TORONTO—In an effort to promote pet skin health, and through the joint initiative between the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology (CAVD), CEVA Animal Health, Zoetis and ROYAL CANIN® Canada sees the launch of a 'Pet Check' list to empower pet owners to perform regular checks on their pets at home and feel confident knowing what is healthy and what to monitor when it comes to their pet's skin.
The annual Empathy for Itch campaign is launching for its 3rd year, with the continued mission to educate and encourage pet owners to think about their pet's skin health more frequently.
Often skin health is overlooked in pets, and at times skin conditions require a variety of treatments. Environmental allergies, diet allergies, trauma, parasites or inappropriate bathing are a few of the main causes of dermatologic issues.
It is important to not wait for the pet’s behaviour to show distress before taking action and visiting the vet for a proper diagnosis and the necessary treatment plan.
Since skin disease in pets is not always easy to detect, at home checks are a great first step. As a pet owner, doing at home checks is important for preventative care, because it allows pet owners to actively understand what their pet is experiencing. Once an issue is identifies, it is important to make an appointment with the vet, as quickly as possible, so treatment can begin as soon as possible.
When taking a closer look at your pet's skin health, the following five easy steps allow for a quick pet skin examination which only requires an extra two minutes in an existing routine.
5 Spot Checks to Best Assess Your Pet's Overall Skin Health
- Your pet's eyes should be clear and bright. Any redness or hair loss around them should be shared with your vet.
- When looking at your pet's skin and coat, it should not be red, flaky, dry, or greasy. You can also take this opportunity to look for ticks or use a flea comb to check for fleas.
- Your pet's ears should not be red, painful, smelly or have any discharge. If your pet scratches his ears or rubs his face along the ground or floor, this may be a sign that his face or ears are itchy.
- Paws can take a lot of abuse, especially in the winter with extreme cold or ice, or in the summer on hot pavement. Check your four-legged friend's feet regularly for any redness, pain, or sores.
- Your pet should be covered in hair (unless they are a Mexican hairless dog or a Sphinx cat), so any naked spots warrant a visit to the vet. It is much easier to manage skin problems earlier than later.
"With this year's Empathy for Itch campaign, we wanted to equip pet owners with the tools needed to perform regular checks at home and gain a better understanding of what to look for when examining their pets," says Meghan Hewitt, Trade Marketing Manager “Veterinary Division at ROYAL CANIN® Canada. "By empowering pet owners to feel in control of their pet's skin health, we can work to ensure
pets receive the required care and have the quality of life they deserve, with the support and guidance of their veterinary team."
There is no better team than a pet owner and their veterinary team, when it comes to pet skin health. The key to maintaining your pet’s skin health is teamwork, and pet owners should feel empowered enough to speak with their veterinary team when there is a concern. Asking and answering questions openly is the first step to promoting your pet’s skin health.
For more information on the Empathy for Itch Campaign, or tools to help your first vet visit be successful, visit: www.cavs.ca/empathy-for-itch.
