Itchy Dog

[ILFC]

Hello everyone-

I have extremely itchy dog- was wondering if anyone know anything I could try...otherwise off to the vets.

He started itching about four days ago- biting and scratching all over his body. I washed him in Malaseb shampoo and he was due for flea treatment so I gave him a frontline pippette on the back of his neck. I have also washed his bedding in the usual stuff e.g. disinfectant and washing liquid. We put mulch in the garden about three weeks ago but this only started this week. He is inside when we are home- nothing has changed inside the house. There has been no diet change either. Any suggestions- he is going to the same parks etc. as always too

[shmoo]

frontline doesnt work these days. had lots of customers telling us it has no affect on their dogs. we dont even stock it anymore.

try a product called Quit-Itch. its excellent.

[Dogsfevr]

Excelpet flea liquadator works a treat,had many clients use it after no success with other products plus the treatment of other areas.

If your dog is prone to fleas then i would be making sure each wash is also a flea wash .malaseb is only good for a set purpose not a stop itch as such .

Personally any itchy dogs we get in we use either head/shoulders or selsum .Also may be use a flaxseed supplement,Melrose omega pet makes a granule one which is very good & palatable.

[SoL]

Hello everyone-

I have extremely itchy dog- was wondering if anyone know anything I could try...otherwise off to the vets.

He started itching about four days ago- biting and scratching all over his body. I washed him in Malaseb shampoo and he was due for flea treatment so I gave him a frontline pippette on the back of his neck. I have also washed his bedding in the usual stuff e.g. disinfectant and washing liquid. We put mulch in the garden about three weeks ago but this only started this week. He is inside when we are home- nothing has changed inside the house. There has been no diet change either. Any suggestions- he is going to the same parks etc. as always too

Hey there

Boy, do I know what you're going through. One of my girls has been taken to the vet 3 times with the itchies. We've done tests to rule out both demdectic and sarcoptic mange (clear, thankfully); we've done the medicated shampoo (she reacted to it!); we've done the antibiotics and ilium (clears up for the length of time she's on it) and now we're just about to embark upon the wonderful world of elimination dieting to see if it's food allergies. Our vet said that, even though she's had the same diet, she can develop an intolerance to it and that may be what is causing the itches. The vet also suggested buying Omega 3 and 6 capsules and adding them to food (not too much though) to treat from the inside. I'm sceptical as to whether this is the cause though as she just loves dragging herself along the grass. Also check your yard for wandering jew. I would also try using an oatmeal based shampoo to calm your dog's skin down.

... and off to the vets with you ...

Good luck

[ILFC]

Thanks for your help? Like the oatmeal shampoo will definitely try that and Quit Itch--is that available from the vet or a pet shop? I don't really know if he is prone to fleas- but when he was a baby puppy he did this. The frontline and malaseb stopped it. the vets gave him cortisone (as a baby) and we did the elimination diet but it didn't make a difference. Don't have Wandering Jew but what about an olive tree and this flower called Society Garlic- not actually garlic (but smells like it)?

[BC4ME]

If you have none of the tell tale sign of fleas have you thought that your dogs could be getting bitten by mosquitos???

Try venturing outside and see how those mozzies attack you well they can also attack your dogs the same way.

I've taken to running insect repellent onto their coats before they go to bed it helps keeps the mozzies away.

[ILFC]

Thanks for the help- went to vet and she said allergies again- so he got a cortisone injection and antihistamines for a couple of weeks. Also have to bath him in malaseb shampoo once a week.

[Kavik]

Good luck - I also have an allergy dog!

He is currently on cortisone - I have found Alloveen, an oatmeal shampoo, to be the best as the medicated ones made him itch more.

We did the food trial and ruled out food allergies - suspect it is a contact allergy, probably the grass or something fun like that! It is worse when he gets stressed. We had it cleared up before Christmas but then went away and left him with some friends and it started up again.

[Poodle Mum]

I have an "itchy" Std Poodle that I am trying to grow coat on for the show ring. She has been on AB's for bacterial infection & Malaseb washes. I found the Malaseb seemed to inflame it more an make the coat dry.

A fellow DOLer suggested to Fish Oil capsule. Has only been 2 weeks but the itchy has eased.

Also agree Frontline suks! Used to be great!

[SALTWOOD]

Itches can sometimes be related to or caused by food allergies.

What do you feed??

[muzzymol]

Hi, I also have an extremely itchy dog (boxer). She gets worse in the summer months. Has has it for approx 4 years. She is now almost 9 yo. The vet has had her on Cortisone treatments, anti-histamines, anti-biotics, anti-fungul tablets. She responds really well to the cortisone and anti-histamines temporarily, but as soon as we take her off them, after a couple of weeks, she's scratching again. We are just so frustrated as the Vet just keeps putting her on these tablets and then ends them and says "we'll play the waiting game and see what happens". But we ALREADY know what happens - she gets itchy again and smelly and the poor thing can't sleep properly. We know its not fleas, as she has never had fleas, or its not mozzies (she's inside most of the time). It doesn't seem to be contact with grass or plants, as it can occur even if she's inside all day. We are at a loss - hopefully someone can help us?

