Why Is My Dog Scratching Himself So Much

One of the most common causes of compulsive scratching licking and chewing in dogs are external parasites which includes ticks and mites not only fleas.

Why is my dog scratching himself so much. One way for the dog to alleviate the itchy feeling is by licking skin chewing and scratching. Many dogs lick and scratch as result of itching also called pruritis. Ticks do not commonly cause itching. An infection of the skin caused by bacteria can lead to severe itching.

Because of this your dog may scratch himself until he bleeds or gnaw on an area of his body until it becomes raw and sensitive. As such it is important for you to determine why the dog is scratching especially if the behavior is prolonged or intense in nature. If your dog is licking and scratching persistently check to see if she has fleas. In addition to the itching scratching dogs with a flea infestation will deposit flea dirt or digested blood in the form of their feces on the skin.

It s normal for dogs to scratch but a sudden and intense bout of scratching in dogs can be a sign of an allergic reaction. The most common triggers for excessive scratching in dogs are parasites or allergies. Itchiness isn t a diagnosis in itself merely a sign that something is wrong. Other skin irritations such as mange ringworm hot spots hives etc can also cause excessive dog licking.

This is not a road you want to go down alone. Every dog s gotta scratch some time and that s completely normal. Itching is a characteristic of many possible skin conditions and treating an itch effectively requires determining the underlying cause. Flea saliva is very allergenic so a single flea can cause flea allergy dermatitis fad that makes your dog itchy at the bite site often around the head anus neck tail base or groin area.

Any time a wound affects a dog s skin they re more susceptible to a bacterial infection. The itching may be minimal or extreme and can even cause injury. The medical term for scratching related to excessive itching is pruritus. But when a dog is incessantly licking scratching biting and chewing to the point of wounding herself then scratching becomes a symptom of an underlying pathology.

Bacterial infections can strike a dog or cat. It must be addressed quickly because the itching can lead to lots of scratching worsening the problem. Dogs scratch lick or chew for a wide variety of reasons ranging from allergies to boredom to parasite infestation. Dogs do not possess the self awareness to notice when they are doing more harm than good.

A dog licking and scratching themselves raw is only a symptom. Treating theses hot spots and scabs is relatively simple but you will need to find the cause if you want to completely solve the problem. The trick to stop dog scratching is to pinpoint the driving force.