Itchy skin can have a major impact on a pets quality of life and, where possible, we must alleviate the stress and suffering that it can cause.

The most common causes are:

• Allergic dermatitis (usually due to pollens, less commonly because of food)
• Fleas and other parasites
• Contact allergies – this could be anything, but commonly grass

The first thing to ensure is that a suitable flea and mite treatment product has been given to your dog within the last 4 weeks. It is not always possible to see fleas, and it can take only 1 flea bite to set off a bad skin reaction.

When your dog has had suitable flea and mite treatment, but is still scratching, they will need to be assessed by a vet, as they most likely have allergic dermatitis (Atopy).

Sometimes itchiness is a one off problem requiring one off treatment, but for some pets itchiness is a lifelong problem which will need ongoing management.

Diagnosing the cause of itchiness may require:

• Microscope sample examination
• Skin biopsy
• Blood testing

Each case is different, so we will tailor what is required for each pet.