Ahh, springtime. Warm weather, blossoming trees, blooming flowers…and itchy pets!

Does your dog or cat have problems with its skin that tend to come or go depending on the weather? Skin-related disorders are the number 2 reason, after preventative health care, that we treat dogs and cats in our clinic. Here is a quick breakdown of the major reasons your pet may itch, together with a few treatments that may provide relief.

Parasites: Fleas and ticks are the most common parasites that affect a pet’s skin, but others such as mites can also present a problem. Every dog or cat in North Carolina must be treated each month with a quality flea/tick preventative. Fleas and ticks laugh at winters around here, so year-round prevention is a must. Both pests can carry a variety of diseases: tapeworms, cat scratch fever and plague are among the diseases transmitted by fleas, while tick-borne illnesses include Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Keep in mind that you may not always see fleas, yet they can be tormenting your pet. Cats in particular do such a good job of grooming themselves that an owner may never see fleas. An itchy cat has a flea problem until proven otherwise! Our staff and/or web site can provide information on fleas, ticks and the best products to use to prevent and kill these harmful pests.

Infection: Dogs and cats frequently suffer from skin and ear infections, particularly in warm weather. Both bacteria and fungi can affect your pet. These organisms typically attack when an animal’s defenses are weakened. Antibiotics are often necessary to treat infections. Owners whose pets have a history of infections can reduce the chance of infection with periodic shampoo therapy. However, recurring infections should be closely examined to determine if an underlying agent, like allergies, is responsible. We will be happy to discuss with you a diagnostic plan that may reduce your pet’s chances of infection.

Allergies: Sometimes the only sign of allergy displayed by a pet is itchiness. Classic symptoms of allergic reactions are licking/chewing at paws, excessive grooming and recurrent skin or ear infections.

The most common categories of allergies in pets are flea, environmental (molds, pollens, dust etc.) and food allergies. Allergy symptoms can be minimized at home through a combination of flea prevention, shampoo therapy, anti-itch lotions or sprays, antihistamines and omega-3 fatty acids. We can of course discuss this with you and, where necessary, provide further treatment.

Food allergies tend to occur year-round, while the other categories of allergies may be more seasonal. Food allergies are diagnosed with a food trial that involves an 8 week period of feeding your pet a strict diet of a hypoallergenic food, including treats.

Dr. Charles H. Livaudais