Stop the Scratching

It's allergy season again and you may have noticed your furry friend has started scratching. Itchy skin is a common sign of an allergic pet. Getting to the root of the problem and uncovering the cause is vital to treating an itchy skin condition.

The Itch-Scratch Cycle 

Many allergies in dogs present as an itch. Food allergies, flea allergies and contact allergies are relatively easy to control by removing said allergen. However, there are a broad category of environmental allergens which are more difficult to eliminate as they are part of the dogs' everyday life. This broad category includes house dust mites, grass and pollen. 

Dogs with a weakened or dysfunctional skin barrier are affected by the penetration of environmental irritants and allergens into the first layer of the skin. This triggers an inflammatory response, which stimulates an itch sensation. They are then prompted to scratch the itch, which further weakens the skin barrier and can cause breakages in the skin. As a result more allergens and irritants enter the skin, perpetuating the itching and associated scratching. This is known as the itch-scratch cycle. 

Break The Cycle 

Itchy skin needs to be managed, one way to do this is through diet. Add fatty acids, vitamins and zinc to your dog's diet can help to build up the skin barrier and reduce inflammation. 

Efazol and Efazol Plus, are nutritional skin care products for canine skin conditions. Efazol liquid is a palatable nutritional supplement containing essential fatty acids, vitamins and zinc. It
1) Protects the skin from penetration of allergic particles by strengthening the skin barrier and 

2) Reduces the inflammation in the skin, which reduces the itch and therefore the scratch.

Efazol has the added benefit of reducing the dosage of prescribed anti-inflammatories, as it acts alongside this treatment. 

Itchy skin is even more sensitive to ticks and fleas, ensure your animal is as comfortable as possible by managing ticks and fleas with our wide range of products on offer.