Pet Health Talk...the scratching problem
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 1990.
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Without a doubt the most common problem I see here at the clinic is the scratching pet. The intense scratching leads to a number of dermatological (skin) problems that may be identified as hair loss, lakiness, redness, scabbing and even infection.
Initially, we must understand that pruritus (scratching) can be caused by many things and more than one may occur at the same time. Determining the underlying cause often takes time and can sometimes be very frustrating.
When I look at a scratching dog the first thing I notice is the locations of the affected area. Often, this can rule out a number of causes. I am also very interested in the pet's age. Many problems that cause scratching only occur in certain aged pets.
I will cover the most common causes of the scratching pet here on the Island, and by no means are these the only causes that occur. Flea bite dermititis is the major cause of scratching in the pet here on the Island. It is common because the weather is conducive for a year round flea problem. Without cold weather (several days of sub-freezing temperatures) there is no winter kill and the fleas continue to hatch year round.
The most common mistake about fleas on pets is the thought that the flea stays on the pet at all times. This is not the case. The flea only stays on the pet about 10% of the time, and the rest of the time it is in the premises reproducing. This can also explain why treating the pet by itself does not resolve the flea problems.
In the dog the most common area the dog chews is around the tail, head and the back of the thighs. Fleas are attracted to this area due to a secretion on the skin. So, when you go to look for fleas on your dog do not roll him over and look on his stomach. Separate the hair around and under the tail and look closely for fleas or flea dirt (appears as pepper on the skin). Remember, the fleas may have already left the pet hut the itching is still present.
In the cat the most common areas of involvement are around the head and neck. It mostly appears as small scabs or crusts around the neck area. However, if it is advanced it may occur anywhere on the the body. The best way to control a flea problem is to direct your attack at the premises as well as the pets. If your pets are outside all the time then you should concentrate on your yard. If they are inside pets totally, then direct your attention at the house. If your pets go outside and then return into the house you should do both. I recommend fogging the house with a good fogger that contains Precor. This will kill all the adult fleas and will also keep the immature forms from developing. Outside, I recommend Dursban or Diazinon. This only kills the adult fleas and should be repeated in 2-3 weeks and monthly thereafter.
For the pet, I recommend a good flea bath followed by a flea dip. The dip is mixed with water and applied on the pet while it is still damp. The dip remains on the pet to dry and will form a residue on the skin which will kill any fleas that jump back on the pet. The dip will usually leave a residue for 7-14 days. Follow the instructions on the bottle and be careful when you use it on puppies or cats. It must have direction for "the use in puppies or cats" or I would not use it. I also recommend a good flea collar on small and medium dogs as well as cats. The Dursban collar is good but can only be used on dogs. Most people do not think a flea collar works because they see fleas on the pet while the collar is on. Remember, if its a good collar, the fleas will get exposed to the insecticide in the collar and die over several hours.
There are no proven insecticides that keep the fleas from getting on the pet. Also, I recommend in the cat, always use a collar that has a safety factor. This can be a "breakaway collar" or one that has an elastic band built into it. I know of several cats that were found hung by their flea collar. The other most common cause of scratching in the dog is allergies.
Allergies in the dog can be caused by many things and these determine the typical clinical signs. Dogs can have contact allergies. This is an allergy to something that contacts the skin usually causing scratching and inflammation at the contact site. Common examples are grasses, fabrics, soaps and synthetic products. Dogs that have grass allergies usually come in with affected areas on the chest, abdomen and forelegs. If the allergin can be identified and removed the problem can be eliminated. Contact allergies are not as common as the other forms.
Allergic inhalant dermatitis (Atopy) is another form of allergy in the dog and is caused by breathing in common allergins floating in the air. Examples of these are molds, house dust and common plant pollens. Clinically, they are manifested by chewing or licking the front paws, scratching, itchy eyes with a discharge, or sometimes coughing. Licking at the paws is by far the most common thing we see.
the only way to specifically diagnose these allergies is to skin (patch) test these dogs to identify what the pet is allergic to. Usually, we treat these dogs symptomatically which gives them temporary relief.
Dogs can also have allergy to fleas. When the flea bites the dog it injects saliva into the skin. The dog's body identifies it as a foreign protein and has an allergic reaction to the saliva. This is very common in the Poodle, Cocker, Retriever, and German Shepherd but can also be seen in many other breeds. It only takes a few fleas (which probably have already left the dog) to start the allergic reaction and then the chewing and scratching begins. Most allergies are treated with systemic cortisone-type drugs to stop the reaction as well as reduce the scratching.
These are not without side effects and must be used with care. There are many other causes of scratching in the pet besides those I have discussed. The best way to handle these problems is to identify the cause and get treatment early before other complications occur.
