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Is my dog's severe itching and skin irritation from her Seresto collar?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
I've read that the side effects of the Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick collar are itching and skin irritations. My dog has experienced severe itching for the last 7 months, while wearing the Seresto collar. She chews, bites, and scratches herself which results in skin irritation (cuts, rash, and hotspots). Do you think the irritation may be because of the collar?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 28th, 2017
Severe itching is often due to one of the following things:
1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause.
2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get other treatment if needed.
3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin.
Seven months is a long time for a dog to be itching this much and it must be miserable for her. In order to find the cause of this and give her some relief, I highly recommend you schedule an exam by a veterinarian. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment.
I hope that helps and she gets better soon.
9Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 12th, 2018
Itchy skin and hair loss is often due to the following things:
1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause.
2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get treatment if needed. A vet doctor can check for mites (mange).
3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin.
One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store.
I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet doctor. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment.
Below are links to a couple of short articles that give more information and helpful tips for relieving itch.
https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/
https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/
I hope that helps and Cooper gets better soon.2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 10th, 2018
It's best to first identify the cause of the dermatitis, so you can give the most appropriate treatment. Dermatitis is often due to the following things:
1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause.
2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get treatment if needed.
3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin.
One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store.
I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. Below are links to some more helpful information.
https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/
https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 23rd, 2017
Itchy skin is often due to the following things:
1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause.
2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get treatment if needed.
3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin.
One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store.
I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment.1Pet Parents found this answer helpful