There are many common skin conditions that can affect dogs and cats. These include allergies, itchy skin, skin irritation, hot spots, hair loss, flea bites and dry skin.

Keep an eye out for the following symptoms of dermatological issues in your dog or cat:

• Pawing at or shaking their head
• Licking feet or biting toes
• Scratching or pawing at a location on their body more than usual
• Dragging their behind across the floor
• Rubbing against furniture
• Developing mats or dirty patches on their coat

Pets will most commonly develop skin issues because of a reaction to allergens-either environmental (pollen, mites, mold, grasses) or food, underlying illness, or insect bites ie Fleas, ticks. They can also often develop skin problems as a result of allergic reactions to substances aerosolized in their environment, such as chemicals in cleaning products.

The most effective preventive measures for your pet depend on the specific cause of the skin problem. Once this has been diagnosed and treated, the vet will provide advice for how to prevent the problem from recurring or flaring up.

Things that may help include:

• Changes in the pet’s diet or your household products
• Flea and tick treatment
• Hypoallergenic soaps and grooming products
• Brushing to prevent matting
• A quieter, less stressful environment for the pet

You should make an appointment with a vet if your pet is scratching a lot or even biting themselves. This goes doubly if you notice them developing sores or bleeding, are losing hair rapidly or have strange bumps and lumps.

If your pet is scratching or grooming excessively, but you can’t see any indicators that there is a skin problem, you should still get your pet checked out by a vet.

Excessive scratching and grooming could be a sign of a number of underlying health issues or even stress, and can cause skin problems to develop if left unaddressed.