Itching is one of the unpleasant conditions, which is often bothers the friends of our four-legged. Pet becomes restless, nervous, does not get enough sleep, lethargy and decrease are observed activity. Most often, itching occurs due to settled on his body fleas, but this is far from the only reason provoking this symptom. Why does a dog itch if there are no fleas, and which ones accompanying signs should the owner pay attention?
Content
- 1. The mechanism of itching and the main causes
- 2. Why itching is necessary to eliminate
- 3. Artful fleas – do not live on a dog, but bite
- 4. Itching due to dermatological diseases
- 5. Inflammation and blockage of the paraanal glands
- 6. Itching due to allergies
- 7. Watch the video why dogs itch and lick
- 8. What parasites cause itching
- 8.1. Lice
- 8.2. Scabies mite
- 8.3. Vlasoed
- 8.4. Demodex
- 8.5. Ixodid tick
- 8.6. Cheyletiella tick
- 8.7. Pathogenic mushrooms
The mechanism of itching and the main causes
A flea animal is not only itchy, but also in pain, extreme discomfort, the dog itches constantly, does it furious, biting off parasites, leaving wounds and patches on the skin without wool. This behavior is due to the fact that fleas when bitten substances that irritate nerve endings are released into the skin. 
But increased irritability of nerve endings can be caused by other reasons. In any case, you must observe favorite, other pathological symptoms most often occur. Experts divide the causes of itching into 3 groups:
- Infection with parasites – yes, most often dogs become flea owners, but these are not the only ones parasitic insects choosing these animals as the owner.
- Various diseases – itching is included the symptoms of various ailments, but the diagnosis is facilitated by the presence and other signs of the disease.
- Stress is difficult to determine condition, it is usually considered only after other possible causes of itching are excluded.
Why itching is necessary to eliminate
If the dog periodically scratches itself, but its behavior and well-being does not cause anxiety, the owner is most likely not will pay attention to these habitual movements of the animal. But if itching permanent, the dog combes the skin to the blood, damaging in the process wool, do not worry will not work. Due to constant combing, the condition of the skin of the pet noticeably worsens, he it becomes thinner, becomes dry, peeling, dandruff appears.
Claw and tooth wounds are open gates for various pathogens, including quite dangerous ones. If bacteria or fungal spores penetrate damaged areas into the body, an inflammatory process develops, and the immune system starts to get excited. In such cases, predict the consequences are almost impossible. When pathogenic the dog’s hair falls out with mushrooms, and then the general state.
Often, owners do not take any measures for a long time. actions to relieve the dog of itching. Most often it concerns street pets or dogs that guard the production area and other organizations. In long-haired animals, skin lesions They are far from being discovered immediately. Prolonged itching may cause to the formation of suppurating wounds, scabs.
Artful fleas – do not live on a dog, but bite
The first thing the dog owner thinks about, which is often and actively itches about the likelihood of getting a pet infected with fleas. And if the inspection is not revealed parasites, then he sighs in relief. But in vain – Fleas –– very tenacious blood-sucking insects that can survive without food for up to one and a half years, and their eggs are able to wait for hatching up to 2 years.
Often, after processing a flea pet, part of its “neighbors” “saved”, hiding under the baseboards, in the litter, in the floor coating. In addition, there are mouse, they are rat fleas, which can feed on the dog’s blood, but not live on it skin. 
If the dog has an allergic reaction to salivary parasite fluid, the animal can itch as actively as when infected with fleas. Naturally, in such a situation, the owner it is very difficult to identify what provokes an itch in a dog. What follows take the landlord?
- It’s worth looking for a source — to look at all where the dog likes to relax.
- If there are fleas in the home, they will bite people, especially in predawn period;
- Having discovered insects, it is necessary to carry out processing, and this must be done more than once;
- The first events will help save the house from adults parasitizing individuals, however, the remaining eggs will hatch after a week and a half, which means that the procedure is desirable to repeat; it is necessary to observe cyclicality – this will not give young individuals lay eggs.
If you seriously approach the problem, then you can short time to get rid of such unpleasant “tenants”, protecting not only the four-legged friend, but also himself.
Dermatological itching
Strong, persistent itching, swelling and irritation of the mucous membranes membranes and skin – one of the first signs of dermatitis. If a Do not treat the dog, damaged areas become infected. Also dermatological diseases may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- hyperemia of the damaged areas;
- increase in local temperature;
- deterioration in the quality of the hair – hair can break off, thin out, bald spots arise;
- the appearance of capillary bleeding, as a result of which affected skin crusts;
- painful scratches, swelling occur.
