Question by totravel01: My dog won’t stop biting hard around his crotch!?
I noticed my dog has been itching and scratching himself more and more since late last week (it was mainly just behind his ears and shoulders) – I gave him a bath on Thursday thinking it was just that time. On Friday, I noticed he was licking and biting really hard on his inner hind legs and crotch area. He has bitten so hard on his inner leg that he has broke a little bit of skin and I have noticed some small pink bumps (or bites?) all around his crotch. I have stripped all of the sheets, pillows, blankets and cleaned everything in the house really good. I gave him another bath tonight (Sunday) just in case for whatever reason we hadn’t gotten the soap all off the first time. He is still biting and chewing and I don’t know what to do! I am sure he is miserable and want to help him but not sure what to do! He gets his flea medicine every month like clockwork and is an inside dog. He is supposed to be on a no-wheat diet for potential allergies (though he does sneak a treat in here and there). He has never had any issues like this since we adopted him 2 years ago! He has more “allergy” type issues with his ears and anal glands filling up. It is October and the allergy season is pretty much over (although, it has been warmer than normal here) any ideas? I’m hoping it’s just an allergy issue and nothing else!! Could it be a spider bite? We have noticed a lot more spiders running around outside! I don’t want to take him to the vet if I don’t have to as it gets to be so expensive and I feel like I get brushed off as I tend to worry about the littlest things (he is my baby, and I want the best for him!) If it makes a difference in breads, he is a basset hound.

Best answer:

Answer by silly!
he could be getting bitten from the spiders, or other bugs outside. i would treat the house with bug bombs, too. also, dont let him sleep near the walls, doors, or windows, and bugs could crawl in and directly bite him. if it helps you, you could get him some light colored bedding if you dont already have it, so you can see if its something he is getting attacked by when he sleeps. also, if you have carpet, you should put down some flea and tick powder, just in case he did get a flea and you didnt see it. the flea and tick powder will kill any flea and ticks and their eggs thats in the carpet. if all else fails, he may have a skin condition. dogs can get those like humans, and may require some special lotion or medicine to supress it.

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Question by britters: My dog won’t stop chewing all her paws..?
Hershey is a few months passed her One year mark. Last week her back paw was swollen, so we took her to the vet because we figured she got bit by something. The vet said it was most likely fire ants. We got her some antibiotics and thats when she started chewing at her paws. A few weeks earlier we noticed her doing a lot of licking to her paws, so we took her to the vet and they said she probably has allergies, so we started giving her baths and watching her closely, but not until after she was bit by fire ants did she start actually chewing.
I’ve tried wrapping her paws so that she wouldnt bite at them, but that wrap doesn’t last all day with all her running around. Her daddy thought that she was just irritated by the dead skin from the bite but its been almost a week since the bite and shes still chewing. She has other dogs to play with, so Im not worried about her being bored. I did just recently move, Hershey stays with her dad during the day and I get her after work and nights. Is she biting because shes nervous?
She hasn’t started bleeding yet or making her paws sore, but I don’t want to wait until she does. I would like to prevent anything bad happeing to her. If it gets to that point before we can fix it, I will take her to the vet..
I looked on a few sites here on the internet and there are tons of things that people had mentioned we can do. Like benadryl, baths, switching food, wiping her feet off more than once a day.
I’m going to try all of those things to see if there is any change and if not, than I will take her to the vet again. I just didn’t know if any of you guys had any other suggestions that might help that you have done in the past, or heard about.
I’d really appreciate all of the suggestions.
Im feeding her Iams right now.
You know, her daddies house is FULL of plants, grass, rocks, bugs, pool, everything. and she is in and outside all day. The house I just moved to, she really doesnt go outside and play, because there is not grass and no gate yet, and im worried she’d get hit by a car if she left my site, but I will try and figure out a way to get her away from those plants, I just don’t know how…?
Thank you!
Ok, so food allergies, she’s been on Iams since she is a puppy, does it take time to for them to become allergic?
I will definitely buy her different food though. I’m just curious on how long it takes them to become allergic?
THANK YOU! =D
I’ll schedule her an appiointment to the vet today! I’m really worried about her. Thank you guys so much for your responses.
** So with the Raw Chicken, do you give it to them twice a day, once a day? with anything?
Thanks guys for all of the responses, I took hershey to the vet yesterday and they gave her a shot of steriods and some anitbiotics. Her paws looked so good yesterday, there is just one that we are watching very closely.
Thanks again for all of your help.

