Some German shepherd owners may not be aware of the German shepherd scratching problems and the hazard it may bring about. Therefore, this issue has to be resolved earlier before it gets too late.
There a number of probable offenders for German shepherd scratching. These include the presence of fleas, allergies, ear mites, scabies, skin infection, ticks or lice, fungal infections, and seborrhea. You may not be aware that one or more of these exist in your German shepherd puppy, so you have to be watchful of him, too.
Don't wait until this habit of your German shepherd gets worse. Stop it before it can jeopardize your best friend's health.
Top Five Handy Tips To Block German Shepherd Scratching Issues:
Tip one: First and foremost, the single most important thing that you have to do is to check your German shepherd dog for fleas, ticks, mites and lice often. Carrying these parasites causes German shepherd scratching to make him feel better.
Aside from this, you may also include checking for parasites, eggs, and droppings all over his body since they can be dangerous, too.
Tip two: Different types of skin problems may also cause excessive German shepherd scratching. The most common one is the Pyoderma. It is a kind of skin infection caused by a certain strain of bacteria called staphylococcus.
Pyoderma may occur in the outer layer of the German shepherd's skin, but may penetrate subcutaneously. When the infection gets severe, it may occur beneath the skin and spread upward, resulting to a certain type of lesion called a hot spot.
Hot spots appear as red and moist and are often found in itchy, hairless spots. They can be treated with antibiotics as prescribed by the veterinarian, and expect them to heal after a few days if left undisturbed. Remember to avoid your German shepherd from scratching the area so as not to irritate it.
If the lesion occurs on the leg or foot, wrap it with gauze to protect it from getting worse. On the other hand, if it is on the neck or back, you may tie a shirt or socks onto the Shepherd dog's feet to prevent German shepherd scratching on the affected area.
Tip three: Another way to effectively minimize German shepherd scratching is through soaking or bathing your German shepherd in cool water with baking soda or Epson salt to help achieve a soothing effect. Be aware of the fact that bathing can only afford temporary relief to this problem.
Remember not to dry you Shepherd puppy's hair with a hair blower nor rub them immediately thereafter to avoid causing irritation.
Tip four: Aside from skin problems, your German shepherd's poor diet is also a precipitating factor for the German shepherd scratching habit. Food allergens, such as wheat, can be common ingredients of many commercial dog foods which may cause sensitivity. Therefore, you must be careful with feeding your German shepherd.
The intake of a large amount of vegetables or any plant food is prohibited since this can cause digestion problems in German shepherds. Canines are carnivores by nature. Hence, eating this type of food may delay its breakdown in their stomach.
Other sources of allergies are dust, corn, and other plants. These are sources of eczema, bad hair, and dry skin. German shepherd scratching in the affected areas may produce hotspots.
In such cases, a prescribed antihistamine can be helpful. Over-the-counter antihistamines are available but you must consult a professional animal doctor for its proper dosage. He may even recommend an ideal diet for your German shepherd such as all-meat diet or at least change the dog food's brand if needed.
Tip five: Neurogenic German shepherd scratching may also occur which often makes it hard for the veterinarian to find out the cause. Boredom is one source for this. Provide your German shepherd dog with enough exercise to divert his attention.
You may also spray Cayenne pepper which has a very unpleasant smell that would help your German shepherd dog to ward off scratching on the itchy spot.
Although the above tips are very effective in removing your German shepherd scratching issues, still it is best to have your German shepherd checked by a veterinarian especially when the problem still persists.
There a number of probable offenders for German shepherd scratching. These include the presence of fleas, allergies, ear mites, scabies, skin infection, ticks or lice, fungal infections, and seborrhea. You may not be aware that one or more of these exist in your German shepherd puppy, so you have to be watchful of him, too.
Don't wait until this habit of your German shepherd gets worse. Stop it before it can jeopardize your best friend's health.
Top Five Handy Tips To Block German Shepherd Scratching Issues:
Tip one: First and foremost, the single most important thing that you have to do is to check your German shepherd dog for fleas, ticks, mites and lice often. Carrying these parasites causes German shepherd scratching to make him feel better.
Aside from this, you may also include checking for parasites, eggs, and droppings all over his body since they can be dangerous, too.
Tip two: Different types of skin problems may also cause excessive German shepherd scratching. The most common one is the Pyoderma. It is a kind of skin infection caused by a certain strain of bacteria called staphylococcus.
Pyoderma may occur in the outer layer of the German shepherd's skin, but may penetrate subcutaneously. When the infection gets severe, it may occur beneath the skin and spread upward, resulting to a certain type of lesion called a hot spot.
Hot spots appear as red and moist and are often found in itchy, hairless spots. They can be treated with antibiotics as prescribed by the veterinarian, and expect them to heal after a few days if left undisturbed. Remember to avoid your German shepherd from scratching the area so as not to irritate it.
If the lesion occurs on the leg or foot, wrap it with gauze to protect it from getting worse. On the other hand, if it is on the neck or back, you may tie a shirt or socks onto the Shepherd dog's feet to prevent German shepherd scratching on the affected area.
Tip three: Another way to effectively minimize German shepherd scratching is through soaking or bathing your German shepherd in cool water with baking soda or Epson salt to help achieve a soothing effect. Be aware of the fact that bathing can only afford temporary relief to this problem.
Remember not to dry you Shepherd puppy's hair with a hair blower nor rub them immediately thereafter to avoid causing irritation.
Tip four: Aside from skin problems, your German shepherd's poor diet is also a precipitating factor for the German shepherd scratching habit. Food allergens, such as wheat, can be common ingredients of many commercial dog foods which may cause sensitivity. Therefore, you must be careful with feeding your German shepherd.
The intake of a large amount of vegetables or any plant food is prohibited since this can cause digestion problems in German shepherds. Canines are carnivores by nature. Hence, eating this type of food may delay its breakdown in their stomach.
Other sources of allergies are dust, corn, and other plants. These are sources of eczema, bad hair, and dry skin. German shepherd scratching in the affected areas may produce hotspots.
In such cases, a prescribed antihistamine can be helpful. Over-the-counter antihistamines are available but you must consult a professional animal doctor for its proper dosage. He may even recommend an ideal diet for your German shepherd such as all-meat diet or at least change the dog food's brand if needed.
Tip five: Neurogenic German shepherd scratching may also occur which often makes it hard for the veterinarian to find out the cause. Boredom is one source for this. Provide your German shepherd dog with enough exercise to divert his attention.
You may also spray Cayenne pepper which has a very unpleasant smell that would help your German shepherd dog to ward off scratching on the itchy spot.
Although the above tips are very effective in removing your German shepherd scratching issues, still it is best to have your German shepherd checked by a veterinarian especially when the problem still persists.
SHARE
