dog who scratches non stop

[Colino]

Piriton works for our Bichon. He tends to get itchy skin as we come into spring/summer. Without it he scratches till he draws blood, nothing we do can stop him. So we keep him on piriton through the summer.

 

[Wildbill]

To many baths woman down the road baths her dog every day almost she complains her dog scratches all the time told her one bath a year and only if it needs it
Bill

 

[Parrot Face]

Our dog starts scratching whenever we treat him for flees. We had some success with camomile tea rubbed into his coat. Lots of people suggest raw food.

 

[Justus3]

Bit of a long post but may help stop you reaching too many dead ends.

We become well read on this and ear infections as our last dog had real issues which turned out to be complex and with the help of vet it become manageable. So a few things to remember from the start which we learned quickly over months of trying to sort the problem out. As with humans the internet and market place is full of information, products and tests. Which like most of it are total crap not based on any really sound or evidenced based testing or science. A lot is American and not much more then pure snake oil or the next in thing owner life style passed on to the dog.

In our case it was a slow process to work out what was going off. As has been said vets can't ask questions to the dog. So it can take time to work out what is going off. It may in your case take time to work things out. Steroids will help and fix it that's what they do but it's not without risk, not a cheep option and will only mask the real issue. So the vet is right to not reach for them 1st.

With Billy it turned out to be a complex auto immune problem. Sadly this developed to complications which in the end sadly he died from. As I said a really complex case and not very common.

minx and TheCoops have really listed things to try 1st always start with what you can control. Food is always a good start , what ever you do, do it in an ordered way one thing at a time. With food list every thing the are given to eat. It's a Lab so i know they love food , all food. But you need a controlled starting point. Once listed look at the what in them, Do they have things in common? Or is it worse after having x or y. Have a good smell around the dog around ears and other problem areas. If any really bad smell it's mostly and infection and needs treatment.

Chlorphenamine or Piriton is a good idea if buying a none brand name just check it is Chlorphenamine many cheep ones are a different one and not as effective. We use to buy it bulk a packet did not last when on 3 times a day we soon got though them. Fish oil is worth a go too. Be carful if buying drugs on the internet like all meds many are counterfeit. If it look's too cheep walk away, stick to trusted sites.

Apoquill and Malaseb have been talked about. Both are V-POM Billy was on twice weekly Malaseb baths. It's not the most users friendly stuff in the world. Apoquill is a life changer Billy was one of 1st ever dogs to use it. So effective even the makers never thought it was going to so good. It was for months in short supply with a waiting list lucky the vet made sure we went to top. Lucky we had insurance which helped with monthly meds bill. Private perception is an option unless like us one of the meds was given off license ie not licensed for treatment of x only for y. Or human only POM which for us was a very expensive drug anyway. so much cheeper via vets then a pharmacy.

On Allergy testing like human ones most are a waste of time so save your money. We had a very detailed one done via the vet it's not cheep and takes weeks to come back. But you got a very detailed report and lists every thing. Billy list was long inc 5 type of grass and most common food ingredients like potatoes and all grains under the sun. It meant most dog food and even treats common in shops had to go. Most common mass market "sensitive" gluten free ect life style based dog foods are full of pea starch which was on the out list. In the end only a mostly duck and chicken meet dried food was only good. Only treats possible was dried fish type. When the treats come out at the vets the fab receptionist always got a packet of fish ones off the shelve and included him.Trying to keep his weight up was hard going. We often got shouted on walks so called "dog shaming" and once threatened with being reported over his condition.

Have a good smell around the dog around ears and other problem areas. If any really bad smell it's more then likely a fungal infection and needs treatment. Check the skin for any dry, crusty or really red areas and ask the vet about them.

It not always easy working out what's going off and it may mean a good few trips to be vet with a few try this ideas but it's not impossible. As long as you take one thing at time and in an ordered way. We got lucky our vets are up to date on every thing or go away and ask one of the others for help. Though it was never possible to fix it the many things we had to do meant it was managed and he was not itching all the time.

