My dog is itching a lot. Could it be allergies or something else?

I am sorry to hear about Roxy. Based on your photos I definitely think she needs to see a veterinarian. She likely has a bacterial or yeast infection of the skin (or both) which could be secondary to allergies or mites. She needs a vet exam to check for these issues and prescribe appropriate treatment. If your roommate's dog is biting in aggression, this also needs to be addressed with a vet as this is a large dog and could do a great deal of damage if the biting continues/worsens.

Red, itchy skin can be from any number of things. * allergies * skin infection (bacterial or yeast) * skin mites (mange) * flea allergy * hormone related * autoimmune disease These are things I can think of right off the top of my head. It is best to have Oreo examined by your vet.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. From your picture it appears that Raven has a skin infection. This usually occurs secondary to allergies as they lick and scratch leaving the skin more susceptible to yeast and bacteria. I would recommend a vet visit to get her on appropriate antibiotics and possible a medication for allergies. There are many treatment options to try for an itchy dog.

It's really difficult to know what needs to be done without evaluating Roxie. Itchy skin is often due to the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. Below is a link to an article that can help you determine if she has allergies. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. Your vet can help check for these. I'm not sure why the Zantel was prescribed, but it would not be effective for these parasites. 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. Below is a link to some more helpful tips. https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking her to the vet for this problem. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment.

It's unfortunately difficult to always tell by a picture what is going on. It looks like a possible contact allergy. I would try an anti histamine with a topical cream/shampoo for inflamed skin. I would monitor her outside and make sure she is not sticking her nose any where she shouldn't like an ant hill. If not improving or getting worse I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian

It is hard to tell from the picture, but if her nose is affected as well then I would be more concerned. Not could be just an infection but the location make me more concerned about an immune mediated disorder affecting the skin. If the antibiotics don’t resolve the problem then I would encourage you to biopsy the skin. This is the best chance at getting you an answer and to stream line the best course of treatment. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Rocko has been miserable despite therapy. Skin issues are some of the most difficult to manage sometimes. There are a few, less-common diseases that could be going on in his case to include things like auto-immune disease. At this time, it seems Rocko needs to be referred to see a veterinary dermatologist to get a more pointed treatment plan. I would recommend contacting your vet and asking if they think referral is the next step. Your vet may have another next step prior to referral such as soon biopsy before sending for referral, but I hope something gives him at least some relief in the meantime. A sedative may even be appropriate to help break the itch-scratch cycle. It is hard to see whether the bug is the correct size to be anything to cause an issue, but it most closely resembles a flea. Even with prevention, some dogs are so allergic, a single bite will cause an outbreak of allergies, so environmental cleaning with vacuuming and, sometimes, consulting an exterminator, can be necessary in addition to year-round flea prevention for all of your dogs and cats. I hope this helps!