Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog has red, itchy skin from biting. What OTC meds can help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed

Hello, My dog is experiencing a skin problem. Photos are attached. The red splotches are not blood. She is vigorously biting the skin as it itches her. I try to stop her when she bites, but I don't know what sort of ointment or medication to use? Can I buy something OTC? I'm not exactly sure how to bandage the area either since it's on her back. Any advice would be appreciated.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Lauren M. Jones, VMD

Answered By Lauren M. Jones, VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 3rd, 2017

Oh dear, poor Midnight! Her skin lesions look quite uncomfortable. Excessive biting and scratching may be related to underlying allergies, ringworm, or mange, any of which can then lead to the onset of a bacterial skin infection. As a starting point, make sure that Midnight is receiving a high quality flea and tick preventative regularly, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II because a few flea bites could be amplifying the situation. You can also try bathing her with a medicated antimicrobial/anti-itch shampoo ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27980 ). Since she is chewing on herself excessively, also consider using an e-collar (cone) for at least the next few days to prevent further skin damage, as this will only make matters worse. If her skin issues continue or worsen despite these measures, Midnight will need to go to her vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 11th, 2019

    Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask 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 to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). The following products can be found online and can be tried as a first line approach: Douxo PS Calm shampoo, Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent, Krillex Krill oil chews.
    Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
How to help my dog stop severe itching and biting until he bleeds?
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!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog had fleas, now has a rash and won't stop itching. What to do?
Ouch, poor Rose! Some dogs are allergic to fleas and can become intensely itchy, which can then lead to the development of a bacterial skin infection, which only amplifies the itch cycle. You did the right thing by starting Rose on flea prevention (K9 Advantix II is my favorite OTC topical), but a flea collar is unnecessary. Be sure to continue using topical flea prevention monthly to prevent flea eggs from hatching to larvae and reproducing. With the redness on Rose's skin, it is highly suspicious that she has developed a skin infection, which requires antibiotics for resolution. There aren't any over the counter medications available to to help with her itching or skin infection, so Rose will need to go to the vet. The vet will be able to prescribe the best medication (likely antibiotics and anti-itch medications) for Rose to remedy this issue. I hope that she feels better soon!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog won't stop itching, biting, and has mangey skin. What to do?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Skin issues like you are describing can have a variety of causes, including skin parasites (fleas or mites), allergies, an infection, or an underlying medical issue (Cushings disease, diabetes). I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, have any necessary testing done (bloodwork, skin scrape, culture) and start on any treatment that he may need. Good luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Why is my dog biting her skin until it bleeds, even without fleas?
Unfortunately she may have an environmental or food allergy involved here. I would recommend taking her to a vet to get the skin looked at. If it is bleeding chances are she needs a good antibiotic and an strong medicated anti-histamine +/- steroid combination to help control the itch. Then comes the fun part, trying to figure out what she has an allergy to? This can be discussed with your vet in detail based on what things have changed in the home (bedding, shampoo's etc) and possibly even starting her on a food trial to rule out food allergies (I like to use Royal canin hypoallergenic hydrolyzed protein or Hill's Z/D for dogs- prescription foods). Only prescription products have been shown to be consistently effective for treating dogs with food allergies. Some dogs even have dust mite allergies of grass allergies (which are proved with skin allergy testing).
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog's skin is itchy after a medicated bath. What should I do?
Hello! A picture of the lesion would help us give more helpful input. However, if Shiloh's skin is flaky and itchy, it could be a number of things, including superficial pyoderma, demodicosis, sarcoptes, yeast dermatitis, and ringworm. It is difficult to narrow down the causes without doing an exam on her or at least seeing the lesions, but it is very likely some sort of infection (whether bacterial, yeast, or parasitic) so I do recommend bringing Shiloh to the vet. Your vet will be able to determine the cause, and Shiloh will likely need prescription medication (antibiotics, antifungals, or anti-parasite, along with possible medicated shampoo) to clear the issue. Depending on the severity of the issue on her skin, it very likely might not improve without prescription meds, so it is worth having her seen as soon as possible. Additionally, depending on her age, she may have some underlying condition that might be making her skin susceptible to infection, such as allergies or hypothyroidism. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog has itchy bumps on her belly, not fleas or ticks. What helps?
Hello. It is difficult to say if these are actually bites, or some other allergic type reaction. Do the bumps show up in different areas each day? How long do they last, a few minutes, hours or days? This might give a better idea of the actual cause of the lesions. I cannot recommend using any medications, but I can recommend trying something over the counter. Petco carries Zymox shampoo & a lotion with hydrocortisone. They also carry a line called Well & Good that also has a hydrocortisone spray. These are very soothing for inflamed & itchy skin. I would also be sure to use a good flea & tick preventative as this will help to discourage all biting insects. If the lesions persist, Brin may need to be treated by your veterinarian, but this would be a good place to start. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog has severe itching, dry skin, and bleeding scabs. What to do?
It sounds like Prince needs actual medications to feel better. When pets are itching to the point of bleeding, it's unlikely that an over the counter medication or shampoo will help them significantly. Additionally, there are several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection that could be causing the itching and until those are addressed, he will keep itching badly. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Pets can take anti-histamines but you will need to get a recommendation from your veterinarian (pharmacy law prohibits online vets from discussing this with clients). Protect the areas from licking or scratching. I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian who may prescribe medications and determine the source of the itching. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch ReliefPrescription Shampoo for DogsAntifungal Medication for DogsDog Health & WellnessTopical Flea & Tick Treatment for DogsDog Flea & Tick Pills & ChewsFlea & Tick Solutions for DogsPrescription Flea & Tick Medicine for DogsAllergy & Itch Relief Dog ShampoosPrescription Flea & Tick MedicinePrescription Allergy Medicine for DogsCat Allergy & Itch ReliefDog Medicine and PrescriptionsFlea & Tick Shampoos for DogsDog Anxiety MedicationDog Pain Relief & Arthritis MedsDog Skin & Coat SupplementsAntifungal & Medicated Dog ShampoosPrescription Horse Skin & Coat CarePrescription Heartworm Medication
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button