My Dog is Itching - Why is He Scratching, Licking, Chewing and Biting Himself?

Why is my dog scratching, licking, chewing and biting himself?

There are lots of different skin diseases which will cause itching in dogs, including flea allergy, flea bites, air-borne allergies, hot spots, food allergies, mite infections and hormone imbalances.

To find out what the problem is you will probably need a visit to your veterinarian, but you can get a clue from which parts of the body your dog is attacking and when the itchiness started.

Different skin problems tend to affect dogs in different areas of the body and start at different ages.

In temperate climates, the commonest causes of itching in dogs are flea bites and flea allergy. Affected dogs usually bite and chew the top of the rump and the base of the tail. This problem is usually seen in warm, humid seasons. Dogs can be affected as early as six months of age. If your dog has flea bites or flea allergy you will usually - but not always - be able to find fleas or flea dirt on his skin or in his coat.

The second most common cause of itching in dogs is atopic dermatitis. This is an allergic reaction to things floating in the air, such as dust mites, pollens and moulds. This problem usually starts when a dog is between one and three years of age. Affected dogs are usually chewing, biting, licking or scratching at their feet, ears, armpits, lips or eyelids. Some dogs with atopic dermatitis will also be sneezing.

At any age, dogs can develop sensitivities to foods which will cause them to itch. The itching tends to occur around the face, the ears and the perineum (below the tail). Some dogs with food sensitivity will also vomit or have diarrhea.

Demodectic mange is a mite infection which usually occurs in young dogs. Hair loss and itching usually occur around the lips and eyelids, on the head, inside the ear flaps or between the toes.

Scabies, also called sarcoptic mange, typically affects the edges of the ear flaps, the elbows, the hocks and the underside of the belly.

A dog which develops a skin disease in later life may have a hormonal imbalance or, more rarely, skin cancer.

Itching can also be caused by other parasites, ringworm, bacterial skin infections, contact dermatitis, hot spots and problems with the immune system.

Some dogs can have more than one skin problem at the same time. Dogs with flea allergy dermatitis often develop atopic dermatitis, and vice versa.

Diagnosing a skin problem can be difficult and should be done by a veterinarian. He or she will make a diagnosis based on the dog's age and breed, the dog's age when the problem began, any signs or history of other diseases, diet, examination of the dog's skin, checking for fleas or other parasites, skin tests and possibly blood tests or allergy testing.

If a dog is itching, scratching, chewing, biting or licking at itself it will be suffering a lot of discomfort, and needs to be taken to a veterinarian to have the problem diagnosed and treated.