Many dogs suffer from itchy skin. In fact, it is one of the most commonly claimed conditions from pet insurance for dog’s living in Australia and New Zealand*. Itch negatively impacts the quality of life of dogs, but also the families they live with. Your vet can help you identify if your dog’s itch is associated with an underlying skin condition and may suggest effective treatments like Apoquel to provide relief from itch and ensure a rapid return to their happy “itch-free” self.
Check for signs of skin conditions
Is your dog “just scratching” or is it something more serious? Try our simple online assessment and find out if your dog is experiencing a more serious skin condition.
Spot the signs of an itch that need attention
Dogs do love a good itch, so how do you know when the itch is actually a symptom of an underlying skin condition? Itch can be caused by fleas or other parasites, bacterial and/or yeast infections, or it may be due to an allergic disease caused by something in your dog’s diet or environment.
You know your pet better than anyone else, but if you see one or more of the following symptoms then we would highly recommend contacting your vet for advice. They can advise you about treatments like Apoquel that provide effective and rapid relief from itch.
Symptoms to watch out for are:
- Licking, chewing, rubbing, biting or scratching the same part of the body repeatedly or scooting (rubbing the bottom along the floor)
- Redness, darkening of the skin, sores, scabs or scratch marks
- Hair loss, bald spots, or thinning of fur
- Rubbing the face, ears, or paws
- Stopping playing, eating, sleeping or other activities to itch.
What do I do next?
If you’ve spotted one or more of these signs and want peace of mind, then we recommend getting in touch with your vet for a full clinical examination and advice. Your vet may recommend Apoquel for your dog’s skin condition. Apoquel can help your dog live a happy itch-free life. Don’t forget to try our online assessment.
More about Skin Conditions
Access content on skin problems and help for dogs prepared by the team in New Zealand.
More useful advice
Learn more about giving your pet a healthy and enjoyable life.
Is your dog trying to tell you something?
Itchy skin is a condition that can cause your dog stress and discomfort, and keep you and your dog up at night. The good news is that itch can be easily and effectively treated.
“The Truth about feeding dogs”
Food allergies are one possible cause of itchy skin in dogs. If your dog is food allergic, you may be able to manage their itchy skin on diet alone. Ask your vet about doing a food trial
Help reduce scratching to the skin so that it has a chance to heal
There is a new type of treatment that works like your dog's immune system containing antibodies. These specifically stop the signals that trigger itch. Talk to your vet today.
* Petplan data Australia and New Zealand
* Vet Rec. 2019 Oct 19;185(15):470-475. doi: 10.1136/vr.l6074.
Small animal disease surveillance 2019: pruritus, pharmacosurveillance, skin tumours and flea infestations
David A Singleton 1, John McGarry 2, Jose Rodríguez Torres 3, David Killick 2, Christopher Jewell 4, Steven Smyth 5, Bethaney Brant 5, Fernando Sánchez-Vizcaíno 6, Susan Dawson 2, Gina L Pinchbeck 5, Peter J M Noble 2, Alan D Radford 5
Affiliations expand
• PMID: 31628231
DOI: 10.1136/vr.l6074
This information was provided by Zoetis, makers of Apoquel® and Cytopoint®