Skin diseases in dogs are one of the main reasons for vet visits1, and itching is the most common symptom of these diseases, affecting one out of every six dogs seen at the clinic2.
Itching is an unpleasant and common discomfort that deteriorates the quality of life for both the dog and its owner. Most itchy dogs can experience a vicious cycle of itching and scratching that damages their skin. If left untreated, itching can lead to permanent inflammation and severe skin lesions. Therefore, it is crucial to stop your dog's itching as soon as possible with a specific treatment, and additionally, the veterinarian needs to perform the necessary tests to find out the cause of the itching.
Why is diagnosis important?
Itching can be due to multiple causes: allergies, parasites, infections. Given this possible multifactorial condition of the problem, it is important to carry out a correct diagnosis following rigorous steps to find its cause, which will take time for the veterinarian.
The first thing the veterinarian will complete after your visit to the veterinary center will be the clinical history, that is, the medical document that collects all the necessary information for the proper care of your pet: data about its environment, surroundings, when the problem started, whether or not it is seasonal, previous treatments, etc. The veterinarian will ask you various questions to obtain the maximum useful and valuable information to formulate the diagnosis; this is known as anamnesis.
After this first and important step, the next will be the physical examination of our pet. If lesions are detected, it is most likely that the clinician will carry out different diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out possible causes. Depending on the findings, the veterinarian will establish the best treatment for your dog.
It is vital to stop the itching quickly and effectively to prevent even more serious skin lesions and allow our pet to recover its well-being as soon as possible. It will therefore be crucial that this symptomatic treatment does not interfere with the diagnosis in case additional tests are needed.
Available treatments
Currently, we have some treatments to stop our pets' itching that provide truly optimal results. Some of these treatments are effective in reducing itching and improving skin lesions, but, in the specific case of corticosteroids, they can trigger serious short-term side effects and long-term complications3. On the other hand, cyclosporine, another available treatment, can take several weeks to show an effect4. In short, it was necessary to have a treatment with an improved safety profile for both short-term and long-term use, with a rapid and effective effect.
For some years now, veterinary clinics have had an innovative treatment with these characteristics. A medication that combats itching caused by skin allergies in dogs, whose effect is rapid, acting within the first 24 hours, and prolonged, in addition to having a safety profile without the side effects typically associated with corticosteroids.
Furthermore, another remarkable aspect of this drug is that it allows the veterinarian to perform the tests they deem necessary to delve deeper into the diagnosis of the cause of the itching, unlike other medications.
We recommend that you consult your veterinarian for more information about this innovative product, which must always be administered under their supervision.
References
1.To 10 dog and cat medical conditions of 2011, VPI Pet insurance. March 2012.
2. Hill PB, et al. Vet Rec. 2006; 158(16):533-539
3.Bonenger T, London Vet Show, Nov 2012
4. Dip R, et al. BMC Vet Res 2013, 9:173