Why is my dog chewing a bald spot after grooming? Is it allergies?

You’re right that it can be hard to tell if the cuts came first or after the licking started. It’s possible that the skin was irritated (we call it clipper burn) after grooming, and since dogs lick areas that are uncomfortable, it makes the whole situation worse. The best thing to do is to prevent Pepper from licking anymore. He can wear an e-collar/come for a few days. If the skin isn’t looking better 24 hours after wearing the cone, it may need medications so Pepper should get checked out by his vet.

Itchy skin and hair loss is often due to 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 treatment if needed. The permethrin shampoo is only temporary, so it's possible that he is getting re- infested. He may have mites, which are microscopic and require a vet to find. 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. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. Below are some links to articles that should be helpful for you: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/skin-allergies-vs-food-allergies/

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Chewbacca. It could be he has experienced an allergic reaction from something at the groomer. Typically allergic reactions require stronger medications such as steroids. I'd take him into a vet now to get this treated. By the way, he is adorable!

Loose hairs would be one possibility, and some dogs are itchy when their skin gets a little dry after grooming. If his skin looks red or he has bald patches it might be a good idea to have him examined by your vet to make sure he hasn't developed dermatitis secondary to the grooming.

If Gypsy was having a reaction to the shampoo, I would have expected her to be itchy and chewing at more areas than just her leg and would have expected a problem within a day of the bath (not a week or 2 later). So, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine the area and take a sample to evaluate under the microscope to see what the problem is and determine the best treatment for her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Gypsy feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect Louls developed allergic reaction that makes his skin very itchy. Scratching the ears suggests ear canal infection, that is often a part of allergic skin problems. A visit to the groomers could definitely make things worse as Louls may be allergic to one of the products your groomer used on him. You should take Louls to your local vets to confirm the diagnosis and to get treatment for him. It will likely be a course of anti-inflamatory medications.

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Wist with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveale an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the chewing and repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. There is also a nice topical spray available if the problem remains on the paws only, it's called Cortavance and you can get it at the vets. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).