Canine Itch Scale
Score how itchy your dog is from 0 to 10, then bring the number to your appointment.
Visual analog itch score
How itchy is your dog?
Read each description and pick the number that best matches your dog’s usual itching.
Extreme Itching
My dog does not stop itching irrespective of surroundings or commands, and needs to be physically restrained from itching.
Severe Itching
Itching disrupts my dog’s sleep, eating, play, and exercise. Itching continues even when my dog is distracted.
Moderate Itching
My dog is itchy periodically through the day, but not when eating, playing, exercising, or being distracted. Itching occurs at night when observed.
Mild Itching
My dog does not itch when eating, playing, exercising, or being distracted.
Very Mild Itching
My dog is only slightly itchier than what I consider normal.
Normal Dog
Itching is not a problem for my dog.
This scale is an adaptation of the pruritus severity scale developed by Hill, P. B., Lau, P. and Rybnicek, J. (2007), Development of an owner-assessed scale to measure the severity of pruritus in dogs. Veterinary Dermatology, 18: 301–308.
The scale was further validated for use in dogs by Rybníček, J., Lau-Gillard, P. J., Harvey, R. and Hill, P. B. (2009), Further validation of a pruritus severity scale for use in dogs. Veterinary Dermatology, 20: 115–122.
Scoring in three steps
Start at the top and read down until one sounds like your dog.
Between two descriptions? Use the number in between, like 5 or 7.
Share the number with our team at your appointment so changes can be tracked over time.
Got your score?
Bring the number with you to the visit, or call the clinic Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, if you have any questions about scoring.