Treatment for Your Dogâs Compulsive Scratching, Licking, and Chewing
Because there are so many reasons why dogs chew or scratch, be sure to check with your veterinarian as soon as you notice a problem. The veterinarian will help figure out the cause of the behavior and determine the best treatment plan. Depending on the cause of your dogâs compulsive behavior, this might include:
Eliminating parasites. There are a variety of flea and tick products that your veterinarian can recommend. Additionally, if your dogâs biting or chewing problems are caused by fleas, be sure to wash your dogâs bed and vacuum your carpeting and upholstered furniture on a regular basis to reduce the likelihood of re-infestation. You also need to treat any other animals in the household.
Changing foods. If food allergies are making your dog itch, eliminating potential trigger foods can make a huge difference. What surprises many pet owners is that grains are actually uncommon causes of food allergies â most pets are allergic to animal proteins! Your vet may recommend a special diet if this appears to be the case. The addition of fatty acid supplements to your petâs regular food can also help address dry skin issues and keep your dogâs coat healthy.
Using medication. Your veterinarian may prescribe medications to treat underlying problems contributing to your dogâs persistent scratching. Additionally, your vet may recommend the use of topical or systemic antibiotics, steroids, or anti-itch products to treat existing hot spots or skin infections.
Preventing the behavior. Because compulsive behaviors can cause serious damage and affect your dogâs quality of life, itâs important to do your best to stop your dog from chewing, licking, or scratching too much. Some ideas include using bitter sprays to discourage licking, having your dog wear a special collar to prevent access to hot spots, or keeping your dog close by your side when youâre home.
Addressing anxiety or boredom. In some cases, compulsive biting, chewing, or licking develops in response to fear, stress, or inadequate stimulation. To reduce this likelihood, be sure your dog receives enough exercise, attention, and love. It can also be helpful to train your dog to chew on toys or bones to relieve stress as a replacement for inappropriate chewing or licking behaviors.
Reasons Why Dogs Compulsively Scratch, Lick, or Chew
Dogs scratch, lick, or chew for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from allergies to boredom to parasite infestation:
Allergies. When dog scratching gets out of hand, it is often the result of allergies to food or environmental triggers, including mold and pollen. Dogs may also develop a skin irritation called contact dermatitis when they encounter substances like pesticides or soap.
Boredom or anxiety. Just as people with anxiety might bite their nails or twirl their hair, dogs can have physical responses to psychological upset, too. In fact, some dogs develop a condition akin to human obsessive-compulsive disorder. It can manifest itself in scratching, licking, or chewing behaviors that can cause severe damage.
Dry skin. A variety of factors, including winter weather and fatty acid deficiencies, can cause dry skin in dogs. Your pet may respond to the discomfort by scratching or licking at theirr skin or fur.
Hormonal imbalances. If your dogâs body is not producing enough thyroid hormone or putting out too much of the hormone cortisol, superficial skin infections can occur. You may notice bald spots, and your dog may scratch or lick as if bothered by allergies.
Pain. When trying to determine why your dog is licking or chewing excessively, be sure to consider the possibility that something is making them physically uncomfortable. For instance, if you notice your dog biting their paw repeatedly, they could have a thorn or sharp stone stuck in their foot pad. Compulsive chewing or licking can also be a response to orthopedic problems, including arthritis and hip dysplasia.
Parasites. Among the most common causes for compulsive dog licking, chewing, or scratching behaviors are fleas, ticks, and mites. Although ticks are often visible to the naked eye, fleas often go unseen until there is a large infestation, and mites are microscopic. So donât assume that your dog isnât suffering from parasites just because you canât see them.
Have you noticed your dog constantly biting and licking his paws? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. Each year, at the start of Spring, I usually notice my dog gnawing away at his paw-pads. As a concerned pet parent, I always want to make sure he’s healthy and as comfortable as he can be. It’s heartbreaking to see him biting and licking himself, in search of relief. I’m sure you understand! To help comfort our pups, though, we must first figure out why they’re munching on their tootsies.
Yes! Since there is a hereditary nature to canine atopic dermatitis, some breeds are more likely to develop it. These breeds including Poodles, Golden Retrievers, most terriers, Shih Tzus, Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels. With that said, it’s important to note that any dog — including mixed breeds — can develop allergies.
Your vet can do skin tests and blood tests to identify what your pup is allergic to. Depending on the severity, he may want to treat with steroids or antihistamines. Whether you want to go that route or not (I’ll talk about natural treatments in just a minute), it’s always a good idea to let your vet know what’s going on with your pup.
Why is your Dog Scratching And Biting Himself? 6 Reasons to Know
Is your dog constantly scratching and biting himself, and you aren’t sure what to do? Does it seem like the dog is chewing himself raw? You’re not alone. A dog biting its legs or scratching at himself is actually a fairly common reaction to several things.
We’ll break down the top reasons why your dog is scratching and biting himself and well as some possible ways to help your dog stop.