Three tips to help your pet's itchy skin

In recognition of Itchy Pet Awareness, Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, provided these 3 tips that pet owners can use for when they have an itchy pet at home. Throughout her tips, Griffin sheds light on the importance of consistent monthly flea control, topical barriers, and more.

Number 1: Consider topical therapy

Topical therapy can be helpful in a multitude of way by removing allergens from your pet's skin, reducing bacterial and yeast overgrowth, and soothes the skin. Plus, topical therapy can help restore the barrier function of the skin, making it less inflammatory and more protective.

RELATED: Just Bust a Myth!: Canine Food Allergies Demystified

Number 2: Consider giving your flea control monthly, and make sure that you're doing it on time

By being strict with flea control, this can help prevent cases of flea reactivity as well as prevent the risk of scabies, both of these are also causes of canine itchiness. Griffin also explained that these should be ruled out before consulting your pet's veterinarian.

Number 3: Have a visit with your veterinarian

Your veterinarian is going to help you create the best comprehensive plan for your itching pet, plus rule out things that could be making the itching worse. There are also diseases that mimic allergic disease so it is important for these to be taken into consideration prior treating allergic disease from allergies or even food hypersensitivity.