Why Is My Dog Scratching So Much?

Your dog hasn't got fleas, you're certain. You've looked. Here's the thing: adult fleas are a small share of the population in a home — most of it is eggs and larvae living in the carpet and the seams of the dog bed. 🐾

Try the white paper test instead of hunting for insects. Comb the base of the tail, tap the debris onto damp white kitchen roll, and wait. If the little black specks spread into rusty red smudges, that's digested blood. You have fleas.

Rust-stained front paws are worth noticing too. Constant licking stains pale fur a tea-brown colour, and paws, armpits and groin are the classic map of environmental allergy. Recurring ear infections often belong to the same story rather than being a separate problem.

One thing we'd skip: the home allergy tests sold direct to owners. Food allergy is diagnosed by a strict elimination diet over eight to twelve weeks, not by a saliva swab — and a misleading result can cost you months.

Full guide below covers how to tell parasites from allergies from infection, and five things worth doing this week before your vet appointment.