Good luck hope it helps any extra help DM me if like.

 

[Minxy]

Our Jack Russell started scratching a while back so we took him to the vet, turned out he had blocked glands causing pain hence the scratching. Vet recommend putting some bran in his food, it still happens about once a year but as soon as we see it started we take him to vet.

Do you clear his glands every now and then yourself? I do it with ours every few months and doing that plus the bran flakes means no vet visits are necessary.

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[lorger]

Do you clear his glands every now and then yourself? I do it with ours every few months and doing that plus the bran flakes means no vet visits are necessary.

No we normally just get them cleared while in for his yearly injections

 

[Scoffsontour]

We had a lab exactly the same he used to be so sore and itchy all the time. We tried everything and the only thing that helped was steroids. The vet related it to excema/dermatitis in humans and in the end we had to keep him on a low dose steroid permanently. It took a couple of years off his life but gave him quality of life so it was the right decision. He still lived until he was 10 so not too terrible. We miss him and our other lab so much but know we did the right thing. Hope you get it sorted it must be driving the dog mad poor thing

 

[JinxJetJock]

View attachment 418990

Isn't this the HMV trade mark?

 

[tigerblue]

Have you tried eliminating any foods or treats that contain chicken? Seemingly many dogs, including our own, are allergic. Worth a try?

 

[PaulyP]

Do you clear his glands every now and then yourself? I do it with ours every few months and doing that plus the bran flakes means no vet visits are necessary.

First time I saw it done it was at the vets, I gagged and had to run out of the room it was that bad, no way could I do it, she had regular checks after that as we came to know when she needed it.

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[gtrmacs]

Antihistamine's a good suggestion. If you don't fancy raw, you might try Millies Wolfheart - nothing artificial, no additives and you can choose by main proteins in case there are some your dog won't tolerate. Not related to the company, just works for my GSD and very good company to deal with. Order online for home delivery. Initially looks expensive, but feeding quantities are smaller due to high nutritional content. And as a bonus - poos are much easier to pick up You judge correct feeding amount by poo consistency

 

[Minxy]

First time I saw it done it was at the vets, I gagged and had to run out of the room it was that bad, no way could I do it, she had regular checks after that as we came to know when she needed it.

Wimp! . Wait until they are infected then they really pong!!!

 

[The Lb’s]

Sorry if I'm repeating others but I haven't read all of the comments! If its all year it will probably be food rather than seasonal allergies. We used an online allergy test for our dog from EasyDNA. it cost about £70. It was very easy to use and told us she had allergies to 3 things. The other way to do it it move to a fish based food, either Fish4dogs or Barking Heads Salmon or White Fish. (most dogs aren't allergic to fish). When on this food cut out all treats (except dried fish skin). Hopefully the itching will stop then you can gradually add other foods in to try and identify the allergy that way. Friends of mine did this and found their dog was allergic to cheese and chicken. One tiny piece of cheese and the dog starts itching again immediately. Good luck x

 

[Aireworth]

Before you start looking for things the dog may be allergic/sensitive to make sure it doesn't have:-

1. Fleas, lice, mange or some other parasitic skin infestation
2. A bacterial, fungal or yeast skin infection.

These conditions are common and usually completely curable. Exclusion diets etc won't help. Steroids, cytopoint, apoquel might help but they won't cure.
Make sure it isn't something you can get rid of once and for all before you commit to life long management of an allergy/sensitivity.

