Well, food could be one factor. We heard Doudou’s scratching got noticeably less after my cousin’s boyfriend changed the kibble she was having to a better quality fish-based kibble.

The Animal Recovery Centre does have this interesting section in their article on Nutritional Influences on Illnesses in Small Animals.

 

It said that common problems associated with food sensitivities or intoxications include allergies which can result in the following symptoms: swelling of the face and/or mouth, intense itch, generalised raised lumps over the body, “circular hot spots” scattered over the sides and body, coughing, blocked nasal passage and chronic maladaptive syndrome.

When it comes to what can be done, omega oils are recommended. The article also stated that fish protein is less allergenic than beef protein.

I also read in this interview with an animal doctor Simon Quek, he says that the most common skin problem he sees in Singapore is due to environmental allergies, which affects 20% of dogs. According to him, the most common allergen is the house dust mite and other allergens include grass and tree pollens. These allergies can cause itch and pimples.

We don’t know if Donna has any food or environmental allergy. But she does sometimes scratch alot and has coughs infrequently. She has some mild redness in the skin now and then from the scratching but not really pimples. But in any case, we can’t keep her in a glass house, so there is no way she won’t get exposed to dust mites, grass and tree pollen. The only thing we can do is to bathe her regularly and wash her bedding regularly. And there is also a bottle of salmon oil waiting in the kitchen cabinet to improve the health of her coat.