Does Your Shih Tzu Suffer From Incessant Scratching? By Connie Limon At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

A lot of dogs and the Shih Tzu seen in vet offices are there for excessive scratching. What causes excessive scratching in the Shih Tzu and other canine breeds more than in cats, horses or any other animal species?

The three biggest reasons for excessive scratching include:

•Parasites
•Allergies
•Skin infections

There are many conditions, however, that causes dogs and the Shih Tzu to scratch. Some of these dogs and Shih Tzu have an itchy rash, they lose hair from the scratching, or their hair tangles into knots that has to be removed, or they may just scratch incessantly.

The flea is the most common parasite that will make a Shih Tzu scratch and itch incessantly. There are very effective flea treatments on the market today. If Shih Tzu owners use these treatments as directed, they provide an effective way to protect the Shih Tzu from fleas and itching. Even Shih Tzu who stays indoors most of the time should receive regular flea treatment to protect against fleas because fleas can be picked up in the backyard while going to potty or in the park while going for a walk.

Mites are another common parasite that can cause the Shih Tzu to itch incessantly. Mites can also be effectively controlled with regular treatments.

Allergies are frequently the cause of intense scratching in the Shih Tzu and canines in general. If your Shih Tzu is allergic to flea bites he can be miserable after only one flea bite.

Shih Tzu can also be allergic to environmental allergies such as seasonal pollens, molds, and insects, and non-seasonal allergens such as house dust and house dust mites. These environmental allergies are similar to those people have. People usually sneeze or have congestion in the nose. Shih Tzu usually itch from the same kind of allergens people will sneeze from.

Food allergies are another cause for a Shih Tzu to itch. The Shih Tzu may be allergic to one or more ingredients in the pet food you are feeding. Food allergies are usually less common, but can be quite severe.

Symptoms of environmental allergies can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, shampoos and other medications. Allergy testing and hypo sensitization will most likely be recommended to find the exact underlying cause or disease. Some allergens can just be simply avoided by you and your Shih Tzu.

The most accurate method used for identifying a dog or a Shih Tzu’s sensitivity to allergens is the intradermal skin testing. You must be certain your Shih Tzu is off certain medications like steroids and anti-histamines to have accurate results from testing.

When you have identified the allergen that is troubling your Shih Tzu, you can avoid it if possible. The Shih Tzu can also be hyposensitized to the offending allergen or allergens.

Another cause of scratching in the Shih Tzu and dogs in general is bacterial and yeast skin infections. I have had personal experience with yeast ear and skin infections in some of my Shih Tzu. Usually a bath in Betodine Scrub every 7 days for 4 weeks takes care of this type of problem. Pouring the Betodine Scrub directly into the ears provides wonders for these cases. I once had some kind of a little infection around one of my fingernails. It must have been due to yeast, because after I bathed one of my Shih Tzu who had the skin and ear yeast problem, the fingernail problem was cured within the next 24 hours.

Bacterial infections may look like small bumps on the skin. Yeast skin infections are smelly and greasy as well as itchy. The infections are easily cured, but sometimes the underlying cause must be found if the infections are recurrent.

The causes to your Shih Tzu’s incessant itching can be found and remedied. Shih Tzu does not have to be tormented by constant itching.

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