Is your dog itching or losing hair? Let’s find the cause

What a local study found

An October 2026 Sri Lanka Veterinary Journal study examined 100 dogs with skin lesions presented to selected veterinary hospitals in Kalutara District. Demodex mites were found in seven dogs using deep skin scrapings. The dogs were a convenience sample already showing skin problems. Seven per cent is therefore not the prevalence among all dogs in Kalutara or Sri Lanka. The study is a local example of why examining samples can be useful.

What should you watch for?

Note where the itching started and whether there are bald patches, redness, scabs, a smell, discharge or repeated ear scratching. Tell your vet if another pet or a person in the household is itchy too. Some causes can spread, while others cannot; a photograph alone cannot reliably tell them apart.

Why the vet may suggest skin tests

Your vet may check for fleas, examine skin scrapings or hair, and look at skin samples under a microscope for bacteria or yeast. Fungal testing or other investigations may be appropriate. Food allergy sometimes needs a carefully controlled diet trial. Repeatedly changing food or shampoo without a plan can make it harder to work out what helps.

What to do while waiting for the appointment

• Record when the problem started and take clear photos if convenient. Bring the names of shampoos, flea products, creams and medicines already used.
• Ask the clinic how to prevent further licking or scratching safely. Keep bedding clean and dry.
• Do not apply kerosene, engine oil, household disinfectants or human creams. Avoid leftover antibiotics or steroid medicines unless prescribed for this problem.
• Ask which bathing product and frequency suit the diagnosis. More frequent bathing is not automatically better.

When it needs quicker help

Arrange prompt care for painful, spreading or oozing skin lesions, severe scratching that breaks the skin, or a dog that also seems unwell. Facial swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse needs emergency veterinary help. Keep follow-up visits: improvement in itching does not always mean the underlying cause has been resolved.