication is well-known to most people because it is also commonly used for allergic reactions in humans. Benadryl can be used for dogs to help reduce the allergic response caused when histamine is released by the body. Benadryl blocks the release of histamine, which helps reduce your dog’s allergy symptoms. Benadryl can safely reduce itching, sneezing and rashes that are caused by an allergy in your pet. It is a well-known treatment for itching. Benadryl is safe for most pets to take but you should never give your animal this medication without consulting your veterinarian for proper dosing instructions.
Although benadryl is safe for dogs to take, it is important to understand that the doses are NOT the same for pets and people. It is possible to give your pet too much of this medication. Signs of benadryl intoxication for dogs include:
- Restlessness or hyperactivity
- Increased salivation
- Increased heart rate
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Rapid breathing
Pets who have been given too much medication must be evaluated by their doctor immediately because sometimes intervention is necessary.
Glucocorticoids For Itching In Dogs
The most effective treatment for your itchy dog are steroids. These medications are very powerful and will stop the itching and any allergic reaction. Unfortunately these medications have long term side effects and cannot be used for extended periods of time. Prolonged use of steroids in dogs can lead to high blood sugars, recurrent infections and hormone imbalance. These medications should be used for short-term therapies to control acute flares of itching in conjunction with anti-histamines.
Essential Fatty Acids For Itching In Dogs
If your dog has chronic itching your veterinarian may recommend treating your pet with fatty acids. Unfortunately this treatment is not always effective but when used in combination with other substances fatty acids may be beneficial for your pet.
If your pet suffers from skin rashes, allergies or chronic itching see your veterinarian to find out what is causing your pet’s discomfort. Often these problems are quick and easy to treat and will relieve your pet’s symptoms permanently.
