My dog has dry, itchy skin under his front legs. Is it 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!

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!

That scale I see in the pictures can be from multiple problems. If a skin scrape hasn't been done to look for mites I would ask for one to be done. A mite called cheyletiella causes thick crusting like that and can be difficult to find/ prove. Frontline, an over the counter flea and tick prevention can treat it if that is the problem. However, other mites, skin infections, allergies, and other immune mediated diseases can also cause skin problems like this. Please continue to work with your veterinarian. I know not having an answer right away is hard but sometimes multiple testing / examinations are needed to fine the cause. I hope Oliver gets better soon!

Thanks for using PetCoach! The pictures didn’t come out very well on my end for some reason but these could be pyodermas small skin infections). This is usually due to underlying allergies. Allergies commonly appear at age 2-4 but can develope at any time. If that is the case, they are usually environmental but if you’ve switched food or added a new treat in the last few weeks, that could be a cause too. Finally, new shampoo, change in laundry soap, etc can also cause this to flare up. Treatment is topical (including medicated shampoo) or oral antibiotics and addressing underlying allergies of needed. It is also possible that these spots are mites or ringworm, insect bites, or other. Try Benedryl (see link below) and a medicated shampoo like Duoxo Calm first if you like. Bathe twice weekly during a flare up, then every 1-2 weeks for maintenance. If no improvement in a week (or worsening at any time) it’s time to see the vet for a better diagnosis and treatment. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl Best of luck to you and Oliver!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Jack. Allergies can be very frustrating but with the right diagnosis and treatment, can be effectively managed. You have described what could very well be seasonal allergies called Atopy in dogs since you talk about a seasonal pattern. We are in a peak time for late summer allergies in humans and dogs who are allergic to weed pollens which are high at this time of year. Of course other inhaled allergies could be present and cross reactivity exists between some allergens. Each year or allergy season can be worse than the last if the pet becomes allergic to more things. Dogs can also be allergic to flea bites called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and a smaller group of allergic dogs can have food allergies. What you are describing sounds like an inflammation/infection of the skin due to self trauma caused by Jack licking, scratching, chewing, etc those areas. Once the skin barrier is broken the surface bacteria can multiply and gain access to the deeper skin areas causing problems like you discuss. I would advise taking Jack to your vet and let them take a thorough history, do a complete physical, and then advise some diagnostics and/or treatment to address what is going on. Some skin diagnostics include skin scrape, Wood's lamp exam, fungal culture, etc. These would be performed to rule out a problem with mites or fungal organisms. Treatment for allergies includes antibiotics, antihistamines, sometimes steroids for itching, immune modulating drugs (Apoquel), using a good flea/tick product advised by your vet, fish oil, topical treatments, etc. If you wanted to pursue allergy testing, your vet can advise you on that. There are skin tests and blood tests for that and sometimes that involves going to a veterinary dermatologist for some of those services. The goal would be to identify the allergies and then start a hyposensitization program to decrease the body's immune response to the allergy, very similar to allergy shots. They even make allergy drops or sprays that are oral now. Good luck with Jack. I hope he gets a lot more comfortable very soon.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Judging from the pictures you have provided I suspect what you are seeing is due to a skin infection, either bacterial or fungal. I would recommend that a veterinarian examine the area so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. If you are unable to get to your vet right away I would recommend starting the below products which can be found online quite easily or at your local pet store. I hope this helps and that Ed's skin improves. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved. 2. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area until resolved 3. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules 4. Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Melon. Her skin looks very irritated. Based on your description, she could be experiencing environmental allergies. They are very common this time of year and tend to show up on the paws and underside of the dog. As humans, we inhale most allergens, but dogs are out walking through the grass. So they have signs related to their skin. Make sure you are using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. This will soothe the skin. Then she will need to see a veterinarian. You want to ensure that she does not have a different condition such as mites or ringworm as the treatment is different. However, these conditions do not tend to itch as much. As far as treatment, she will likely need an antibiotic to heal the skin and a medication to control the itching. Steroids work great, but have a lot of side effects. There are two newer allergy medications. Apoquel is a tablet given daily and Cytopoint is an injection that can control itching for 4-8 weeks. So these are some options to discuss with the veterinarian if it is determined Melon has allergies. I hope this information helps!