Why is my dog chewing and scratching his legs, if not allergies?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I would be concerned about fleas given the location of his scratching. If he is not on flea prevention I would recommend starting him on it and seeing if that helps. Benadryl works for very mild itching but if he's very itchy he may need to see your vet for stronger medication. Good luck!

It is unusual for a food allergy to only affect one area and there may be an underlying trigger or painful focus in the area which should be excluded by your vet, compulsive behaviors can also develop but would improve with an e collar and changes in routine such as additional walks, activities and chew toys to distract him. Food sensitivities are best ruled out by a 6week food trial on a hydrolyzed diet such as royal canin hypoallergenic, symptoms would then recur if you rechallenge with the original foods

When a dog chews on a joint or a leg, there is usually either an itch, irritation or pain involved. If you are doing flea and tick prevention, you can pretty much rule out a flea problem. This is likely pointing to either joint pain or possibly an active mass irritating your dog. Unfortunately it is not possible to see a lot on the photo, other than that your dog has been chewing on his leg for a while. I suggest you make an appointment with your vet for an exam. He will likely want to shave the area so he can examine the skin properly and palpate the bone and other structures. depending on the findings, he may also want to do an xray to see if there is bone or joint involvement.

Hello, sorry to hear about Jack. It sounds like he is having allergies. Allergies in dogs can be associated with the environment, food, or even fleas (flea allergy dermatitis). Make sure that Jack and any other pets are getting their monthly flea control. If he continues to itch, then he may need allergy medications which can be prescribed by your veterinarian. Have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon if his signs persists. You can also try to wipe his feet and body down 2-3 times daily especially after coming indoors with skin sensitive baby wipes. Hope this helps and best of luck.

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be fleas or mange. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Piper with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal 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 repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment .

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Aster. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian to have his leg assessed. Yes, a seasonal allergy is possible due to you new location. He could also be experiencing an overgrowth of mites known as Demodex. This is diagnosed with a procedure known as a skin scrape. This tends to cause bald patches. In the meantime, you can bathe him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I would also place an E-collar on him to prevent any further self trauma. I hope this information helps!