It is not recommended to treat such diseases on your own, as there are several types of dermatitis, and each of them requires various therapy:
- Parasitic form – irritation due to bites and an allergic reaction to salivary fluid parasites.
- Contact – itching occurs with constant skin contact with an allergen, such as sunbed tissue or clothes.
- Traumatic – Appears as a result of mechanical damage to the skin – wounds, scratches, cuts, etc.
- Atopic (allergic) disease hereditary in nature, which manifests itself in the form of a reaction to foods, plant pollen, dust mites or parasitic saliva insects – a parasitic form of atopic dermatitis.
Often, the causes of dermatitis are interrelated, therefore, distinguish them on against the background of other signs of violation, it is impossible. If you find the allergen that caused the itching fails, then the ailment progresses, to he joins a secondary infection. Combs turn into festering, weeping wounds that become deep ulcerations.
Inflammation and blockage of the paraanal glands
Some dog owners will never know what their pets tail are special glands that secrete a special a secret with an individual smell. It is very informative. the component with which the canids scare away their brothers, attracted by sexual drive. 
When the bowel is empty, the feces presses on the bags with a secret, and he excreted in feces. In addition, this may be due to spasm arising from a background of fright, soreness, nervous excitement. In a healthy dog, complete emptying of the glands occurs every time he walks “big.” But in some cases this natural process does not occur:
- when thickening secretory fluid – glands do not get rid of the accumulated secret to the end, swelling appears. Most often this is the result of metabolic disorders processes or development of any disease;
- if the secret gets too thin –This disorder occurs because the glands begin function more intensively than necessary, the bag does not have time timely empty, fills with fluid and swells;
- change in the consistency of feces – for cleansing the glands from the secret, it is necessary that the feces be moderately dense, but not very solid.
As the owner understands that the pet is disrupted glands? At the initial stage of the development of pathology of any obvious there are no signs, unless the dog can more often than usual attention to the area under the tail. When flakes appear in secret the animal begins to worry about severe itching in the anus and soreness. The dog begins to itch, bite and lick the area around the anus.
When the itch becomes unbearable, the dog begins to crawl booty over floor, sidewalk, flooring, trying to get rid of uncomfortable sensations. During mechanical action, part secretory fluid is secreted, and it remains on the coat and skin pet. Through the skin, the secret penetrates the bloodstream, which causes allergies, itching, but already in the area above the tail, and not under it. Also damaged areas of the tissues of the anus and near inflamed, as in pathogenic microorganisms penetrate them.
Allergy itching
Allergy is an atypical, enhanced reaction of the body to chemical component of food or the environment. Often allergens turn out to be substances contained in the secretions of other living creatures – animals, insects, people.
Normally, foreign substances entering the dog’s body do not are attacked by the immune system, but bind and leave the body in a natural way. If immunoreactivity to any component increases, an allergic reaction occurs, it accompanied by the following symptoms:
- itchy skin, which leads to scratching and puffiness;
- mucous membranes swell;
- tear fluid abundantly exudes from the eyes, from the nose –Transparent discharge;
- salivation increases;
- the dog often sneezes, as it “swells” in his nose;
- coughing may appear.
In addition, with allergies, the eyelids, lips, throat, and some parts of the body lose hair, body temperature rises or falls. The most common allergy is hereditary illness, and the most common allergen It turns out the protein part of the components.
To rid the pet of the unpleasant manifestations of the pathological condition, you should contact a veterinary clinic and go screening to detect substances that provoke negative reaction. According to the results of the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment and gives a number of recommendations allowing minimize the risk of allergies in the future.
Watch the video why dogs itch and lick
What parasites cause itching
Unfortunately, fleas are not the only ectoparasites that can dwell on the friends of our four-legged and cause unpleasant symptoms. This category also includes other unpleasant creatures.
Lice
The common belief is that they can only parasitize on people, in practice, is wrong. Actually for them Habitats are suitable for both mammals and birds. Also from many species of lice representatives of two of them can live very well on dogs.
Moreover, some of them suck the blood of their “master”, while others – bite. But, no matter how these harmful and dangerous insects damage the skin of the animal, they get into the wounds saliva and provokes an allergy, accompanied by itching.
As it turned out, fighting lice is easier than flea –– they can live only on a living creature and are inferior to the last in agility, because they do not know how to jump. To rid the pet of them, just treat it with a special tool once. At severe infection, it is recommended to conduct another event through week and a half for preventive purposes.
