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Why is my dog scratching so much? Heartworms, dry skin, or other causes?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 9 months and 25 days old | 14 lbs

what are the signs of heartwarm? My doggie is 9 months and i rescued him from this family who didnt gave him the best treat he acts normal he eats normal and he also gain a few pounds he looks healthy but he is always scrashing himself i have looked for flees but nothing and he is on flee medication so is not flees can it be heartworms or just maybe dry skin?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Anna M., DVM

Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 20th, 2017

Heartworm parasites live in the blood vessels adjacent to the heart. Most of the time we thankfully diagnose heartworm disease before symptoms develop, by doing a simple blood test. However, symptoms of heartworm infection are similar to symptoms of heart disease, since heartworm parasites put a strain on the heart by obstructing blood flow. We can see shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, weight loss, and lethargy. Scratching is not a typical sign of heartworm but could indicate topical parasites such as fleas or skin mites.

Since Mason is having issues with his itching and sounds like he hasn't had a good wellness exam from a vet (if the previous family didn't care for him very well), I recommend bringing him in to the vet. They'll be able to do a thorough exam and make sure he doesn't have any health concerns that should be addressed, and they can run a heartworm test and a fecal test to make sure he is not infected with parasites. Then you can get him started on a heartworm preventative medication to make sure he stays heartworm free. Hope this helps!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Heartworm does not cause itching so I doubt that is the issue. However, he needs to be on a heartworm prevention (like Heartguard) to keep him from being infected in the future. Talk to your vet about this.

    It could be dry skin or it could be allergies or mites. I would recommend a fish oil supplement and a medicated shampoo like this one to start with:

    https://www.amazon.com/Vetoquinol-422629-MPA-Dermal-Soothe-Shampoo/dp/B00A4JU2XC

    Use as directed on the bottle. You can bathe him every 2-3 days in the beginning to see if you can get the itching under control.

    If not, then you need to take him to your vet for an exam.

    Be sure he is up to date on his vaccines too!

    I hope this helps! Best wishes!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Rebecca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    I would recomend a vet visit so you can get Mason started on heartworm prevention. Heartworms live in blood vessels of heart and lungs and do not cause itching. But can be fatal if they get them and are untreated. As he is young, hopefully he is still free from heartworms and can be started on prevention. The vet will require a simple blood test first as dogs that already have heartworms can react badly to some preventions.
    As for itchiness it could be allergies, skin infection, mange or dry skin. While at the vet you could discuss his skin as well. And/or try adding an omega 3 supplement to his food in case of dry skin.

    More info on HWhttp://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=&A=1196&SourceID=

    And itchy skin. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog might have heartworm. What symptoms should I look for?
Hi. I sure hope Mason doesn't have heartworm disease. In the early stages of heartworm infection, dogs show few symptoms or no symptoms at all. The longer the infection persists, the more likely symptoms will develop. More active dogs, dogs heavily infected with heartworms, or those with other health problems often show pronounced clinical signs. Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue, appetite changes, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen. Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can develop a sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular failure showing labored breathing, pale gums, and dark bloody or coffee grain like material in urine. If you are worried about Mason possibly having Heartworm disease, please schedule an appointment and testing with your veterinarian.
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Why is my puppy always itchy, losing hair, and still has worms?
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Does my dog's flea/tick/worm medicine prevent heartworm? Symptoms?
You are quite welcome for the help! Unfortunately, the flea, tick, and worm medication does not protect against heartworms, that requires a different medication. Signs of heartworm include a dry cough, lethargy, weight loss, anorexia, difficulty breathing, bulging chest, and collapse. Your vet can do a blood test to diagnose if she does have heartworm or not. Have a great day :-)
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My dog is losing hair and scratching. Could it be allergies or mange?
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Why is my dog scratching with skin marks? Allergies, mites, or infection?
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). 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!
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