New digital portal launches to help improve quality of life for itchy pets, and their owners
Zoetis is encouraging pet owners to visit itchypet.co.za to start educating themselves about how to spot if their pets are suffering from mild to severe itchiness.
A dog rolling over to have his tummy scratched has been the most iconic image of a family pet for decades.
But a dog living with extreme itchiness can significantly impact its quality of life as well as that of its owners.
Global animal health company, Zoetis South Africa is raising awareness around itching, and the causes and symptoms pet owners should be aware of.
Zoetis is encouraging pet owners to visit itchypet.co.za to start educating themselves. Veterinarians are urging pet owners to pay special attention to whether their dogs are enjoying the occasional scratch for pleasure, or more often because they are suffering from an itchy skin condition.
Dr Tarryn Dent of Zoetis said there were many causes of itching and the symptoms were relatively easy to spot if you knew what you were looking for.
Dent said pet owners should start paying attention if normal scratching becomes:
- Excessive licking, chewing, biting, or scratching; excessive rolling, rubbing, or scooting; and paw chewing.
This could lead to:
- Hair loss, recurrent ear problems, skin lesions such as sores, pimples, and crusts, redness of the skin, body odour, and oily, greasy, or scaly skin.
The side effects of an unrelenting itch-scratch-itch cycle can result in additional skin irritation and damage, which can lead to secondary infections. This is because when the skin barrier function is damaged, any further exposure to allergens can stimulate an immune response.
“Itchy and inflamed skin can result in complications such as bacterial and yeast skin infections. The skin becomes red, swollen, hot, and inflamed, and the dog may experience hair loss, body odour, and increased pain from continued self-mutilation,” Dent added.
“This causes disruptions in sleep and because the pet is so uncomfortable, a decrease in interactions and playfulness. Ultimately, the whole family is impacted.”
The good news for all pet owners is that itching can be treated with the right diagnosis.
“After a diagnosis is made, a veterinarian will provide guidance on the most appropriate course of action. The goal is to treat the root cause of the itching and improve the patient’s overall quality of life.”
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