Is medicated baby powder safe for my dog's itchy skin and allergies?

This is acceptable but it is not recommend to put all over the dog. It is better used in between toes, under the tails and under the arms. This works well mainly is creases of skin to help keep the dry.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While some people may use these powders, this really should not be necessary if they are being treated appropriately with antibiotic therapy. I would recommend to actually leave them uncovered. Otherwise, these are ideally evaluated by a veterinarian who can examine her to determine the extent of these and proceed accordingly with therapy. If these are being caused by allergies for example, it is crucial to treat the allergies. Good luck and have a great day!

If you bought it over the counter (OTC), no prescription is needed. Directions for use should be on the container. Do not bathe more often than directed since this may make the itching worse and can dry out the skin. Try to determine the underlying cause of the itch. This may require a visit and exam with your veterinarian. Causes may include skin infection, external parasites, allergies or food sensitivities.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Short answer is yes. However, it is important to note that without treating the underlying allergy component, this will continue to occur. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

Yes, there is an OTC in the form of antihistamines, but legally I cannot recommend it for you to use on her, nor can I give you the dose. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, I cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would give your vet a call to get the name of the OTC option as well as the dosage.

I would not put any human prescribed medications on Nala as there may be ingredients or chemicals in them that are harmful to her. If she has dry skin, a soothing aloe or oatmeal shampoo can help with dry skin, as well as supplementing with vitamin E or fish oils to help improve the coat. If you suspect mites or parasites, treating those and getting them under control can help as well. You can also place an Elizabethan (cone) collar or T-shirt on Nala to keep her from licking and scratching to reduce irritation as well.

I'm afraid it depends on what is causing the skin irritation - without more information, it's hard to give much specific advice. In general, bathing in aloe and oatmeal dog shampoo is a good, safe option that may provide some relief for some skin problems. Often, though, a diagnosis and prescription medication from your veterinarian may be needed in order to determine what is causing the problem and treat it effectively.