The Weekly Wag: An itch that needs scratching

Most dogs and cats will have a slight tendency to scratch themselves, but sometimes the frequency of scratching can increase. We call this pruritus, where our patients feel so itchy they need to scratch their bodies a lot and can even traumatise themselves.

There are many causes for itchy skin in dogs and cats. One of the most common causes we find is the presence of external parasites or ectoparasites. This includes fleas, ticks, and mites. Most of these parasites are found within the environment.

For example, only 5% of the flea’s life cycle is spent on your pet, the other 95% is spent in the environment, which also includes your home. It is important to ensure your pets are up to date with their parasite treatment throughout the year. May is flea, tick, and mite awareness month at Rockhall Veterinary. We offer 10% off parasite prevention treatments at our clinics, call us on 061 314203 for more information.

Sometimes it is necessary to treat your home too with flea sprays and boil-wash bedding if the burden is particularly heavy.
Allergies: I commonly find my patients struggling the most with their allergies during the spring and Summer months when the pollen count is at its highest. Unfortunately, some pets will suffer all year round with these issues especially where there is also a food allergy or intolerance present.

Common itchy places on your dog or cat, including the ears, armpits, groin, feet, and bottom. Cats, in particular, can suffer from over-grooming. This is where they groom themselves to the point where they pull out their own hair. Cats like to over-groom their lower belly, legs, tail, and lower back.

The best way to get to the 'bottom' of these itchy issues is to make an appointment with one of our vets, where we will perform a full clinical exam and discuss what we think might be the cause of the itch.

Certain tests can be performed to help us find out what is causing the itch too. They can include, but are not limited to, skin scrapes, hair plucks, blood tests, and skin biopsies.

We might recommend certain special foods and medications to help ease the itchiness based on these results.

If you think your pet is suffering from itchy skin, then please make an appointment, and together with our vet, they can start the journey towards a comfortable, itch-free life.

Do you have a question for our Vet? Send your questions to info@rockhallveterinary.ie

Ask the Vet - Your questions answered

Question:
My dog has arthritis, what should I feed him?

Answer:
If your dog has arthritis, a good diet is important to help support their joints. Good-quality food is a good start, such as those that you can buy at your local Vet which are super premium veterinary diets.

Most of these arthritic dog foods will often contain additional joint supplements. The most common supplements are omega-3 fatty acids glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

The omega- 3's help alleviate pain and inflammation of the joints, at Rockhall we recommend Yumove 360 or Arthri-Can
They also have the added benefit of giving your pet healthy skin and coat. While it is important to have good-quality food, it is equally important to ensure your pet is not overweight.

Extra weight means extra pressure on those aching joints and extra inflammation on the body. If you need help selecting food for your pet or if you are not sure if your pet needs to lose weight, then give us a call and sign up for one of our nurse clinics.

Pet of the Week - Jakey

Jakey boy is a much- loved 13-year-old German Shepherd.

He is very much a golden oldie and he loves to come and visit us in Rockhall Vets, Henry Street.

Jake suffers with long-term arthritis.

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