Doggone Etiquette —

Got An Itch?

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

You’ll be pleased to know that people, just like you dogs, occasionally have an itch that has to be scratched. Once-in-a-while scratching is okay, but when the itchy-scratchy routine is non-stop and you are being yelled at to cut it out, it’s high time for your VIPeople to do something about it. That, dear dog, means a trip to your good friend, the vet. No doubt you’ll stop the minute you get there, but if not, it’s okay to let the vet know what it is that normally bothers you by scratching at an ear or chewing on your foot. It might even help the good doctor to diagnose what ails you.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

Let’s face it, all dogs do scratch every now and then. A couple of hairs get twisted, a leaf lands near an ear and – just as we would – Rufus scratches to clear the irritant. What dog owners need to be aware of is any constant scratching or chewing, and to make note of where it occurs and for how long. If it is anything beyond an occasional action, head for Fido’s favorite medicine man.

Itching has numerous causes and therefore excessive scratching is one of the most common complaints veterinarians must deal with. The scratching canine can be utterly frustrating to the dog’s owner, but the problem for the vet is that, due to the wide range of causes, there is no single magic cure-all, and it may take many tests over a period of time to single out the cause.

Figuring out if it is environmentally caused (grasses, pollen, etc.) or a reaction to any one food Rufus normally eats, or to a flea or tick bite, or is any one of several serious infections, can be complicated. You could very likely be referred to a veterinarian dermatologist if your regular vet can’t easily and quickly pinpoint the source of the problem in order to clear it up. The sooner the healing can begin the better for Rufus and for your understandable annoyance over the incessant scratching.

Another somewhat similar unpleasant activity is when Rufus drags his backside on the floor. This can happen only on a rare occasion and if so, not to worry, but if it becomes habitual, get off to the vet’s! He will check the dog’s anal glands and fill you in on the cause, cure, and prevention of this butt-sliding.

I am in no way pretending to be a veterinarian, merely a bell-ringer to save a dog from a fate worse than itchy skin or impacted anal glands. Keep regular vet checkups for the dog and you can ‘scratch’ all of this off your to-do list.

Hot weather (okay, now who’s kidding!) can have a variety of effects on dogs. Some seem to ignore it, while others don’t want to leave the comfort of a/c even for a necessary trip outside. Then there are the truly adaptable dogs. Give them a swim in a pool or a splash in the kiddie pool, a spot in the shade for a nap and they are perfectly content. (Two things you’ll need to watch out for – any swimming in the pool is monitored, and the dog’s water bowl has fresh clean water.)

Similar differences hold true when the weather turns cold – some dogs love it and others want nothing to do with our sighs of relief and welcome.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.