 

[Kim and Phil]

My sister’s dog has a dust (mite?) allergy

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[Fraggle 22]

Sorry if I'm repeating others but I haven't read all of the comments! If its all year it will probably be food rather than seasonal allergies. We used an online allergy test for our dog from EasyDNA. it cost about £70. It was very easy to use and told us she had allergies to 3 things. The other way to do it it move to a fish based food, either Fish4dogs or Barking Heads Salmon or White Fish. (most dogs aren't allergic to fish). When on this food cut out all treats (except dried fish skin). Hopefully the itching will stop then you can gradually add other foods in to try and identify the allergy that way. Friends of mine did this and found their dog was allergic to cheese and chicken. One tiny piece of cheese and the dog starts itching again immediately. Good luck x

I used to groom a Westie. Well known breed for allergies. Poor Henry the westie had rubbed himself so raw from itching he had no hair at all just elephant skin weeping and sore. They had tried everything the vet could suggest with no relief. I suggested they fed him only lamb and brown rice - homemade and kept my fingers crossed. I got a telephone call from his owner some months later. She was in tears. Henry was in the garden and the wind was blowing his lovely white coat. He lived to be 16 yrs old and was only fed lamb and rice for the rest of his days. Allergies are so hard to figure out. I've known quite a few allergic to flea treatments. Unfortunately as other people have said its a question of elimination. Keep a note as you go.
Good luck.

 

[rrowe]

As a retired vet I would agree with the long post and others above but please do the simple (and cheap) things first
Top of the pops by miles is a flea problem, you may not see the fleas or flea poo (Black specks that turn red on wet tissues) as some dogs can be affected by just the odd flea bite as they are allergic to flea saliva
Best to use a fine comb to brush through the hair while standing the dog on a white sheet
This means that to be effective you have to treat the dog(s) and cats regularly but also the whole house especially thick carpets sofas etc., most fleas in your house live in the furnishings not on the dog
Beware of visting dogs or going to grannie's house if she has a cat or dog
Some animals can carry fleas but not appear to be affectred by them
Buy some good topical and house treatment products from your vet and then if still having trouble follow their advice or change vets if you are not given a full examination following a logical approach with testing as needed
It can be a slow job so be patient, there are vets who specialise in dermatology who your vet can refer you to if needed

 

[PaulyP]

Wimp! . Wait until they are infected then they really pong!!!

 

[Beemobile]

Well it could be a habit, it could be that it's really itchy, lots of advice and ideas here, labs lose their coats nearly all year, a good grooming may help but I'm pretty sure your doing that, have you tried grain free food or maybe feed natural food, dogs also get bored rather quickly and they also get anxious, this can lead to lots of scratching and licking for some, in my experience a dog does not need a bath, don't go there. Has your vet taken a skin scraping to test, if all you try is negative then try to stop him, a nudge and a no. I stop my dogs from overattention to both, they seem to find it therapeutic. Ugh .

 

[Bessy765]

My maybe at work had the same problem after trying loots of different things he took the dog to a specialist in Bristol turned out he was allergic to dust mites. Also plug in air fresheners have been known to cause irritation.

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[jordy74]

my daughter gave her dog oily fish twice a week for 2 weeks and it worked.

 

[Furry Paws]

I brought my Nika back from Morocco and she had a terrible skin problem scratching herself raw all the time. I spent a fortune with Vets but nothing they did or gave her stopped it and I was worried it was Canine Leishmaniasis which is caused by bites from an infected sand fly there though she always proved negative for this when tested. Then I had a friend who has a farm recommend Camrosa Shampoo and Ointment which was originally made for protection of horses but when tried on other farm animals and domestic's as well proved to be the best solution. It is not a drug, made from natural ingredients and it has worked wonders with Nika's skin, I now occasionally just put some round the inside of her collar and it keeps her clear! It is not cheap but can be found on eBay or Amazon though be careful of copies? I prefer to buy from Camrosa Equestrian, Ladymeads Farm, Wadhurst TN5 6HH, their website where you can learn more is camrosa.co.uk (please delete if not allowed) You can call them on 01892 783240 and they are very helpful. I think people who live with their dogs and cats in vans need something like this especially full time because Vets often don't have a solution! This is Nika in the Chair and Ollie my Staffy/Sharpei mix that I adopted locally, they both love to travel in the van