Best answer:

Answer by ThePitBullLova
The best suggestion is to take her back to the VET

Neurogenic Dermatitis – This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. As a veterinarian I know I have classified a number of cases as Lick Granuloma, also called Acral Lick Granuloma. Click to enlarge. “Neurogenic” simply because I have ruled out all the other categories! There’s nothing left but to blame the poor dog for all that incessant licking and chewing at itself! The most commonly seen form of Neurogenic Dermatitis is called Acral Lick Dermatitis, Lick Granuloma or canine neurodermatitis. See more about Lick Granulomas here.

Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a specific area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at the target area, lick granulomas may have an unknown origin. Commonly, though, most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, separation anxiety, frustration, confinement, or even a minor physical origin such as a tiny abrasion that captivates the dog’s interest. The dog persists in traumatizing the area, which is usually confined to an easily accessible forelimb, carpus (wrist) or ankle area, and never allows the skin to heal. Repeated episodes of self-mutilation, partial healing, then repeated trauma and healing, result in severe and disfiguring scarring. Deep bacterial infections are common and permanent skin damage results. A Specialist in Dermatology and a Behaviorist may be the dog’s best friends in these cases of Neurogenic Dermatitis.

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Question by prettyblueeyes101010: Dog won’t stop scratching, looking for a homeopathic remedy.?
I have a bichon frise, which I have recently been told have a tendency to have allergies and skin problems. Well he scratches himself so much that he has basically caused horrible cuts, open wounds, and infections. I have had to go to the vet numerous times so they can shave the area and give him antibiotics to clear it up. Then he will be good for a time and it will start again.

I have tried teaching him that scratching is bad, and he is smart enough now to stop scratching when I come in the room.

I tried changing the food he eats and even bought allergy prone food, but that didn’t stop him.

Started using the oatmeal shampoo that is for dry itchy skin from Dr. Foster & Smith, still won’t stop scratching.

I bought the glue on plastic nail covers that slip over his nails, within 3 days he figured out he could chew them off or just lick them to death until the nail glue dissolved.

The vet gave me benadryl & gave it to him up to 3 times a day to stop itching like the doctor ordered. And he was totally lazy and drugged out, but would still manage to scratch himself like crazy.

I just ordered the PediPaws nail rounder, which is supposed to round the nails instead of cut them.

But even if that works I would like to try a homeopathic remedy to help him. This has been going on for almost 2 years with no help from anything and I can just see how miserable he is. The wounds are usually on his ears or right under him & he looks like an abused dog & I can just tell he is in so much pain.

HELP!!
Shortening his hair just makes it worse because then his nails can get through his hair and really scratch himself up.

He is up to date on all meds & takes flea/tick/heartworm meds regularly.

The vet just says this is not irregular in bichon frises.

Best answer:

Answer by AlexelA
And the vet didn’t say the cause? Well, maybe you could try having him shaved….maybe the coat is causing some irritation. So maybe try some lotion or conditioner that would stop the scratching.

Another thing, does he have his shots up to date and tests for like parasites and stuff? (the routine testing) Also, fleas/ticks?? Does he have anti-flea/tick med?

OmiGosh I am so sorry…poor thing!

Good luck! And try googling it too…something I found:
http://www.orangepopdesign.com/peppersworld/forums/index.php?showtopic=1859&hl=allergies

Yup, I think keeping the hair on the shorter end helps

Add your own answer in the comments!

Question by prettyblueeyes101010: Dog won’t stop scratching, looking for a homeopathic remedy.?
I have a bichon frise, which I have recently been told have a tendency to have allergies and skin problems. Well he scratches himself so much that he has basically caused horrible cuts, open wounds, and infections. I have had to go to the vet numerous times so they can shave the area and give him antibiotics to clear it up. Then he will be good for a time and it will start again.

