YOUR PET ’ S ITCHY SKIN
YOUR PET ’ S ITCHY SKIN
These are cases that we see frequently and they often provide much frustration to pets , owners and vets . By addressing nutrition and integrating complementary therapies we often help to prevent the need for reliance on medications . But for some animals , medication is an invaluable tool to enhance their quality of life .
An itchy animal will scratch or chew at themselves causing inflammation , leading to a further itch which often progresses to infection ( a change in the population of natural bacteria that live on the skin or a foreign bug may be introduced ) and a vicious cycle is established . Conventional medicine then makes use of antibiotics to control the infection and various medications to suppress the itch as a means of breaking this cycle . Immunotherapy may also be used . The prevention of this scenario is our ultimate goal and to achieve this we need to address the underlying issues . Animals have an itch threshold , basically a line drawn at a certain level which is different for each individual depending on their genetic makeup . Many factors contribute to this itch threshold and one or more factors can push the animal over the edge causing them to itch . There are five main factors which play a role in causing animals to itch . These are nutrition , stress , parasites , environmental factors and mechanical irritation . Other contributors can include hormone imbalances , worms and infections . There are various diagnostic techniques available to establish the main contributing factor / s , these include cytology , biopsy , intradermal skin testing , diet trials and blood tests , which can be helpful but unfortunately they aren ’ t always conclusive . As a practical first line of defence we focus on managing the main contributing factors so that the itch threshold is not reached .
1 . Nutrition plays a major role . Poor quality food , artificial preservatives , allergies to specific proteins and lack of essential fats , vitamins and minerals can all play a part in contributing to the itch . Generally we recommend a well-balanced raw food diet together with the addition of optimal amounts of vitamins , minerals , anti-oxidants and omega 3 fatty acids found in high amounts in flax oil , krill oil and cold water fish . Omega 3s are usually deficient in optimal amounts in most pets ’ diets . They have anti-inflammatory properties and help to give the skin an extra barrier of protection in addition to many other helpful properties . This works well for most dogs and cats but some times we need to design a special diet addressing specific issues .
2 . Stress weakens the immune system and lowers the body ’ s itch threshold . In cats we commonly see itchy skin problems and establish in the history that there is a new tomcat in the area bullying the cat . Stress can also be due to other factors such as a much loved owner going away , a new baby in the house or even a fellow companion no longer being present . Addressing the underlying issue is important but wholesome nutrition , various supplements such as vitamin B complex , pheromones and remedies such as Rescue Remedy can be very useful aids to help animals to cope with stress .
3 . Parasites like sarcoptic mange and fleas can contribute greatly to an itch . Fleas can be very irritating and can also be responsible for flea allergy dermatitis where just one flea bite can cause an itch that lasts for weeks – we find this latter issue much less common in animals receiving optimal nutrition with a well-balanced raw food diet . Fleas are natural parasites and have evolved with animals for hundreds of years . When they are becoming a problem it means that either the animal ’ s body is not in top shape to prevent this or the environment that the animal is in is unbalanced and the fleas are “ taking over ”. Environmental flea control as well as supporting the immune system helps to address this issue and , where necessary , additional supplements and parasite control products can be used .
4 . Environmental factors can be difficult to isolate or control , for example pollens and dust mites . Also many dogs love swimming in the sea but the salty water can cause them to be itchy . It is therefore a good idea to always hose them down with fresh water afterwards . Various shampoos can also contribute to an itch . Plants such as wandering jew can cause some dogs to react with a violent itch . It is important to be aware of these factors that may play a role and limit exposure where possible . We often find that by addressing other factors that contribute to the itch threshold and making use of various supplements and homeopathic remedies , many dogs don ’ t react as badly to the environment .
5 . Mechanical irritation such as waxy , hairy or sore ears , painful teeth , full anal glands , long nails and worm burdens can make an animal unsettled and uncomfortable . Sometimes they display this by scratching or chewing their paws . A check up at the vet will help to identify these issues and strategise a management plan to address them .
When animals are itchy some useful first line treatments to help break the itch cycle are a soothing shampoo like oatmeal , a cold bath or applying soothing creams or lotions like aloe vera gel ( ensure that it ’ s not preserved with benzoic acid ), pawpaw ointment or colloidal silver . There are many options available to help a chronically itchy animal . Time , effort and patience are often necessary for long-term success . Most cases respond well within two to four weeks if using a holistic approach and making use of complementary therapies . Occasionally , however , some animals can ’ t be adequately managed and medications are required to suppress itching . Some animals will even need ongoing maintenance doses of these medications to keep them comfortable .
Dr . Liza Schneider Director / Veterinarian Tel . 07 578 7054 www . holisticvets . co . nz 56 Fraser Street , Tauranga Bay of Plenty , New Zealand