Why is my pet scratching after wearing a collar? Is it an allergy?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! It could be from extra moisture due to his collar or a skin infection. Below is a link to an antihistamine to control scratching. I would clean it was a mild soap and water daily. Dry it well. You can try the spray below after drying. If it hasn't improved in a week he should be seen by a Vet for prescription medications. Good luck! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=40493 https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

Hello, sorry to hear about Freya. It looks like she has a local skin infection which could be secondary to a severe episode of allergies. You can wipe the area with skin sensitive baby wipes 2-3 times daily. If this isn't improving within 10 days or if it is getting worse, then Freya should be evaluated by her veterinarian as she may need oral antibiotics and allergy medications. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Xenna. I would advise having your veterinarian evaluate her especially if the integrity of the skin is compromised. This can lead to infection and more itching and scratching which will cause more damage. Your vet can evaluate the area and advise an adequate treatment to get her through this. I would contact the manufacturer of the collar and report this adverse reaction. Hopefully, along with your veterinarian helping you, they will offer to cover any medical costs associated with you using their product. Good luck

I would give Gizmo time to adjust to wearing the harness and collar. If it is really bothering him I would recommend taking everything off when he is inside the house. That is as long as there is no risk to him running outside without a collar. If you see scabbing or reddness then I recommend a veterinarian since that could mean that there is an infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is probably irritating the skin. I would try a collar of a different material. Some dogs are just sensitive to certain materials used to make these collars. My dog for example is very sensitive to collars made out of nylon and develops hair loss and dermatitis if used. I would encourage you to try one of a different material. Keep in mind that there is some getting used to on their end but it should not be itchy. Good luck!

The safest thing to do is remove the collar and bathe her. If she is having a contact reaction removing any of the residual from the collar may help. There are some flea products that are not safe in cats so if you want to take a picture of the packaging including the ingredients in the collar and upload in a second question we can let you know more about the collar. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is not likely to be due to the collar. If the collar were to cause irritation, it would only be around where the collar is placed and would not cause severe itching. Severe itching is often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get other treatment if needed. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. Seven months is a long time for a dog to be itching this much and it must be miserable for her. In order to find the cause of this and give her some relief, I highly recommend you schedule an exam by a veterinarian. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. I hope that helps and she gets better soon.