what is wrong with my dog - he is constantly scratching his face so hard it makes him cry- he is only one yr?

Answer 1

It sounds like your dog may have two different things

Either an allergy- which could be either food or environmental. Dogs can spontaniously gain new food allergies and anything that changes in the house (detergents ect) can cause allergic reactions.

The other thing could be fleas. You should treat your dog with a frontline type product from the vet- please don't use the stuff from the grocery stores or walmart type stores as this has historically cause serious problems with dog nervous systems and even death.

I would suggest getting him to the vet as they can do skin cultures and such to determine what the cause is.

Answer 2

Hello,
You didn't mention whether or not your dog was long or short haired.
With short hair, I'm sure that you can probably see easily whether or not he has cuts or swelling, however, if he is long-haired certain things will be harder to notice.

Besides the obvious possibility such as fleas and /or allergies, have you checked for fox-tails? or other foreign objects like stickers (weeds)? A possible insect sting like a yellow-jacket or bee, or possible spider bite?

If your dog will let you touch and handle his head & face try to feel carefully all over for anything that shouldn't be there, or, if he has a reaction to a particular spot that you touch.

Did you check inside his mouth? Perhaps a bone or other odd object is wedged across the roof of his mouth.
(( One of my dobermans chewing on a branch -- tried to shred his face off for a day until we found the problem. ))

I once had a cat that was tearing his face apart & it turned out that he had been shot by a BB gun and there was a pellet embedded in his flesh.

These are just some things that have happened to my own animals that I didn't see posted, so I thought I would toss it in, too. Best to take him to a vet, if possible.
Good luck & I hope your dog turns out to be okay.

Answer 3

He's having an allergic reaction...take him to the vet and they will give him a cortisone shot to stop the itching and inflammation and probably a cream to put on the scratched up spots...he may also have to wear a cone for a couple days. Then you should think about changing his food to a high quality lamb and rice formula, which is good for dogs with allergies. You will also have to think about bathing him once a week with a mild aloe shampoo to keep his dander in control so his skin won't get itchy again.

Answer 4

Some breeds ( like my Scotty) have skin problems - too thick, or too dry. Also, some are allergic to something, just like humans. Fleas are not the only things. A veterinarian would have itch-relieving shampoos, or even Cortisone sprays for trouble spots. If your dog is getting hotspots ( loss of hair where he is scratching), get him to a vet! Sometimes using Silvadene after a bath on any problem areas will help.

Answer 5

If it isn't fleas (which usually hide in the eyebrows and along the rims of their ears), it could be mange. Mange is extremely contagious, and very hard to treat once it's too far gone. Mange mites reproduce under the dog's skin and they are merciless. Do you have neighbors who don't take care of their dogs? Mange can stay in the ground a long time, and if your dog went visiting, he could get it. You can't usually see them right away, until the hair starts falling out and he has red lesions on him. They will scratch themselves bloody if you don't get him treated.

If he's rubbing his nose, he could have allergies or a sinus infection. The sinus infection really hurts.

Last possibility, he has something stuck in his teeth or gums that is driving him nuts and could also be getting infected.

In any case, get him to a vet. You don't want to be handling him much if he has mange, you can't diagnose the allergy or the sinus infection, and you should have already checked his gums and teeth to see if he has a bone fragment.

Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://biturl.im/aU7Kb

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 7

Dog Itchy Face

Answer 8

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what is wrong with my dog - he is constantly scratching his face so hard it makes him cry- he is only one yr?

Answer 9

I have a dachshund and he does that but only in the fall, I took mine to a vet and he has an allergy and vet said this is common among dogs, so this is possibly what yours has. The vet gives me medicine and I give him 1/2 a tablet twice a day and this stops his itching,

Answer 10

I would suggest you look into his food. If it contains wheat or corn, all dogs are allergic to these ingredients. Look for a all natural dog food, nothing with corn, wheat or by products. Fleas normally migrate to the dogs back end of the body not the face area. Look for flea dirt around the base of the tail. Revolution is one of the best parasite remedies on the market. It kills on internal and external parasites. Good luck!!