Question by Sarah: My dog is scratching a lot under his front legs and at the base of his neck, and I can’t figure out why.?
He’s scratched himself raw or bleeding a little, and his fur is thinner there now. And he’s only scratching in those places, I think. His belly looks a little pink since his belly fur is thinner, but not really irritated. Nothing has changed since we got him two months ago, as far as environment. Same food, same shampoo, same laundry soap (Since he sleeps with us), and he doesn’t have fleas. I thought it might be anxiety because at his old home, there were other animals around, and now he’s alone while we’re gone, but that wouldn’t explain why he’s only scratching in two very specific places. My only current theory is that it might be his harness (Although it isn’t too tight or too loose, and his old collar never bothered him). We’re trying without his harness for a week or two, to see if that helps. If it doesn’t, I’ll have to take him to the vet. Other than that, is there something else it could be? He’s been scratching like this for about two weeks, I think. It’s hard to believe it’s an allergy if it didn’t affect him for a month and a half when we got him.

Best answer:

Answer by cocoa
He could have dry skin. get some moisturizing shampoo for dogs. If that doesn’t work try changing your flea medicine. He could be allergic to fleas, or the flea mediHe could be allergic to fleas or the flea medicine.

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Question by diamondgrl524: how much of a benadryl dosage should i give my dog?
I have a 5 year old beagle who for the last 3 days hasnt stoped itching..he has been itching so bad he made raw spots ..he doesnt have fleas worms or anything like that..Im thinking it might be a food allergy since that is the only thing i have changed in the last 4 days..i tried the anti itch spray and that doesnt work ..i am changing his food back ASAP but i want to make him comfortable while the rash is healing…so what type of benadryl should i give him?and how much of adoseage? his weight is 35 pounds

Best answer:

Answer by Cheryl H
Your vet is the only one that can accurately dose your beagle. The usual dose for that size dog is 25 mg., but don’t take my word for it!
You might also try bathing him with an oatmeal collidal shampoo from the pharmacy and giving him fish oil supplements on a daily basis. If you can, for the time being rub some hydrocortisone cream on him this should give a lot of relief to the poor baby. It’s always best to consult your vet before trying anything.

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Question by ISABEL: Need anti-alllergy advice for my dog’s itching?
I posted a couple of weeks ago because my dog’s itching was then a mystery, which we have now decided is almost certainly a dustmite allergy. He is a jack russell crossed with a dachshund, he is a year old. He started scratching as soon as he went upstairs when we got him three weeks ago, and bites and scratches all night if not treated with Benadryl. He loves to sleep on our bed and would cry all night if left downstairs. He doesn’t scratch during the day, just when he’s in the bedroom. Can anyone recommend a good anti-dustmite spray to use on the mattress and bedding (they seem very expensive!), and has anyone managed to overcome a similar problem with their dog? I know the simplest solution would be for him to sleep downstairs but that would prove very problematic. Also – is there any chance that he could develop natural immunity, he’s only been here for three weeks? We have given him baby Benadryl and that really helps, but don’t think its a particularly long-term solution. Fleas ruled out, food almost certainly ruled out, detergent ruled out, he is also very happy and settled – but we are all losing sleep!
Forgot to say we have bathed him in a good oatmeal shampoo, but only twice, so maybe that takes few goes before its effective – will bathe him again soon, as I understand that too much bathing can dry the skin out.
Many thanks for all the answers. Although he is scratching there are no red areas or hair loss (yet). I took him to the vets, and he suggested the dustmite thing, which did seem to make sense. The bedding has been thoroughly washed, the mattress vacuumed, the floor sprayed with anti-flea treatment, so some of the areas suggested have been eliminated up already. I will follow up the homeopathic advice but will have to see if it is available in the UK, as this is where I am. Have ordered some tea tree and aloe vera cream to put on the itchy areas as I found this suggested to another similar question.

