My 12-year-old Cocker Spaniel is itchy after grooming. What's wrong?

Lilly Lynne may have a bit of rash or razor burn if she was trimmed close. First be sure she is on appropriate flea control as she may have picked up fleas from groomer. Benedryl is acceptable to use once or twice daily if it give her relief. She may also be having a reaction to the shampoo or fragrance the groom used. I would give her a bath in dawn to wash off any residue to see if that helps. (Original blue dish soap dawn). If no improvement then she may need a vet visit. I hope she’s back to normal quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

I don't think coconut oil and vinegar will be helpful. I suggest you use this medicated spray on the affected areas once per day. If after 5-7 days there is minimal to no improvement then Lucy should see a vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes! ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6677-douxo-chlorhexidine-micro-emulsion-spray-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20chl+Auto )

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach! In my experience, I've not seen coconut oil do much to relieve inflammation and allergies. I would instead recommend that you use a shampoo such as Douxo PS calm shampoo and bathe twice weekly. You can find this shampoo easily online. I would also recommend using welactin omega 3 fish oil and essential 6 spot on by dermoscent. Malacetic conditioning spray can also be used and applied to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day until resolved. All of the above recommended products can be found online. If this does not help then I would consider prescription medications such as Apoquel or Cytopoint, both of which are prescription drugs that will need to be prescribed by Sherry's veterinarian.

By your description, your dog might have a sensitivity to being groomed and may have developed "clipper irritation" (aka "clipper burn"). Clipper irritation is not an actual burn. It is, in fact, similar to the type of skin irritation people experience when they shave too close on dry or sensitive skin. [Professional groomers](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-signs-of-a-good-groomer) may recommend the following types of treatment to help soothe the skin and calm the scratching: * Bathing in plain oatmeal or [oatmeal shampoo](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/earthbath-oatmeal-and-aloe-totally-natural-pet-shampoo) for pets * Gently applying witch hazel to affected areas * Gold Bond medicated powder or plain cornstarch * Triple antibiotic cream or ointment * [Hydrocortisone spray](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone) for pets (available in petstores) * Bag Balm * Specific treatments for soothing clipper or razor irritation (available in petstores) - sprays, gels, shampoos * Diaper rash cream With some of these suggestions you will need to make sure that your pet cannot lick off the treatment. Rubbing creams or ointments in completely and/or wiping off excess, using an [E-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone), or only applying when you can observe your dog closely can all help to prevent ingestion and excessive licking. If your dog has open wounds or any of her wounds worsen even with treatment or appear infected, please see your veterinarian immediately. She may have developed a skin infection secondary to the clipper irritation.

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.

Poor pup! It sounds like he may have some irritation in this area. This can sometimes happen due to skin irritation from the clippers (if his rear end was shaved), a local allergic reaction to the shampoo or other grooming products, or possibly even an anal gland problem since this often causes dogs to act this way. I would recommend getting a topical hydrocortisone spray or ointment labeled for dogs (you can get this at Walmart or most pet stores) and apply to the area to help soothe it. You can also get him a plastic e-collar if needed to keep him from continuing to lick the area and make it more irritated. If he's still acting uncomfortable after 24 hours, I would recommend having him seen by a vet to determine the problem and get him prescription medication to relieve the discomfort.

You will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Your dog could be suffering from an allergy, mites, fleas, a bacterial or fungal infection. each of these requires a different treatment, so it is important to find out what is causing the itch. Your vet will do a thorough exam and maybe a a skinscrape. He will then discuss the options with you and then prescribe medications, possibly give an injection to stop the itching. Please do not put coconut oil on the lesions nor put it in your dog's food. Unfortunately, contrary to common belief, it is not a remedy for all but can also cause allergic reactions.