Dog has itchy cut near eye, licking leg, and rubbing head. Advice?

I would clean the area, but do not apply any ointment. Oftentimes this is irritating and may make them more likely to rub or scratch more. An Ecollar may prevent him from causing any more trauma, but doesn't treat the underlying cause. If you are unsure why he is rubbing, a vet visit may help to determine the cause of his itchiness. He may have mouth pain that is causing him to rub, or allergies making his face itchy. If the underlying cause isn't found and fixed, he is lilkely to keep rubbing and may cause more sores.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! The black hairless area is a normal elbow callus. The pink area could be a growth or irritation or a skin infection. I would prevent the licking by using an E-collar. Then I would apply a triple antibiotic cream. Force him to lay on soft bedding to prevent further trauma and you can try an antihistamine. If there is no improvement the area should be looked at by a Vet as he may need oral antibiotics and a steroid or apoquel. Those are prescription drugs that can only be prescribed by a Vet that exams your dog. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

First, place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further scratching. Keep it on her 24/7. You can take it off when she eats or drinks, but monitor her closely so she doesn't start scratching again. Next, have her seen by your veterinarian. The licking, biting, scratching and hair loss may be due to allergies ( https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies ). These can be difficult to diagnose since there are many causes (inhaled, environmental, food, fleas). Discuss allergy testing, food elimination trials and antihistamine use with your veterinarian. The doctor may prescribe medications to treat the wounds and stop the scratching. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/seasonal-allergies-in-dogs-what-you-need-to-know/

You may want to give your vet a call and tell them it is getting worse. It sounds like this scab could be a hot spot or superficial bacterial infection. While stopping the itching sometimes helps an infection resolve (if that’s what this is) other times topical or oral antibiotics are needed. It’s a good idea to keep the e-collar on until the lesion is gone.

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I hate to hear Cutty is having this problem! Being itchy can be quite uncomfortable for pets and is also hard on their human companions. A hot spot is an infection that often has a trigger such as fleas or allergies. They are very itchy. Cutty could be itching and scratching for many reasons. The most common reasons are •Fleas •Allergies (environmental or food) •Skin mites •Bacterial or fungal infection •Endocrine Disease Here are a few quick check points: If there has been any new treats or food within a few weeks of the itching, stop giving the new item. It could be related to the itching. If your pet have a history of itchy skin or ear infection, it could indicate an underlying condition like allergies or thyroid disease. If other pets in the household itching, it could indicate a communal cause like fleas or scabies. Here are some things you can do at home which may help with any red/irritated areas: 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Cutty should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. *Always wear gloves to handle skin lesions and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Here are some tips that can improve over-all skin health and decrease itchiness: 1) Add in an omega fatty acid supplement. - Your veterinarian will carry some nice products - You can also find a good product called Welactin online. 2) Change the diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. *It will take 4-6 weeks for any diet or supplements to take full effect 3) Wash your pup in a pet oatmeal shampoo and conditioner once every 2 weeks for general health. If you use a topical flea prevention, you will need to look for a compatible shampoo. 4) If environmental allergies are suspected, a daily antihistamine can also help. - Dogs can take Benedryl or Zyrtec 5) Keep your pet current on a good flea prevention. Fleas will do nothing except cause more irritation for an already sensitive pet. I recommend to stick with oral products that last a month or longer like Simparica, Nexgard or Bravecto. Please discuss these options with your veterinarian. Have Cutty examined if- •There is severe itching/licking •If the itching/licking gets worse •If in 5 days the skin lesion is not significantly better or if it is not fully healed in 2 weeks •If in 4 weeks the licking or scratching do not start to improve Sometimes no over the counter options will work and they need a stronger medication from the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time. Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth

Anything you apply will likely be licked off before it has a chance to help. Your best option is to place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking. Contact your veterinarian and ask about OTC or prescription antihistamines that may help if an allergic reaction is involved. A fish oil supplement may also help promote healthy skin. If symptoms persist, consider an exam to rule out infection or injury. You can also discuss allergy testing, food allergies and environmental allergies in depth with your veterinarian.

An e-collar (cone) is definitely recommended to prevent further licking. Keep the area clean and dry. A dilute betadine or chlorhexidine solution can be used for cleansing. A topical product, such as Vetericyn, can be used after cleaning. You can find it in the local Petco. This may be enough to allow healing, but if not then a trip to the veterinarian for an exam would be necessary. Systemic antibiotics may be indicated to treat infection.