Understanding Why Your Dog Is Scratching

Dogs can scratch for a lot of different reasons. They usually scratch because they have a real itch. It can be the result of a flea bite, an allergy, or something that irritates them.

If your dog is itching you should watch him and see if there are other symptoms. If you notice dandruff or a dull, dry coat, he may have dry skin or allergies.

If your dog begins to develop red spots or sores he may have a skin infection. Skin infections can grow larger and some of them can make a dog ill. If you suspect that your dog has a skin infection you should take him to the vet right away for treatment.

When You Should Worry About Scratching

In many cases you can ignore a dog's casual scratching. He may just have a temporary, meaningless itch. However, if your dog has chronic itching and starts to damage his skin, you should pay attention.

If your dog's scratching leads to sores that start to open or if his scratching becomes determined, take him to the vet to find out the cause. A dog may scratch his ears until they are red and inflamed, for example.

Your vet will perform blood tests and other tests such as skin scrapings to find out if there is a serious problem.

How To Stop Excessive Scratching

It's not usually possible to stop all scratching. You should treat any problems that develop because of infection or allergies. This usually requires the help of your vet, as well as testing and medications. If your dog has fleas or other parasites, use the appropriate preventives.

Flea Preventive

After your dog is treated, you should continue to use the correct deterrents or preventives. If your dog has a sore or other place that he continues to try to scratch, you should treat it according to your vet's instructions.

Most dogs will occasionally sit and scratch their neck. This is probably not something to worry about. However, it your dog scratches at his rear or bites on his leg for hours, there is probably a serious problem and you need to see your vet.

In this case the problem could be fleas, an allergy, or even a compulsion to scratch. Or, your dog could be scratching out of boredom. See your vet for help.

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