Why is my dog scratching, biting, and licking so much? He's miserable!

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!

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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Paris! Medicated shampoos may work for a skin infection but rarely fix the problem by themselves. If she doesn't have an infection a medicated shampoo will likely not help at all. I would be sure Paris is on a good flea medication (the back is a common location for fleas). I like the oral formulations like Nexgard, Bravecto, Simparica or the Seresto collar. Otherwise Paris may have allergies and need to have her diet changed (chicken is the biggest allergen in dogs with food allergies), something to control the scratching (apoquel, antihistamines) and medications to get rid of an infection if present. Since the shampoos has failed, I would have Paris seen by your Vet for an exam, if she is constantly scratching and biting she is uncomfortable! I hope this helps and I wish Paris the very best!

It probably is skin irritation from the fleas. Kobey may have a flea allergy. The Seresto collar is great! Good choice! The only other thing I would do is treat the environment - in the house and the yard for fleas. I like these products. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Adams-Yard-Garden-Spray-32-0-FL-OZ/44432720 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Adams-Flea-and-Tick-Control-Home-Spray-24-oz/44432722 Finally I would use this medicated shampoo on him. Not a flea shampoo but this one that has medication to help heal his skin and relieve itching. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Veterinary-Formula-Clinical-Care-Hot-Spot-and-Itch-Relief-Medicated-Shampoo-for-Dogs-and-Cats-16-fl-oz/24885757 I hope this helps. Best wishes!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Typically dogs scratch those areas when they have fleas. Even if you aren't seeing fleas it doesn't mean they aren't there. I recommend getting all pets in the home on monthly prevention every 30 days for at least 3 months. I would call your vet for a dose of Benadryl too. If the Benadryl doesn't help, she may need something stronger to relieve the itch. Good luck and kisses to Meka!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Max. The place he is chewing is very suspicious for a flea allergy. The brown staining of the hair coat is evidence that he is licking this spot. Proteins in the saliva will stain light color coated dogs. This could be something else, but this looks like classic Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). FAD is an allergic reaction to flea bites that cause an inflammation/infection of the skin known as dermatitis. So looks like Max has become allergic to flea saliva and every time he gets bitten by a flea, the allergic cycle is activated. One flea bite a month is enough to keep this cycle going in highly allergic dogs unless something is done to intervene. I would advise a trip to your veterinarian. Give them a detailed history and let them perform a thorough physical exam. Once that is done, they will be able to formulate a treatment plan which could include effective flea/tick control, clip/clean of the area if needed, oral antibiotics, anti-itch medicines (antihistamines/steroids/other), topical medicines, and an E collar for starters. If other things are suspected, your vet may advise some diagnostic tests such as skin scrapes, fungal cultures, blood tests, etc. Effective and consistent flea control is definitely at the core of treating this problem if it's FAD. Good luck with Max.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. At such a young age, skin parasites are high on my list as the possible cause. This requires anti-parasite medication to treat Browny with. In the US we use products such as Bravecto and Nexgard to treat skin mites, so something comparable should help with a mite infestation. He may also be dealing with a bad bacterial skin infection in addition to the mites or as its own primary problem. He may also need a 2-3 week course of an oral antibiotic and medicated shampoo such as Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would talk to your veterinarian about skin mites as the possible cause, a skin infection or allergies as the cause. If he does not have skin mites or a skin infection, this could certainly be a severe allergy such as Atopic Dermatitis. With Atopic Dermatitis, certain medications like Atopica or Cytopoint can prove to be quite beneficial and helpful at eliminating or reducing the clinical signs. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.