Very Itchy Dog

[vnv]

I recently moved house and my staffy x has become extremely itchy. The backyard just looks like normal grass, but there is some mondo grass along a path. Inside I washed the floors with a steam mop, no chemicals. Nothing else has really changed. Her bedding is the same. I haven't washed it so it wouldn't be a reaction to detergent. She has broken out in a rash before when I lived at a place with wandering jew, and there is definitely none of that in the garden.

When she first got itchy, there was no redness or rash on her skin. Her skin is broken and red now but I think that is from the constant scratching. I have washed her with dog shampoo for sensitive skin but it hasn't helped. There are no fleas but she was due for a spot treatment anyway and I used Revolution.

Im going to take her to the vet but in the meantime any suggestions?

[Staffyluv]

I know that the only thing that makes Ziggy itchy is paspalum grass and the only place he has contact with it is at training..

We use a barrier type cream (or neotopic from the vets) and put it on before he goes there and also after he has been and that seems to help our situation.

I wouldn't put any more shampoo or anything on it.. Get the dog to the vet to get some cream and if the skin is broken there is the chance for an infection to get a hold as well..

Then do the preventative thing with a cream on the places where her skin gets itchy..

Antihistamine as well - I use polaramine (it is the one I have had the most success with). Ollie was 22kg and had 1 tablet (4mg from memory) and Ziggy is 27kg and I give him the same dose - seems to work fine. It helps with the inflammation.

Looks like you have tried everything we can do at home - I would be seeing a vet if it was my dog.

Good luck

[*Avanti*]

I recently moved house and my staffy x has become extremely itchy. The backyard just looks like normal grass, but there is some mondo grass along a path. Inside I washed the floors with a steam mop, no chemicals. Nothing else has really changed. Her bedding is the same. I haven't washed it so it wouldn't be a reaction to detergent. She has broken out in a rash before when I lived at a place with wandering jew, and there is definitely none of that in the garden.

When she first got itchy, there was no redness or rash on her skin. Her skin is broken and red now but I think that is from the constant scratching. I have washed her with dog shampoo for sensitive skin but it hasn't helped. There are no fleas but she was due for a spot treatment anyway and I used Revolution.

Im going to take her to the vet but in the meantime any suggestions?

Is the grass different to your previous house? Both of my dogs are allergic to Kikuyu grass and I have to keep them away from it because the allergy is so bad. I have heard quite a lot of dogs can be allergic to this particular grass but your case may not be that. Once the allergic reaction sets in they can develop secondary skin issues so best to see the vet or an animal dermatologist. Sorry I haven't got many suggestions for in the meantime except maybe to keep her off the grass if possible to see if that helps.

Kikuyu:

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Starr_020911-0028_Pennisetum_clandestinum.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_020911-0028_Pennisetum_clandestinum.jpg&h=194&w=259&sz=1&tbnid=uNOs9m9gUAwqSM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=147&zoom=1&usg=__eolNA_wWElOw53CXVp6BCIF8_dY=&docid=_u1YDMLjIdVE1M&itg=1&sa=X&ei=WxblUfPzKuLPiAfwr4HIDA&ved=0CJYBEPwdMAo

Edited July 16, 2013 by LabTested

[vnv]

I am not really sure if the grass is different. I think that paspalum grass is fairly common and I am sure she would have had contact with it before. Kikuyu grass I am not sure about but I will check.

I will definitely be taking her to the vet today as she has scratched so much she is bleeding in some areas

[trinabean]

Yes, definitely go to the vet if she has scratched until bleeding. As Labtested and Staffyluv said, secondary infections are a risk once the skin is broken.

I've written a huge essay reply in Redangel's thread about her itchy dog. It might be worth a read? Let us know how you go at the vets.

[vnv]

Embarrassingly it turned out to be flea allergy dermatitis. She has fleas. I did look but didn't see any on her. They must have been at the new house. I treat both my dog and cat with revolution but obviously it is ineffective.

I have capstar for both my cat and dog. She stopped scratching within an hour of taking the capstar so that is a huge relief. I have also treated both with a different spot-treatment and will continue with the capstar if needed.

On the weekend I will have to do a big clean to try and get rid of fleas in the house/yard somehow.

[Staffyluv]

It happens to the best of us..

My old Stafford went 13 years without getting fleas and then he got them and I treated him with comfortis..

Zig can't take comfortis, upsets his tummy. But it is good stuff... I think it does something to the fleas so that even the eggs die..

I bombed my place and took the dog out for the day.. Then came home and opened it all up, vacuumed and dusted.. It seemed to work as we never had them again.

[hankdog]

We moved into a house once that had a backyard infested with fleas. apparently the eggs can be dormant fir years and then they hatch when there's vibrations and signs if life. If you walked out you would come in with a dozen fleas. I sprayed with something I got from the hardware shop and that was it,no more fleas but I can't remember the name. Might be worth asking at bunnings.

[vnv]

Thanks Hankdog, I was at a loss about how to treat the back yard so I will pop into bunnings and ask.

Pain in the bum but probably easier in the long run to some grass or plant in the backyard needing to be constantly pulled out.