Itching All Night: When Scratching Becomes an Emergency

A little scratching is normal, but when your dog is up all night chewing at their paws or your cat cannot stop shaking her head, it is more than a minor annoyance. Constant itching is exhausting for pets and their families. The noise of licking, the smell of infected skin, and the sight of raw, bleeding sores make it impossible to ignore. For the pet, it is true misery. Imagine the frustration of an itch that never goes away, no matter how much you scratch- it is uncomfortable, painful, and often overwhelming.

In Southern California, year-round pollen, flea exposure, and dry, dusty winds make allergic flare-ups common. At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, we see pets every week whose “simple” scratching turned into urgent skin, ear, or eye emergencies.

If your pet is itching nonstop, do not wait for it to get worse. Contact us right away. Our team is here overnight on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends and holidays.

What Makes Allergic Itching Dangerous?

Seasonal allergies, also called atopy or atopic dermatitis, are triggered by pollen, mold spores, flea bites, or dust mites. For many pets, this starts with mild discomfort. But in sensitive animals, inflammation spirals quickly out of control:

  • Raw, bleeding skin from constant chewing
  • Severe ear swelling or infections
  • Eye injuries from rubbing at the face
  • Sudden hives or swelling after outdoor play

Some breeds like Bulldogs, Retrievers, and Terriers are especially prone to allergic reactions to their environment..

Why Pets Suffer So Intensely From Allergic Itching

The skin is the body’s natural shield, covered in healthy bacteria and yeast that normally live in balance. In a healthy pet, this barrier protects against infection. But when allergies strike, inflammation and scratching damage the skin’s defenses. Microscopic cracks open the door for bacteria and fungus to invade.

The result is a vicious cycle:

  1. Allergies cause itching.
  2. Scratching damages the skin barrier.
  3. Infection sets in, making the itch worse.
  4. More scratching leads to bleeding wounds, spreading infection further.

This cycle can progress in hours, not just days. Once infection develops, pets may not sleep, pace constantly, and cry out when touched. Owners often describe it as unbearable to watch their companion so restless and uncomfortable.

Spotting the Red Flags: When Scratching Becomes Urgent

Allergy flare-ups overlap with other conditions like mites or infections, so knowing what to watch for is critical.

Severe Skin Reactions

Ear Emergencies

  • Head shaking so hard it causes an ear hematoma in dogs
  • Swollen, painful, or foul-smelling ears
  • Refusal to let you touch their head

Eye Problems

  • Rubbing the face until the eye is injured
  • Corneal ulcers in pets from scratching or pawing
  • Squinting, redness, or discharge

If you notice these signs, call our emergency and urgent care team immediately.

Why Untreated Allergies Spiral Out of Control

Delaying care can mean your pet develops:

  • Chronic skin infections requiring antibiotics
  • Interdigital furunculosis (deep infections between the toes)
  • Recurring ear infections that lead to permanent hearing loss
  • Long-term damage like permanent bald spots and thickened, darkened skin

The longer itching goes untreated, the more likely it becomes that permanent skin changes, scarring, or secondary diseases will develop.

What We Do in the ER for Allergic Reactions

When pets arrive with severe itching or skin emergencies, our first priority is relief. Constant itching is as much a medical emergency as vomiting or collapse when it prevents a pet from resting or causes serious wounds.

Depending on the case, treatments may include:

  • Pain relief and anti-itch injections such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, or short courses of steroids
  • Antibiotics or antifungals for infected hot spots
  • Ear cleaning and medicated drops for painful otitis
  • Fluorescein eye stains and medications to prevent blindness from ulcers
  • Wound cleaning, bandaging, and e-collar placement to prevent further trauma

Our diagnostic services, including skin scrapings, cytology, lab work, and imaging, help us confirm whether allergies, infections, or parasites are at the root of the problem.

Helping Your Pet at Home Until You Get Here

Supportive steps can sometimes make a difference while you prepare for a vet visit:

  • Rinse paws after walks to remove pollen
  • Use medicated shampoos or wipes (leave shampoos and conditioners on skin for at least 10 minutes before rinsing)
  • Protect ears with a No Flap Ear Wrap

Why a Cone Is Essential

Many owners hesitate to use an Elizabethan collar, but cones save pets from worsening their own injuries. A properly fitted cone prevents constant chewing of feet, rubbing at ears, and scratching at eyes. Even short breaks from trauma give medication a chance to work and the skin a chance to heal.

Preventing Future Allergy Emergencies

Allergies cannot always be cured, but they can be managed. Breaking this into the most common causes helps owners plan year-round care.

Environmental Allergies

Southern California pets are surrounded by pollen, grasses, dust, and mold. Seasonal flares often feel like they come out of nowhere. Consistent bathing, ear cleaning, and regular grooming all reduce exposure.

For dogs with ongoing issues, prescription allergy medications or immunotherapy may be recommended. Keeping windows closed on high-pollen days and rinsing off after walks also helps.

Flea Allergies

Just one bite can trigger weeks of itching in a sensitive pet. Year-round flea and tick prevention is non-negotiable. Flea saliva causes an allergic reaction that leads to intense skin trauma, often centered on the tail base and hind legs. Without prevention, no other allergy treatment will succeed.

Food Allergies

Food allergies usually develop after months or years of eating the same protein. Symptoms include chronic ear infections, paw chewing, and gastrointestinal upset. A controlled elimination diet guided by your veterinarian is the only reliable way to confirm a food allergy. Nutrition’s role in itchy pets is significant, and switching diets without supervision often prolongs the misery.

Around-the-Clock Care for Itchy Pets

No pet should suffer through sleepless nights of scratching. Relentless itching is exhausting, painful, and often leads to dangerous infections. At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, our veterinarians provide diagnostics, urgent treatments, and long-term allergy management to get pets comfortable again.

500 S Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91740
(626) 702-2436
Open overnight weekdays, 24/7 weekends and holidays

Schedule a consultation or meet our team today.