[flea]

I use the Quit Itch on my horses for QLD itch- so try horse places.

Another question? My cocker seems to react to fleas badly. I've moved onto Advantix 'cos the vet told me fleas have a tollerance to frontline but even that seems to only last two or three weeks at the most.

Anyone got any suggestions for natural products/ remedies?

Also trying to grow his coat, but find it will only get to a certain length and then breaks off.

[sheltiesrule]

My girlfriend whose late husband was a vet swears by garlic to keep away fleas.

[birgulparis]

Hi.

My Paris is also an "itchy dog."

Our vet found that pollen(sp?) (is that spelt right? Its doing my head in!!!) was attached to her belly (not much hair there to protect her) it would irritate har and cause her to rub herself until she bleed

so she had a needle is on Prednil (takes one every 2nd day) and we are to use Malaseb medicated foam and Aloveen oatmeal intensive conditioner on her for this whole month.

He also told us unless we get rid of the weeds and keep our grass short she will just go through it all again once the tablets have stopped. (Our garden was just a LITTLE neglected )

But im surprised to see so many dogs with the same symptoms. A bit like humans and hayfever hey? That time of the year.

All the best with your dog

Edited February 3, 2007 by birgulparis

[westiemum]

Hi,

I also have a very itchy westie - body and ears - she's scratching as I write. I was recently told to try tumeric twice a day - its apparently a natural anti-inflammatory. So for the last few days I've been adding a teaspoon of tumeric to her breakfast and a teaspoon at night to her dinner (BARF diet). The only down-side is that she has a bright yellow muzzle!

Its certainly helped although not completely eliminated the body scratching - but then its early days yet - and its a lot cheaper than expensive herbal preparations and medicine! I suspect its connected to something in the lawn too - she loves rolling around on the grass - but not 100% sure. So might be worth a try at less than a dollar a bag from the supermarket.

Hope that helps

Cheers,

Westiemum

[Kelly_Louise]

My red cattle dog also scratches like a maniac in the summer months only. Happens every year like clockwork. She does not have any allergies (that we know of) and has no problems any other time. It is a little better after washing her with Aloveen, but she still has her standard itchy spots and will come to you, not for a pat or cuddle, but a scratch!!

My fiance's GSD, also is so very very itchy at this time of year and is always scratching...

Does anyone know of an herbal remedy that could help? I would rather my girl not be on medication as she has had quite a cocktail over the last few years (painkillers) and I would prefer something natural to ease her itchies.

Thank goodness for this itchy thread!!! I thought my girl was going insane, but it seems others are suffering just as much (poor buggers).

[bloss344]

My red cattle dog also scratches like a maniac in the summer months only. Happens every year like clockwork. She does not have any allergies (that we know of) and has no problems any other time. It is a little better after washing her with Aloveen, but she still has her standard itchy spots and will come to you, not for a pat or cuddle, but a scratch!!

It's probably a grass he's coming in contact with. Paspalum is well known to cause irritation in dogs especially after it's been cut. I find washing Bob regularly during the warmer months helps him a lot. I use Rudducks Soothe shampoo which has an antibacterial and antifungal action. Aloveen although a great shampoo just didn't cut it for him, and Malaseb was too drying. It's just a matter of trial and error.

[4 Paws]

I also have an itchy german shepherd that has been digionised with some type of allergy at the vets.One DOL'er suggested previously in another thread to give dogs a zinc tablet,can't hurt to give it a try :p

julie

[tarope]

I thought I was the only one with Itchy dogs, we have two German Shepherds, who are 4 yrs old and a Rottie 3.5 yrs old. We've had this problem for three years but only in summer. around october-november last year my GSD boy started scratching his back,biting his toes,legs and his body. My GSD girl started biting her back and pulling the hair out in january this year, our Rottie bites and licks her toes till red and very sore. my dogs are in the same conditions all year round,eat the same food. I have tried med. shampoos, anti-histamines on vet advice like --------Claratyne,Zyrtec,Phenergan,Zadine,Polaramine,fish oil tabs but they did not work. they are now on a drug called Prednisolone 5mg which my vet says is a low dose, and it works. my GSD boy stopped scratching and biting, so did my GSD girl. they have one tab a day. our Rottie is on two tabs per day, I also use a cream called Ilium Neocort from the vet which I rub on the bites and they clear up. I'm sure I'ts the grass and summer, our dogs roll in it, eat it all year round, they love it. last month our Rottie was laying on mowed grass, that night I noticed a small rash on her chest -bingo thats it I hope. when summer is gone I'll take them off the tabs.

[Kelly_Louise]

Hmmmm, maybe I will give Ruddocks Soothe shampoo a try! Also may add zinc into her diet... not sure how it works, but I'll give anything a try, I'm so tired of scratching my itchy dog!!! :p I also suspect it's a grass type thing.

Chloe doesn't have any rashes, or visible skin irritations or bald patches... nothing at all to show that there is a problem other than the constant scratching and wanting to be scratched.