The itch notebook
How to score, and the 0 to 10 itch scale
itchydog.vetDr. Steve Pelton, DVM
Chapters 2 and 4 explain why this works. Short version: memory is lousy at itch. Numbers aren't.
Score the itch once a day, ideally in the evening, thinking back over the last 24 hours. The same person scores every time if you can manage it. Count all of it: scratching, licking, chewing, face rubbing, scooting and ear shaking.
This is my plain-language version, not the official research scale (Chapter 2 explains the difference). Your vet may use a slightly different one. That's fine. What matters is that you use the same one every time.
The 0 to 10 itch scale
| Score | What it tends to look like at home |
|---|---|
| 0 | Not itchy at all. |
| 1 to 2 | Normal dog. An occasional scratch or lick, same as any dog. 0 to 2 is the normal range. |
| 3 to 4 | Mildly itchy. A few licking or scratching sessions a day, but he isn't waking up or skipping fun to itch. |
| 5 to 6 | Moderately itchy. Regular itching through the day, some at night. You notice it every evening. |
| 7 to 8 | Severely itchy. Itching much of the time he's awake, waking at night to scratch or lick, sometimes stopping in the middle of play or eating. |
| 9 to 10 | Extreme. Itching almost constantly, can't be distracted, sleep is wrecked, skin is often broken. |
Most days 0 to 2, never above 3 for long, sleeping through the night, no skin or ear infections, and acting like himself (Chapter 11).
If he's been at a 5 or higher for more than about two weeks, or the itch keeps coming back, schedule a visit.
An 8 or higher, or a dog who isn't sleeping or eating because of the itch, is a reason to call your vet in the next day or two.
Facial swelling, hives all over or trouble breathing is an emergency. (Chapter 1 has the full Red flags list.)
Photo reminders
- Take a photo of the worst spot every few days: pink belly, stained paws, red armpits, the inside of an ear flap, whatever bothers him most.
- Same spot, same light, same distance each time. A window in daylight beats a lamp at night.
- Put something in the frame for scale if you can (a coin, your fingertip).
- Make a phone album just for this, named "[dog's name] skin." When you're in the exam room, you'll find it in five seconds instead of scrolling past 400 photos of the kids.
How to use these pages: print the weekly page (page 2) eight times for an 8-week diary, and the 8-week summary (page 3) once. Start a fresh weekly page every Monday, or whatever day suits you.
The itch notebook: weekly page
Copy this page eight times for an 8-week diary
itchydog.vetDr. Steve Pelton, DVM| Day | Score0 to 10 | Wherepaws, ears, face, armpits, belly, back end, lower back | When worsenight, after walks, after meals, after baths | Ears and smellOK, smelly, red, discharge, head shaking | Anything newfood, treat, chew, missed dose, bath, trip, boarding, weather | Photo? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | ||||||
| Tue | ||||||
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| Thu | ||||||
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| Sun |
Notes for the vet
The itch notebook: 8-week summary
Fill in one line at the end of each week
itchydog.vetDr. Steve Pelton, DVMAfter two months, this is a picture of your dog's itch bucket (Chapter 4).
| Week | Dates | Average score0 to 10 | Worst score0 to 10 | Main spots | What changed this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 |