My poor dogs are scratching all the time! They don't have fleas...what could be doing this to them?

Question

There are no visible fleas on them. Before we got these puppies, we had an adult female who passed away recently (old age) anyway, she had the same thing, she was always scratching and biting at herself. Could this be something they are getting from the yard? I don't want them to be miserably itchy all the time. I am taking them to the vet soon, before anyone suggests that. I just wonder if there is some home remedy, or maybe someone has experienced a similar thing, and can tell me what they think this might be.

they are going to the vet in a few weeks from now. i just want to get them through until then.

i forgot to mention also, these dogs are some sort of lab/foxhound mix.

Answer 1

My question would be , what dog food do you feed them? Poor quality dog foods (the dog foods that contain corn, wheat and by products) will often trigger skin problems. If there are no parasites or medical problems causing this I would suggest a premium quality food. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova, Merrick and Chicken Soup for the Soul are all excellent brands.

Answer 2

How old are these puppies and what breed are they?
Those being unkown factors - take this advice for what it is worth (and remember this is free lol).
We have had dogs that have had dry skin, and hot spots that they would lick until they were open sores.
Switching to Eagle Holistic Dog Food helped for the dry skin. For the hot spot - excessive licking problem Solid Gold Millenium. This has worked for several others I know as well.
Both of these are "high end" dog foods. You will find however that paying more for food really means you pay less. You don't have to feed them as much, there are less fillers in them. This translates into their body using more of what is put in (and also means less clean up from the other end), and less vet bills because it is better for your dogs.
Many dogs have allergy problems and these show up in skin and condition of coat.
Your vet may suggest a food that sells from their office. Remember you can go out on line and see where different foods are sold. They are ususally cheaper from a pet store outlet or a dog training center than from the vet's office.
If they suggest weekly shots or pills I would try to find a holitic vet in your area (again - the internet will be a good resourse). Belive it or not - they are not any more expensive than your regular vet. Many dogs have an excess of yeast in their system that can be taken care of with the proper care. Don't worry about it being alot of extra work - usually it is not, and if there is a little more than usuall in their upkeep, it is normally temporary - but well worth it in the end.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

It's either a home condition (as you suggest) or they might have mange. If it's the latter, it won't go away, they'll always have it, but you can do simple things to remedy their itching.

Give them baths with Oatmeal shampoo (you can find it at any pet store) or if your Vet recommends, you can give them Benadryl capsules (dose depends on weight of dog). I think they have to be Adult Dogs before you use Benadryl, but ask your Vet to make sure. Your Vet might try to sell you a steriod shot. They work wonders but be very careful with how strong a dose is given. Some Vets want to give doses that last a Month or more. These are OK in rare instances, but continuous steroid shots this powerful can have an adverse affect on your dog (See steroids on web). A smart vet will only give doses that last approx. a week.

Also, brush them consistently. It takes their minds off of the itch, scratches areas that might itch for them, and actually has many other benefits.

Answer 4

Try using some skin so soft. It sounds like skin allergies and you might check to make sure there are no opens sore where your dog as been chewing. Another thing you can give to dogs that helps with allergies that you dont have to get from a vet is Benadryl. Most medication that people take are the same things you get for your animals.If you notice any broken skin shave down the area and put on some antibiotic cream. It will help keep it clean and to heal.

Answer 5

Yes, it can be dry skin - try using the Main and Tail for horses that some women with long hair use; there is shampoo and conditioner. It works great for my dogs, short and long hairs.

Mange is a possibility, but if the itching is constant and a real problem, I think allergy may be the ticket. It could be their shampoo, a plant in the yard, even the brand of dog food they eat. I had one dog allergic to Pedigree dog food, and had to change it. My best friend has a dog that is allergic to the grass in her lawn. He gets regular allergy shots.

So ask the vet. Mange can be dealt with easily, and changing other things isn't usually a problem. But everybody here is right - ask the vet to check it out.

Answer 6

It could be allergy. I recently found out dogs can get and have anything a human can such as illnesses. My pit has bronchitis. Never knew dogs had that. He has to have a shot every month. But you can give a dog Benadryl for the itching. It could dry skin. Dogs can have that too. So don't just get a flea shampoo. I would take them to the vet to see what else could be causing this to be on the safe side.

Answer 7

it can be an allergy or dry skin.n yes may be there is something that cause them allergy and thus itching.since they r very small pups dont experiment on them just take them to a vet.n inquiry about it more so that u can eradicate the problem if present in ur backyard for the future.
well my dog had the same thing 4 months ago i took her to the vet he gave her a supplement n a powder for fleas n also injected her with some medicine but it was caused due to tick bite n now she is perfect.
gud luck take care

Answer 8

I had a foster dog I was looking after that had this condition, and it turned out to be an allergy to the food I was giving him, is common in some breeds ( in this instance it was a Lab) the food was Beniful which my dogs eat all the time with no problems.
I got a special food from the vet for anti -allergy and it took care of the problem, sorry I can 't remember the name of it, but all Vets carry it.

Answer 9

If your old dog had skin issues and now your puppies have the same thing, possibly there is something in your yard that is causing them problems. It would be odd for them all to be allergic to the same type of weed or grass, but it would not be odd for them to all react unfavorably to fertilizer or weed killer.

Try giving them baths with a shampoo for sensitive skin, and make sure you rinse it off of them very thoroughly. Then keep them indoors for a couple of days and see if the problem resolves itself. If it does, then it's something in your yard. If it doesn't, then you need to look at what you are using on your carpets when they get dog-stinky. Maybe the shampoo is bothering the dogs.

Answer 10

Could be allergies to something that you are using. Usually skin irritations do not pass through the dogs as a contagious disease unless it is mange. Are they loosing their hair? There is shampoos for dogs that will help the itching you can get it at the pet supply store, you may try that before you go to the vet.