With summertime comes an increase in pesky insects that fly, bite you and your pets, and cause exasperating itchiness all summer long. If your pet has a blackfly allergy or if insect bites trigger dermatitis in your dog, the so-called normal itching can multiply. Some pets even scratch themselves so hard that their skin breaks, opening the door for infections.
The team at Glenridge Animal Hospital and Referral Centre here in Ontario, Canada, knows the ins and outs of treating summer itchiness in pets. Here’s what we want you to know.
The Dangers of Letting Pets Keep Itching Their Bites
You’d be forgiven for assuming that a few bug bites can’t do that much damage to your dog. But if your dog keeps getting bitten—and therefore keeps itching—the whole scenario can escalate into hair loss and skin infections in the areas where the barrier of your pet’s skin is broken or damaged.
Additionally, any area on your pet’s skin that gets scratched or chewed repeatedly can create small wounds that let bacteria or yeast grow out of control.
Further, some pets are actually allergic to bug bites—and these allergies can develop at any time in life.
Without treatment, your pet can sink into a miserable cycle: a bite leads to itching, itching leads to skin damage, skin damage leads to infection, and infection leads to more itching and discomfort.
The good news is that treatment is fairly straightforward and simple. When you notice your pet itching, make an appointment with your veterinarian to get your pet treated for summer itch.
Summer Itch Treatment for Pets
Before veterinarians treat summer itch, they’ll first work on identifying the cause of the itch and reducing inflammation. Your pet may need allergy testing to see what type of bite is making their skin feel like it’s on fire.
From there, your veterinarian may recommend:
- Anti-itch medications that help reduce inflammation
- Special, medicated shampoos or sprays to ease your pet’s skin and discourage insect bites
- Antibiotics or antifungals for any secondary infections or irritations
Your vet may also recommend strategies for protecting your pet during the worst times of day for insect activity. Here in Ontario, for example, blackflies and mosquitoes are the most active at dawn and dusk.
These times coincide with the cooler times of day, which can make it difficult for you to get your pet out for much-needed exercise. Using a tool like Thermacell can be a game-changer here—the product emits a spray that insects despise.
The bottom line here is that your pup shouldn’t have to itch herself all summer long. If you notice any unusually long-lasting itching in your pet, come see our friendly team at Glenridge Animal Hospital and Referral Centre in St. Catharine’s, Ontario.
Call us at (905) 688-1996 to set up an appointment today!