My dog keeps scratching, but he doesn't have fleas. Any ideas?

Question

Hey guys,
I have a 2.5 year old black Lab, who will not stop scratching!
He’s on monthly prescription-strength flea treatments because he had a flea problem in the past, however we have not been able to find a single flea on him. He stays outdoors (by choice) and rarely goes into any buildings, and sleeps under our carport (covered, enclosed by two walls, concrete floors).

I'm beginning to think it is partly dry skin, but he also has gnats flying around him often. But it seems like all other animals (and humans) have gnats flying around at this time of the year.

Should I try a medicated shampoo, something with a moisturizer?

He doesn't seem to have any visible signs of where he has been scratching, like scabbing or anything.

I can't stand seeing him so frustrated! We're still paying for past vet bills, and also have our OWN medical bills to pay for, so seeing a vet again, unless there is an emergency, isn't really ideal.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Ok, thanks guys. I'll probably be talking to the vet, at the very least. However, we've never taken him to the vet because of the scratching.

We generally feed him Ol Roy from Walmart. Thanks for your help everyone!

Answer 1

If you're not in the UK, make sure the dog is on heartworm treatment if there are lots of mozzies around.

You're using proper treatment, so it's probably something other than fleas causing the scratching. This could be many things - mange (caused by mites, and there are different types) allergies to different foods or plants, even dust or grass. I think you will have to go to a vet if you want to find out what the problem is - no one on here can suggest more than I have, we can only make guesses and suggestions.

Chalice

Answer 2

A dog doesn't have to have "fleas" to scratch, dogs can develop allergies. If he was living in a dry desert like climate and has now moved to a climate such as Florida, the Carolina's any place that has pollen, trees, flowers etc, then chances are he has allergies. If you are feeding him a corn based food that has corn meal, corn gluten in the ingredients then he has a corn allergy. I suggest you change to a grain free food such as Taste of the Wild nothing with grains and see if his scratching stops in a few months. If it does not then you'll need to see a vet and see if he has allergies to anything in the grass. Remember, he's come from a dry place that is mostly desert very little plant life to a place where it's abundant (I'm assuming since you didn't say where you live).

Answer 3

It could also be a food allergy. Go to dogfoodanalysis.com. Look up the food you are using for your baby. See if it contains alot of food allergen ingredients (like corn) or low quality ingredients which might be low in nutritional value. Sometimes switching to a better quality diet will help too. Always give the best food you can AFFORD to buy. A couple dollars extra a bag may save alot of heartache and frustration, not to mention vet bills to treat these allergies. Also, the vet will try to push that Science Diet stuff. It's full of corn, which is a high allergen among dogs. I would try to steer clear of that, and lean towards something of higher quality. Unfortuantely, most vets don't know enough about nutrition, and the Hills-SD people are very persuasive and the sale of this food is very lucrative. In fact, the stuff my vet wanted me to give my girl contained a known cancer-causing agent as a preservative. Know your pet food ingredients before you buy. If you can't afford a better dog food, consider adding an additional source of beneficial oils to help the dry coat.

Also, oatmeal doggie shampoos may do the trick if it's an issue of an enviromental thing. Dogs generally are not allergic to gnats. They can, however, be allergic to grass, the same way we are, or pollens, etc. Maybe you can ask the vet about giving him some benedryl to help with the itching. It won't get rid of the cause, but it might make him feel better.

Answer 4

My husband and I have a Lab as well and she scratches quite often. Especially this time of year because it's getting cold. If you notice that s/he is scratching one particular spot, there is a hot spot medicine found at Wal-Mart that will soothe the itching. We keep our Lab on monthly flea meds as well and that has helped some. I'm guessing that the dog probably has dry skin and there are different shampoos that can aid in that situation. If it continues, I would call your vet and see if s/he has any other suggestions.

Answer 5

What are you feeding him? It could be an allergy to something in his food. Or perhaps not an allergy, but a sensitivity to an ingredient.

Most (all?) of the supermarket brands and so-called "premium brands" (Science Diet, Eukanuba, etc.) are full of corn (highly allergenic and indigestible to many dogs), fillers, and by-products. You might find that switching to a better food helps with his skin.

Oatmeal shampoo is also something you might want to try.

If these measures don't help, you really have no choice but to take him to the vet and have the problem evaluated. Good Luck!

Answer 6

He could be allergic to any number of things. My uncle's dog was actually allergic to fleas- so even if you couldn't find a flea on him- he always seemed to have a rash. Take the dog to the vet. Don't just go bathing him with different shampoos. It could agitate the area and cause him more pain.

Answer 7

Do you have him on high quality food? A lot of dogs (Labs especially) can't handle the cheap fillers in most commercial dog foods. The main things that you want to avoid are corn, wheat, and animal by-products. Also, giving him an omega fatty acid supplement will probably help. I like flax seed, either oil or meal. You can get the meal pretty cheap at bulk food stores.

Just for thought....I have a horse that is EXTREMELY allergic to flies. Itches himself completely bald and even bloody in some spots for 9 months out of every year. On one visit with my vet, he mentioned a study he read where arthritis supplements (Glucosamine, MSM, Shark Cartlidge, Hyaluronic Acid, etc..) was helping with skin problems in animals. I have been giving them to the horse ever since, but its difficult to tell if it has made a difference. It wasn't a magic cure all...but its good for his joints too at least! By the way...his condition is a result of him being a PMU baby. Because his mom was deprived adequate water and proper nutrition while she was pregnant with him, and improper care of him at birth. PLEASE! If you or anyone you know takes Premarin...STOP!!! There are many synthetic alternatives that do not kill hundreds of horses every year! Bear was one of the lucky ones that actually survived...

Answer 8

what kind of food are you feeding him? My Golden was scratching ALL the time and then we changed her food to an all natural potato and duck diet and she has been fine ever since. Apparently, some dogs are allergic to chicken and rice blends. We also don't bathe her with medicated (flea)shampoo, just oatmeal based shampoo for sensitive skin. And I would just make sure that all of the shampoo is rinsed out because the residue makes our dog itch like crazy after a bath.
I personally wouldnt try any ointments or medicated shampoos until you try changing his food and bathing him with the oatmeal based shampoo. That way you can see if its just sensitive skin :)

Answer 9

it could be several things two of the most obvious to me would be Demodectic Mange (mange mites) and a simple food allergy, try changing his food, to something with different ingredients, often times dogs do as adults get a grain allergy, and most foods especially cheaper foods are made of a considerable amount of grain, because it costs less, but if you go to a food with more protein, cut down on the amount, because he will not require allot. many people are now trying a raw food diet, but i only recommend that if you take extreme car in handling the food. I do this with my two dogs and it has worked well for us, we buy it locally in frozen portion controled form, and thaw a days worth at a time, they love it and ait is much healthier, but more costly. Demodectic Mange is a immunity defeciancy. normally there are small bugs microscopic bug that live in harmony with the dog (humans too in fact) however sometimes the dogs imunity that fights these bugs weakens and the dog begins to itch, eventually hair loss and skin discoloration will occur, it is very treatable and requires a oral does of mediceine daily but it is very reasonabyly priced.

but in all cases you need to take him to a vet for a proper diagnosis....

Answer 10

1