What is wrong with my dog's skin and paws?

Question

My labrador is constantly biting and scratching his skin and paws, sometimes until they are raw. He has been to the vet several times for skin scrapings which always come out negative for everything! He does not have fleas. We have tried feeding him wheat free and corn free diets which didn't seem to help. We also tried washing his bedding in perfume&dye free detergent. Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Unfortunately in my experience Labrador's do tend to suffer from problem skin...
Although your dog doesn't have fleas it may well be allergic to flea's, not to say it has any now, but all it takes is one bite and it can set them off itching like they have a flea city on their backs...the biting and scratching has now become a habit and bad habits like this can be hard to break, having been through this with my dog, The best I can suggest and although it may sound odd...spray the areas he is biting with perfume...the over powering smell of the perfume will deter him from biting those areas, not to mention perfume tastes horrid...
It will be a constant battle for a week or so, but once the habit is broken hopefully he will settle down again...

It worked for my dog, hopefully it will for yours...

Answer 2

Here's something you might want to try: Feed him a dog food like Nature's Recipe or Dick Van Patten's dog food that has wild game and is free from bad additives, preservatives. It may make a big difference! Try the Venison and Rice or Duck and potato.
Also, has your vet suggested any supplements for the skin and coat? Another thing I do is I make their shampoo but that may be a bit much for you. If you change your dogs food, don't do it suddenly. Do it gradually mixing the old food and new, mostly old then more old than new, then half and half, then more new than old then mostly new, then all new. Sudden change can cause problems. Make this change over the course of a week.
Use a vet recommended shampoo for sensitive and itching skin.

Answer 3

It could be that he is having a reaction to shampoo etc. Many shampoos on the market contain toxic chemicals that irritate the sensitive skin on animals. Neways is a company that makes dog and cat shampoo free of these toxic chemicals - it is called Optimal Plus. It also has a skin moisturiser and hair detangler in it for an ultra luxurious pooch! You will not find this brand in retail stores though, you will need to find a distributor - I can help you with that...!

Answer 4

it could be some kind of skin virus of some sort or dry skin. my dog would get dry skin that would be ichy but she stopped itching later on. dry making sure that if you have any carpets, that they should be thuroughly clean and dry to make sure there are no dust around the house because if an area is really dusty, there can be dust mites (small red mites). Or try having the vet check for any worms in your dog because worms usually make the dog itchy and uncomfortable or a parasite or something. Hope i helped!
Good luck!

Answer 5

There may be something irritating his skin that isn't his bed or his things, maybe just the floor in general. He may be allergic to something you use to clean the floor or something that is just on the floor somehow, it may also be a psychological thing? Some dogs develop undesirable habits like that, biting and scratching.

Answer 6

Some dogs are known to suffer dog anxiety if their owners schedule has changed. I would wash him with head&shoulders shampoo and his bedding too. Then try to use vasiline or pure lanolin to moiturise his skin. Then wrap it celophane so he can't lick it off. They usually don't get sick if they lick a little of it in. If u think he has anxiety tell your vet.

Answer 7

for his paws us vineger just dip them in it for a few minutes their paws get dry from being in the house this is what me vet told me
for the skin I dont know

Answer 8

It could be the cleaning agent you use to clean the floors. It may be too strong for him. Ask the vet about this.