Best answer:

Answer by WorryWort22
hmmm i had a similar problem with my lassie collie. she wasnt allergic to the fleas nothing and she didnt seem to be affected everywhere. then the vet suggested giving her weekly baths in this special oatmeal shamppo (i cant recall what it was called the vet shouldbe able to give it to you though or recomend an over the counter shampoo) and after three baths sure enough the itching stopped.

the vet said that perhaps she had sensitive skin which enhanced her allergy somehow and the oatmeal just help to ease to the point where it didnt bother her.

it never really made sense to me but hey it worked lol so i suppose its worth a try

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Question by ISABEL: Need anti-alllergy advice for my dog’s itching?
I posted a couple of weeks ago because my dog’s itching was then a mystery, which we have now decided is almost certainly a dustmite allergy. He is a jack russell crossed with a dachshund, he is a year old. He started scratching as soon as he went upstairs when we got him three weeks ago, and bites and scratches all night if not treated with Benadryl. He loves to sleep on our bed and would cry all night if left downstairs. He doesn’t scratch during the day, just when he’s in the bedroom. Can anyone recommend a good anti-dustmite spray to use on the mattress and bedding (they seem very expensive!), and has anyone managed to overcome a similar problem with their dog? I know the simplest solution would be for him to sleep downstairs but that would prove very problematic. Also – is there any chance that he could develop natural immunity, he’s only been here for three weeks? We have given him baby Benadryl and that really helps, but don’t think its a particularly long-term solution. Fleas ruled out, food almost certainly ruled out, detergent ruled out, he is also very happy and settled – but we are all losing sleep!
Forgot to say we have bathed him in a good oatmeal shampoo, but only twice, so maybe that takes few goes before its effective – will bathe him again soon, as I understand that too much bathing can dry the skin out.
Many thanks for all the answers. Although he is scratching there are no red areas or hair loss (yet). I took him to the vets, and he suggested the dustmite thing, which did seem to make sense. The bedding has been thoroughly washed, the mattress vacuumed, the floor sprayed with anti-flea treatment, so some of the areas suggested have been eliminated up already. I will follow up the homeopathic advice but will have to see if it is available in the UK, as this is where I am. Have ordered some tea tree and aloe vera cream to put on the itchy areas as I found this suggested to another similar question.

Best answer:

Answer by WorryWort22
hmmm i had a similar problem with my lassie collie. she wasnt allergic to the fleas nothing and she didnt seem to be affected everywhere. then the vet suggested giving her weekly baths in this special oatmeal shamppo (i cant recall what it was called the vet shouldbe able to give it to you though or recomend an over the counter shampoo) and after three baths sure enough the itching stopped.

the vet said that perhaps she had sensitive skin which enhanced her allergy somehow and the oatmeal just help to ease to the point where it didnt bother her.

it never really made sense to me but hey it worked lol so i suppose its worth a try

Add your own answer in the comments!

Question by ISABEL: Need anti-alllergy advice for my dog’s itching?
I posted a couple of weeks ago because my dog’s itching was then a mystery, which we have now decided is almost certainly a dustmite allergy. He is a jack russell crossed with a dachshund, he is a year old. He started scratching as soon as he went upstairs when we got him three weeks ago, and bites and scratches all night if not treated with Benadryl. He loves to sleep on our bed and would cry all night if left downstairs. He doesn’t scratch during the day, just when he’s in the bedroom. Can anyone recommend a good anti-dustmite spray to use on the mattress and bedding (they seem very expensive!), and has anyone managed to overcome a similar problem with their dog? I know the simplest solution would be for him to sleep downstairs but that would prove very problematic. Also – is there any chance that he could develop natural immunity, he’s only been here for three weeks? We have given him baby Benadryl and that really helps, but don’t think its a particularly long-term solution. Fleas ruled out, food almost certainly ruled out, detergent ruled out, he is also very happy and settled – but we are all losing sleep!
Forgot to say we have bathed him in a good oatmeal shampoo, but only twice, so maybe that takes few goes before its effective – will bathe him again soon, as I understand that too much bathing can dry the skin out.
Many thanks for all the answers. Although he is scratching there are no red areas or hair loss (yet). I took him to the vets, and he suggested the dustmite thing, which did seem to make sense. The bedding has been thoroughly washed, the mattress vacuumed, the floor sprayed with anti-flea treatment, so some of the areas suggested have been eliminated up already. I will follow up the homeopathic advice but will have to see if it is available in the UK, as this is where I am. Have ordered some tea tree and aloe vera cream to put on the itchy areas as I found this suggested to another similar question.

Best answer:

Answer by WorryWort22
hmmm i had a similar problem with my lassie collie. she wasnt allergic to the fleas nothing and she didnt seem to be affected everywhere. then the vet suggested giving her weekly baths in this special oatmeal shamppo (i cant recall what it was called the vet shouldbe able to give it to you though or recomend an over the counter shampoo) and after three baths sure enough the itching stopped.

the vet said that perhaps she had sensitive skin which enhanced her allergy somehow and the oatmeal just help to ease to the point where it didnt bother her.

it never really made sense to me but hey it worked lol so i suppose its worth a try

Give your answer to this question below!