My dog won't stop scratching....!?

Question

My dachshund has a kind rash on her stomach and a lot of little red bumps but I can't see any flees on her. The frontline isn't working and I've tried giving her a bath. She biting and scratching so much that she's starting to get bald spots. I don't know if she is allergic to something or if it's something she ate. We've stopped feeding her table scraps, cleaned the sheets in our bed, bathed her with flea shampoo, and went through her fur with a flea comb and nothing's worked. We really can't afford to take her to the vet right now, so does anyone know what could be wrong? Thank you.

Answer 1

Some of what I say is repetitive to other responses, but tolerate me please. Most likely, it isn't fleas, and you should NEVER use OTC flea shampoos as they can make your dog quite ill, and have been known to cause death in some cases. Most likely, she's got an allergy, the problem is, figuring out what it is that she is allergic to. I understand the vet isn't an option right now. You could try giving her 1 benedryl pill (just open her mouth and pop it way in the back and rub her throat downward to help her swallow). This won't hurt her, and hopefully it will help ease her symptoms. At this point, you shouldn't bathe her, as it will only make her skin more dry and cause her to become more itchy. Have you recently changed her dog food? Have you changed laundry detergents or fabric softeners? If you've changed her food, try changing it back. An ordinary cortisone spray can be used on her belly for added relief of her discomfort, as human sprays have the same ingredients as canine sprays. You can also try adding a derma-cap to her daily ruitine. Derma-caps are just fish oils and such in a pill. Most reputable pet stores carry them. Try to put some money aside and take her to the vet soon, just in case. If money is tight, there are companies that offer pet insurance. You pay about $30/month and they reimburse you for your vet costs, usually about 80%. I hope she feels better soon.

Answer 2

OMG! I thought ours was the only one. We have a 4 yr old doxie, and last year she started itching and scratching something terrible! She was just about bald in a few months time. She had no fleas! We took her to the vet, and he suggested Selsyn Blue, the anti dandruff shampoo. I tried it, it didn't help, might help you though is worth a try. Went back to the vet, he suggested Benedryl, tried that, didn't work. He could not figure out what was wrong with her. And she looked so miserable! She used to be so playful and energenic, and now was lathargic and sleeping all the time.

We moved about 3 months ago, and when we did, we discovered all kinds of black mold in the closets, behind the tv, under the beds. It was scary how much there was! We are happy and healthy in our new home, and so glad that's behind us. Our doxie has a full coat again, and loves to play! Her energy is back up, and her hair is back!!!! Who'd have thought there was all that mold in there, much less that it would affect our dogs!

Also, my chi's health was declining, all of a sudden, his asthma was out of control. Before moving into that house, he would have a fit every blue moon or so, and towards the end, he was having trouble breathing several times a day. He's all better now to.

I'd go to the vet as soon as you can, just to make sure, but in the meantime, try the Selsyn blue, and the Children's Benedryl, one at a time, so you'll know which, if either worked. And check your house for mold.

Answer 3

She's probably allergic to the fleas! Bathing her won't have helped, particularly if you did it within 48 hours before, or after, applying the Frontline, as that would have deactivated it.

Frontline kills fleas on animals, but unless you're treating the house there will still be enough fleas around to make your dog crazy. You'd better get some spray from a vet - treat your house twice, two weeks apart, to make sure you get them all. I also recommend Program tablets.

If this doesn't work then it's obviously another problem and you will have no choice but to take her to a vet.

Chalice

Answer 4

Could be a nasty food allergy finally raising its ugly head.
Most dogs are allergic to wheat, soy and/or corn. All are hard to digest, especially corn. You should check her food, and make sure it has one of these...
Canidae is a great choice.
Next, flaxseed oil in the food will help put some of the oil back in her skin and help a bit. Give her a little relief.
Don't over do the oil, just a little.
Oh, and check her treats for possible offensive ingredients.

Allergies build, taking time to come to a head for some dogs... and food allergies are another issue.

She may also be allergic to the topical flea remedy. A lot of dogs are, and it does not show up for several applications. My lab mix showed no signs of allergy to it for almost three years. Then it quit working and he had a rash.

Is she chewing on her paws at all? that is another true sign of the food issue.

Things to consider....
but put some oil in her food.

Answer 5

This might be an allergic reaction to the frontline, an allergic reaction to the fleas, plan 'ol allergies in general (the weather is changing..seasonal allergies are killing everyone), OR this could even be a form of mange.

i would suggest taking your dog to the vet and have a skin scrapping done to find out what exactly this is...until you get you dog in..perhaps an oatmeal bath would help.
**they do make oatmeal shampoo for dogs**
the oatmeal soothes itchy irritated skin.

as for not being able to afford the vet...what exactly is TOO much? we all have our budget so i can understand that.
call around to vets in your area..some will allow you to make payment installments. don't be afraid to ask for prices.
ask
1.how much an office visit is
2. how much would a skin scrapping be
3. how much would various medications be.
A. allergy pills (if they want to give a prescription..some vets will give scripts others suggest OTC stuff from your local pharmacy).
B. medication for mange.

etc.
once you get a price you can figure out what vet you can afford.

Answer 6

My dog gets itchy this time of year too. He has seasonal allergies. He usually ends up chewing off the fur in a V shape at the base of his tail. We use a hot spot spray to help with the itchy-ness as well as give him some additional fatty oils (ie peanut butter filled kongs, eggs in his breakfast) in his diet to help with the dry skin.

I would recommend that you stop bathing her as you are stripping away her natural oils in the skin and drying her skin out, making her more itchy. You can also try giving her some benadryl...check with your vet for a correct dosage. Also try to add some moisture to the air by running a humidifier or boiling pots of water for a half hour or so a night (this will also help you).

Answer 7

My dog has a grass allergy and does the same thing at certain times of the year, my vet said I could give him bynadryll when it was really bad,(he's a big dog though, I don't know if a dachsy could have one) I didn't want to force a pill on him, so I use lotion. He stopped biting, maybe because it tastes bad, but either way it worked.

Answer 8

Could easily be an allergy. There are 3 main types
1, food allergy 2,contact allergy (eg wash powders etc)3 inhaled allergens(eg pollen/house dust mites).
Try washing carpets/bedding in plain water
diet trial-feed one protein + one carb source for 6 weeks eg(lamb/rice or chicken/potato).MUST HAVE NO TREATS
need to see a vet to investigate inhaled allergens or if dog suffering too much during diet trial.

Answer 9

she could just have dry skin. if that is the case then bathing her is about the worst thing you can do because it dries their skin out even more. go to the pet store and see if you can find any moisturizing cream or shampoo for your dog. With our dog we just kinda let her be and eventually she stopped itching as much. she still does a little and we are going to try the moisturizer next.

Answer 10

Sounds like allergies to something outside. My lab get this every single fall. His eyes get puffy and he chews at his paws so much that he looses all his hair! Looks terrible.

Best thing to do would be to take your doggie to the vet. They can give her a cortizone shot to jump start her and then give you some pills. They can also give you a spray for her bald spots to giver her some relief.

Good luck! I know it stinks.