Question submitted by the audience in our recent webinar: "The Itchy Dog":
Can hormonal abnormalities cause itching in dogs? Such as Cushing's? Addison's? Hypothyroidism?
Answer by: Andrew Hillier, BVSc, MANZCVS, DACVD
No, hormonal disease such as some of those mentioned are definitely associated with skin disease in dogs but they are not characterized by itching. The only exceptions to this would be if a dog has a skin infection or demodex due to its hormonal disease, then it could be itchy only during the time that the infection or Demodectic mange is present. Or if there is concurrent allergic dermatitis along with hormonal disease then they may have itching – but that would be the allergies and not the hormonal disease.
