Itch Relief - What's Available, and What Works

Itch Relief – What’s Available, and What Works

As groomers, we get a lot of customers asking us to help relieve their pet’s itching. As good groomers, it’s important for us to have a handle on what we are capable of doing to help with this all-too-common issue. There are certainly some products and techniques at our disposal that really can help to alleviate that irritating scratch. However, the fact is there are also many, many circumstances when no amount of grooming can be of any help. While trying out a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and topical sprays is likely the cheapest place to start, the truth is that many pet owners will still need to pay a visit to their vet to get to the bottom of their pet’s discomfort. Here is a recommended approach to sorting out an itchy pet’s needs – what variables to consider, what products to try, and some other suggestions.

First, start with considering these questions:

· When did the itching start, and does it seem to come and go? –What you’re looking for here, is any indication that something specifically caused the itching. If the itching just started, did the season just change? Has there been dry weather? Was the pet recently groomed? Has the pet been to the beach or in the pool? Has the pet’s diet recently changed? Etc…

· What kind of food is the pet being fed? –About 10% of allergies in pets are caused by food. Many commercial pet foods use generic fats or proteins, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten meal, rice protein concentrate, soy protein, or meat by-products. These are fillers – they do not provide any real nutritional value and can even be dangerous to the pet. You want a pet food that has as few grains as possible – it should consist of mostly high quality meat. There is a lot of information on line or a vet would also be a good resource on this topic. While a healthy diet is of course recommended regardless of itchy skin, it’s important to keep in mind that though it is a possibility to consider, diet alone is not often the cause of or solution to itchiness.

Inspecting the Pet’s Skin and Coat:

· Look for fleas or flea dirt. -Remember though, that even ONE flea can cause an allergic reaction if the dog is very sensitive to fleas – this is called Flea Allergy Dermatitis. Even one bite can make a dog itch all over. Start with a flea bath (not a dip) and application of flea prevention (like Frontline Plus). Your groomer can help you with this, and can give you some other suggestions on what else may need to be done if there was an infestation. If ridding the pet and home doesn’t solve the itching from flea bites, a trip to the vet may be needed, where a cortisone shot is often administered. Regardless of what else is found, it is recommended that your pet stay on regular flea prevention. Here in San Diego, our pleasantly warm weather all-year long is just as great for fleas as it is for us – they certainly come out in full force during the summer, but they are around all year.

· Check for dry or flakey skin. -This may be an easy fix with the use of an oatmeal shampoo, crème rinse, or remoisturizing treatment… or it could be a side effect of another issue, in which case, regular grooming may be able to provide some relief, but the underlining medical condition should still be addressed.

· Check for rashes and/or smells. –Red rashes, bumpy or scabby areas of skin often point to a staph infection (Staph Dermatitis), which requires some kind of antibacterial or antiseptic soap. In a pinch, Dawn can be used, but is not recommended for repeated use because it will dry out the skin (its ph balance isn’t designed for dogs). Persistent smells (ones that don’t go away with a groom) are often a sign of Seborrhea, which requires an anti-seborrhea shampoo or something with lime sulfer or tar. This is common in Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers. Either antibacterial or anti-seborrhea shampoos can be obtained through your vet.

· A note on allergies… -Just like with people, pets can be allergic to all sorts of airborne allergens – dust, grass, pollen, etc… When other attempts at soothing itchy skin prove ineffective, some pet owners may opt to have their vet run tests to find out if their pet has allergies. From there, vaccines can be administered to raise the pet’s tolerance level of those allergens. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect solution – the tests (not to mention vaccines, which often have to be given regularly for the rest of the pet’s life) can be costly, and the success rate is nowhere near 100%. There are some new options out there that are showing promise, but right now the issue of allergies remains very much unresolved.

Getting to the bottom of an itch problem can be a daunting and frustrating experience for a pet owner, especially considering the array of potential causes. As groomers, we do our best to be understanding of these frustrations and communicate our knowledge on the subject with our customers. We’re not veterinarians, and our area of expertise only extends so far, but we can walk our customers through the common problems they might be experiencing, and can especially aid in the ongoing maintenance that may be needed for many skin conditions.

Photo by Dona Tracy