Why Do Our Pets Get Itchy Skin?

Ever wondered why your dog or cat is always scratching? Meet atopic dermatitis, a common skin disease in pets. It's caused by a mix of things from their genetics to the environment they live in. You see, some pets have a gene that makes their skin barrier weaker, so when they come across allergens like house dust mites or pollen, their immune system goes a bit overboard, causing itchy skin. It's like their body is saying, "Hey, something's not right here! " And it gets worse. These itchy experiences often lead to more infections like Staphylococcal or Malassezia, making the situation even scratchier. But it's not just genes. Where and how they live also plays a part. Pets that spend most of their time indoors or have certain environmental experiences early in life seem to be more at risk. It's like they're more sensitive to the things around them.