How To Stop Your Dog From Scratching: Protect Your Pet From These Common Causes

Some of the worst causes that make your dog scratch too much are easy to understand

. Once you do, you will be able to help the dog find relief. Learning how to stop your dog from scratching is a big part of protecting your pet.

One main cause of itching is fleas. Unfortunately, fleas multiply very rapidly. By the time you see your dog scratching, it may have a serious infestation. Treating the fleas both on your dog and in your home is the first crucial step to helping it find relief.

With flea eggs hatching around the clock, you must nip the infestation in the bud. You can do this by treating your dog and your home for the fleas. Have your vet look at the dog and prescribe medication. At the same time, ask about sprays for the lawn and everywhere that your pet stays. You will need to spray each area several times because the fleas continue to hatch over time. You will need to get rid of the living ones, but you must plan for the hatching eggs too.

Lots of dogs are allergic to fleas. They really do not need only the flea bites to cause misery. They actually need to avoid the fleas also. Your vet can suggest lotions and creams to help ease the skin discomfort your dog may by feeling. Actually, humans and dogs share some of the same medications, but you should not use the human variety on dogs because the dosage and ingredients vary.

Other causes of scratching include ringworm and mites. Mites are microscopic size insects that dig under the skin. A poor dog may scratch forever and never touch the mites. This condition must be treated with professional care. If you do not, the dog will lose its fur in patches. Ringworm will cause the same symptoms, but it is not actually worms doing the damage. It is fungus. The fungus infects the skin, causing scratching in the patchy areas it develops. Both infestations take time to improve and both need special medications.

Dogs can suffer from food allergies much in the same way that humans do. If all other causes have been ruled out, then consider whether or not the food the dog is eating is causing its scratching. Commercial dog foods may be the source. Also spicy foods, sweet foods, red meats, or foods with preservatives, are main culprits. To determine exactly which food is difficult. You must remove only one food at a time for 2 to 4 weeks to look for improvements.

In some areas, wood ticks are common. These must be removed immediately because they burrow under the skin and suck blood until they are full. These ticks cause illness in humans, too. Tick bites are itchy, and so are spider and snake bites. For these, your dog will need emergency treatment. If you can take the dog to the veterinarian immediately, do so. Learn how to treat these bites for times when the doctor is far away.

Dogs enjoy scratching their stomachs by dragging across floors. If this behavior bothers you, or is excessive, try spending extra time and attention on your dog. It can be a signal for needing attention, and you can solve this itching cause quickly by giving you dog some extra affection. Learning how to stop your dog from scratching is discovering the cause of the itching and dealing with it appropriately.

by: Andrew Goligher

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