Do you wonder why your pet is scratching so much, especially in the springtime? Itchy skin is one of the biggest concerns that motivates pet owners to seek veterinary help for their dogs and cats. Seeking medical care is a smart move because, although you may be positive that fleas are making your cat miserable, or your dog is allergic to that new pet food you bought on sale, you could be wrong. Don’t assume anything. Let our Skyway Animal Hospital team run some tests to get to the root of the problem. Once we diagnose your pet’s skin issue, our team can tailor a plan to manage the condition. 

Ruling out common skin problem causes in pets 

Since fleas and allergies can strike almost any time in Florida, year-round parasite prevention is critical to keep your pet’s skin as healthy as possible. Our Skyway Animal Hospital team has a full weapons arsenal to help protect your pet from itchy skin brought on by fleas or allergies.

Allergies are the biggest culprits causing pets’ skin conditions. Although allergens may seem to burst forth every spring, they are unfortunately in season for most of the year in Florida, with only a brief break from late December to mid-February. Unlike allergic reactions in humans, which involve stuffy noses, itchy throats and eyes, sneezing, and coughing, pets’ allergies show up most often as irritated and inflamed skin.

To determine your dog’s or cat’s allergen, our veterinarian checks first for fleas. If fleas are not causing your pet’s skin problem, our team checks next for environmental allergens, such as pollen and grass, which are at their worst in the spring. Other common allergens are dust mites, which can cause trouble throughout the year. If we rule out these causes, our team tests to see if your cat or dog is allergic to a pet food ingredient such as beef, dairy products, chicken, or fish. For food allergies, hydrolyzed protein or novel ingredient diets can help identify and eliminate allergens.

6 Most likely reasons for itchy skin in pets 

  • Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) — Cats and dogs can develop allergic reactions to flea saliva, leading to intense itching, hair loss, and skin irritation. Even a single flea bite can trigger a reaction in sensitive pets. In cats, dermatitis can cause reddened skin and crusts or small bumps. A cat with FAD may scratch a lot and groom excessively. Dogs may chew and bite near their tails and lose hair from the middle of the back to their tail base. Scratching, licking, and chewing may break the skin barrier and cause open sores and scabs. 

FAD treatment begins with controlling the fleas on your pet and in your environment. Topical flea treatments and oral medications can relieve pets’ signs, while frequent vacuuming plus flea sprays and foggers can make your home less appealing to fleas.

  • Allergic dermatitis — Also called atopic dermatitis, this chronic skin disease develops in dogs and cats who react to various allergens, including pollen, certain foods, dust mites, and household chemicals. Along with itching and inflamed skin, allergic dermatitis can lead to secondary infections from frequent licking and scratching. This condition can affect dogs’ ears as well as their skin.

Corticosteroids and antihistamines can relieve the itching, inflammation, and allergic reactions associated with this condition. Topical treatments, such as medicated shampoos, sprays, or ointments, can soothe irritated skin.

  • Yeast (Malassezia) and bacterial infections — These tend to occur where moisture accumulates, such as in pets’ skinfolds, ears, and paw pads. Signs include itching, redness, greasy or crusty skin, and odor. Yeast or bacterial overgrowth that occurs naturally in a pet’s skin can cause these infections. Underlying allergies, hormonal imbalances, or immune system disorders may also play a role. 

Our veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications if your pet has Malassezia or a bacterial infection. These medications eliminate underlying infection and reduce inflammation and itching.

  • Ringworm — Fungus, not worms, causes this condition. Signs include circular bald patches, redness, and scaling on the skin. Ringworm occurs more often in cats, especially kittens, than in dogs. This condition is highly contagious and can spread to other pets as well as to humans.

Antibiotics or antifungal medications used to treat yeast and bacterial infections can help. These medications reduce inflammation, itching, and secondary infections in pets with ringworm.

  • Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis) — These localized inflamed and infected skin areas, seen more often in dogs than in cats, appear suddenly and can spread rapidly. Allergies, flea infestations, and skin infections are some hot spot causes, and licking, chewing, or scratching can make them worse. These irritated skin areas may be warm to the touch, which explains their name. Dogs’ hot spots are painful patches of raw skin, raised and red and often hairless. They may ooze, bleed, or contain pus. On cats, hot spots show up as round lesions on the head, neck, tail, or thigh that may ooze fluid or crust over. 

Managing hot spots may include clipping the hair around the irritated area, cleaning the affected skin with gentle antiseptic cleansers, and bathing your pet with chlorhexidine shampoo. Our team may also prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections.

  • Feline acne — This condition, much like human acne, appears as blackheads, pustules, and swelling on a cat’s chin and lips. Stress, poor grooming habits, and allergies are some of its causes. 

Treatment involves cleaning the cat’s face and wiping their chin with benzoyl peroxide facial wipes specifically made for cats. Clipping the fur near the irritated skin can help to banish bacteria.

If you’re itching to find solutions to your pet’s skin issues, contact our Skyway Animal Hospital team for help.