Aside from allergies, what are some other causes of itchiness in dogs?

We all know that allergies in dogs often produce itchy skin. But allergies are not the only possible reason why a dog will scratch incessantly. Veterinarians call itchy skin "pruritus" - and sometimes they scratch their heads, trying to figure out the cause.

Sometimes bacterial or fungal infections can set a dog up for a batch of scratching. So can external parasites, a hormone imbalance, or immune system disorders. Are we confused yet? "pseudo-mange" is terribly itchy. "real mange" might not be. Then there's "flea bite dermatitis," an allergy from the saliva of a parasite.

So when you bring your itchy dog to the veterinarian, expect that he or she may have to do some work to reduce your pet's discomfort.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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