I have tried teaching him that scratching is bad, and he is smart enough now to stop scratching when I come in the room.

I tried changing the food he eats and even bought allergy prone food, but that didn’t stop him.

Started using the oatmeal shampoo that is for dry itchy skin from Dr. Foster & Smith, still won’t stop scratching.

I bought the glue on plastic nail covers that slip over his nails, within 3 days he figured out he could chew them off or just lick them to death until the nail glue dissolved.

The vet gave me benadryl & gave it to him up to 3 times a day to stop itching like the doctor ordered. And he was totally lazy and drugged out, but would still manage to scratch himself like crazy.

I just ordered the PediPaws nail rounder, which is supposed to round the nails instead of cut them.

But even if that works I would like to try a homeopathic remedy to help him. This has been going on for almost 2 years with no help from anything and I can just see how miserable he is. The wounds are usually on his ears or right under him & he looks like an abused dog & I can just tell he is in so much pain.

HELP!!
Shortening his hair just makes it worse because then his nails can get through his hair and really scratch himself up.

He is up to date on all meds & takes flea/tick/heartworm meds regularly.

The vet just says this is not irregular in bichon frises.

Best answer:

Answer by AlexelA
And the vet didn’t say the cause? Well, maybe you could try having him shaved….maybe the coat is causing some irritation. So maybe try some lotion or conditioner that would stop the scratching.

Another thing, does he have his shots up to date and tests for like parasites and stuff? (the routine testing) Also, fleas/ticks?? Does he have anti-flea/tick med?

OmiGosh I am so sorry…poor thing!

Good luck! And try googling it too…something I found:
http://www.orangepopdesign.com/peppersworld/forums/index.php?showtopic=1859&hl=allergies

Yup, I think keeping the hair on the shorter end helps

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by prettyblueeyes101010: Dog won’t stop scratching, looking for a homeopathic remedy.?
I have a bichon frise, which I have recently been told have a tendency to have allergies and skin problems. Well he scratches himself so much that he has basically caused horrible cuts, open wounds, and infections. I have had to go to the vet numerous times so they can shave the area and give him antibiotics to clear it up. Then he will be good for a time and it will start again.

I have tried teaching him that scratching is bad, and he is smart enough now to stop scratching when I come in the room.

I tried changing the food he eats and even bought allergy prone food, but that didn’t stop him.

Started using the oatmeal shampoo that is for dry itchy skin from Dr. Foster & Smith, still won’t stop scratching.

I bought the glue on plastic nail covers that slip over his nails, within 3 days he figured out he could chew them off or just lick them to death until the nail glue dissolved.

The vet gave me benadryl & gave it to him up to 3 times a day to stop itching like the doctor ordered. And he was totally lazy and drugged out, but would still manage to scratch himself like crazy.

I just ordered the PediPaws nail rounder, which is supposed to round the nails instead of cut them.

But even if that works I would like to try a homeopathic remedy to help him. This has been going on for almost 2 years with no help from anything and I can just see how miserable he is. The wounds are usually on his ears or right under him & he looks like an abused dog & I can just tell he is in so much pain.

HELP!!
Shortening his hair just makes it worse because then his nails can get through his hair and really scratch himself up.

He is up to date on all meds & takes flea/tick/heartworm meds regularly.

The vet just says this is not irregular in bichon frises.

Best answer:

Answer by AlexelA
And the vet didn’t say the cause? Well, maybe you could try having him shaved….maybe the coat is causing some irritation. So maybe try some lotion or conditioner that would stop the scratching.

Another thing, does he have his shots up to date and tests for like parasites and stuff? (the routine testing) Also, fleas/ticks?? Does he have anti-flea/tick med?

OmiGosh I am so sorry…poor thing!

Good luck! And try googling it too…something I found:
http://www.orangepopdesign.com/peppersworld/forums/index.php?showtopic=1859&hl=allergies

Yup, I think keeping the hair on the shorter end helps

Give your answer to this question below!