Scabies mite
This microscopic parasite causes development sorcoptosis – itchy scabies. He lives in the upper layers skin, causing the animal a constant, unbearable itching. The life of the tick is associated with eating soft layers of the skin “master”, and the more tissue he eats, the stronger the dog itches.
In a short time, the affected areas are covered with combs and scabs, and the lesion area is rapidly increasing. At early detection of the disease can be quickly cured, otherwise if neglected scabies can lead to the death of the animal.
Vlasoed
Another parasite with microscopic dimensions, it It feeds on hair tissue and skin particles. Unlike scabies or fleas, the first signs of trichodectosis are baldness and severe dermatitis. All stages of the development of the disease accompanied by severe itching. 
Often the signs of a louse are taken for scabies and used inappropriate treatment methods. Actually trichodectosis therapy similar to preventive measures against lice, since the louse is a tick, it does not fly and bites the dog on which dwells.
Demodex
A microscopic tick that is the causative agent of demodicosis. Normally, a certain amount of demodex dwells in hair follicles dogs. They fulfill an important function – they eat the dead particles of skin and sebaceous discharge. But with a significant increase mite colonies are activated and begin to multiply rapidly. Usually this occurs against the background of a decrease in dog immunity.
Depending on the age and health of the animal, it develops localized or generalized form of demodicosis. In the first it’s easy to cure a dog, just go to to the vet. If a generalized disease has developed, then you should look for the root cause – perhaps in the dog’s body a latent ailment develops or its immunity is greatly weakened.
Ixodid tick
Some of the most dangerous bloodsuckers that often turn out to be carriers of dangerous diseases. With multiple infections pasture ticks in a dog develop ixodidosis – tick-borne toxicosis. Parasites inflict bites and at the same time inject their allergy-causing saliva.
With prolonged presence of ticks on the body of the animal occurs severe intoxication of the body. Often, female ticks infect animal diseases such as babesiosis or encephalitis. You can detect a tick immediately after a walk, if regularly to inspect. Favorite place for sucking insects –– ears or area behind them, armpits, skin between fingers, inner thighs and groin.
Usually the dog begins to actively scratch the area where it is attached parasite. If the tick penetrates the ear, the dog begins to shake its head and be anxious. It is advisable to identify the tick before it will enter the skin. If he managed to stick, then he is removed very carefully so as not to crush and tear off parts of his body.
Cheyletiella tick
This parasite causes cheilitiellosis – a disease that accompanied by itching and the formation of profuse dandruff. Tick size less than 0.5 mm, although it belongs to the family of scabies mites, but dwells not in the layers of the skin, but on its surface. Haleyatti eat skin scales, blood, lymph. 
Studies have shown that cheyletiella canids, cats and rodents are representatives of different species and are not able to live on unsuitable media. But if the dog had contact with the infected cat, he can get infected. In this case, the signs of invasion will pass without treatment, when in a few days the ticks die, leave they cannot offspring.
Pathogenic mushrooms
In veterinary practice, the defeat of pathogenic fungi is called mycosis, and even those pets are not immune from this disease who receive excellent care and are kept in excellent conditions. The risk group includes young and old dogs, since their immune the system most often does not function at full strength.
With mycosis, the skin color changes, it can become grayish, pink or bright raspberry shade. Appear on the surface spots, wool begins to fall out or break off. Upon inspection hair loss under a microscope, you can see a whitish coating covering the onion. The affected area is very itchy, so the dog often itches, which further increases the size of the area defeat.
Many fungi are contagious to people who have reduced immunity. The most common disease caused by pathogenic fungi, is ringworm. With its development on the skin of the animal forms a characteristic ring of bursting, weeping papules.
Also, such an ailment as trichophytosis is often found. His the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ringworm, however in this case the pathogen is localized not only in the superficial layers of the skin, but also penetrates deep into. From the affected areas the sucrose is secreted, and if the wound becomes infected, then the discharge become purulent. Even after proper therapy, the skin changes its color, and bald patches may never grow.
A pet infected with fungi must be isolated from others. animals and exclude contact of children with him. During treatment of the dog it is necessary to process the premises with quartz lamps.
Four-legged friends don’t mind scratching themselves, stretching, they can tirelessly substitute your muzzle and tummy for stroking and wallowing in snow or fallen leaves. All this delivers to the pet pleasure— But when the dog itches all the time, it’s furious, tears the skin to blood and tears pieces of wool – he means is sick and needs qualified help.
