Dog still scratching from allergies? How to stop the itching?

It looks and sounds like Tater has an issues with allergies, probably from something in the environment like grasses, pollens or dust. This is a very common condition in labs and oftentimes shows up around a year of age. Tater needs medication to help ease his itch and once this happens his hair should be able to grow back. These allergies dogs also can have a coinciding skin infection as well so he may need antibiotics too. It would be best if you could take him in to your vet to get some medication to help him get some relief. However, if you are unable to do this now, you can try calling your vet and they can recommend a dose of an over the counter antihistamine (like benedryl or Zyrtec) Tater can get some relief.

If you haven't yet had him seen by a vet, ideally I would recommend that you have him evaluated. He may have a secondary bacterial infection that needs to be cleared up with antibiotics, and he may benefit from prescription medications such as Apoquel which can make a big difference for these guys! If you are unable to get him to the vet, you can try him on an antihistamine such as Benadryl. See here for dosing info: https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/. Try switching him to a "sensitive skin" food, such as this: (this s actually what I feed my dog who has some skin allergies/dry skin/itchiness) https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/hills-science-diet-adult-sensitive-stomach-and-skin-chicken-recipe-dry-dog-food You can also give some Omega 3 supplements, as this may help as well. Bathe him once a week to cut down on topical allergens being absorbed in the skin, and follow with a dog cream rinse. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-shampoo-with-vitamin-d3 https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-rinse-with-vitamin-d3 If these "at home" measures don't give him relief, though, get him in to see your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

If he scratches and is itchy year round, it could be a food allergy or an indoor allergen. Discuss desensitization injections (allergy shots), hydrolyzed diets, antihistamine use and food elimination trials with your veterinarian. https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-a-novel-protein-pet-food/ https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/

You can try giving Toby an oatmeal bath, that may temporarily help soothe his skin. Unfortunately it's illegal for me to recommend using any OTC drugs without seeing him in person, I can't say it's safe. If he's still really itchy on Monday, take him back into the vet. Best of luck.

It is possible that Zuco has environmental allergies. As he is currently in discomfort, I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian, putting him on an oral prescription flea/tick preventative such as simpsrica, bravecton or nexgard to rule out flea bite allergies, inquire about a minimum of a 2 week trial of an allergy medication called Apoquel if indicated based on your vet's examination +/- a monthly allergy injection called cytopoint. Both medications have been life changing for many dogs with environmental allergies. If Apoquel +/- a topical prescription steroid/antibiotic/antifungal ointment such as dermavet does not alleviate the itching, a food trial with a prescription diet such as Royal Canin Ultamino for a minimum of 2 months may be indicated. Home remedies if you are not able to bring him to the vet immediately can include placing an e-collar to prevent biting/worsening of lesions, a moisturizing oatmeal shampoo such as Aveeno every day and a gradual transition to Purina Derm Defense diet. Additionally your regular vet may be willing to cite a dose for OTC Benadryl to give prior to your appointment if he/she already has an established relationship with your pet.

Hi there, Good to hear that you have Tootsie treated for fleas and ticks. Tootsie may well have allergic skin disease or atopic dermatitis, and she may have a secondary bacterial or yeast infection as well. Any of these could cause her to be very itchy. I'd recommend taking her to her veterinarian to be seen. They can recommend the best diagnostics and treatments after her physical exam. The two most commonly used medications for itching itself are an injectable called Cytopoint and a tablet called Apoquel. If allergies are present as well, they tend to be environmental or food based. Environmental allergies often have seasonal patterns and food based ones are typically to an animal protein such as chicken or beef. Hypoallergenic diets are based on novel proteins like fish, kangaroo, or vegetables for these reasons. Your vet can guide you through making the best choices for Tootsie after seeing her. I hope this his helpful information!

Poor guy. This sounds exhausting! I would inquire with your vet about starting him on allergy medication such as Apoquel or Cytopoint injections and possibly even anti-anxiety medication such as Fluoxetine or Clomicalm. Typically dogs don’t itch due to anxiety, there is almost always an underlying allergy to either something in the environment or something in their food. Here is a website link that discusses these possibilities more in detail. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Best of luck with Rusty and his itching. And also don’t forget to always apply a monthly flea preventative (ie Nexgard, Comfortis or Simparica are my top choices) to rule out any allergies to fleas. Take care.