Occasional dog itching and scratching is natural dog behavior. Problems only arise when the itching becomes extremely frequent.
Extreme dog itchiness is usually a sign of dog allergies, or skin parasites.
The irritation may sometimes cause dogs to rub their noses on the rug, on furniture, or even in the mud and snow. This is done to alleviate some of the unpleasant itchy dog sensation.
Depending on the source of the irritation, there could also be hair-loss.
Dog Itching Reason 1
Hot Spots
As I understand it, hot spots are caused by bacterial infection on the dog’s skin. It usually starts when a scratch or opening on the skin is exposed to moisture, for a prolonged period of time.
My Siberian Husky Shania developed a hot spot last winter, on the lower-inner part of her back leg. It was raining cats and dogs, and her outdoor bed was often wet. She probably developed her hot spot from lying on her wet bed, and exposing a scratch on her leg to moisture. Shania likes being outside in the rain, but now, we limit her rain time and make sure to dry her well when she comes in.
With hot spots, it is important to catch it as early as possible. Otherwise, the condition may worsen and spread when the dog continuously licks or scratches on the infected site. If untreated, the infected area may become painful, may develop pus, and may start to smell.
Luckily, we caught Shania’s hot spot early-on and stopped it, before it was able to expand. We cut away the fur around the spot, and made sure to keep it dry. The most challenging part was supervising Shania and making sure that she did not lick, or bite at the infected skin. Sometimes, an Elizabethan collar may be necessary to prevent licking, scratching, and biting.
We also made sure to dry the infected area very well after a trip outside. First, we used a towel, and then we would lightly fan the area until it was fully dry. Keeping it dry reduced irritation to the skin, which in turn made it less likely for Shania to continue worrying at it.
If the infection spreads or develops pus, it is best to get treatment from the vet.
Dog Itching Reason 2
Food Allergies
With food allergies, the dog itch is usually accompanied by loose or watery stool. My Shiba Inu is allergic to wheat, and he used to get really itchy from it.
To identify the source of the allergy, I started feeding my dog really plain meals (boiled chicken and rice); no treats or other types of food. I was also very careful during neighborhood walks so that he did not slip in a “road-side surprise“.
It may take a few days before the allergens clear out of our dog’s system, and we start to see an improvement. Some dogs may be allergic to poultry, so if the boiled chicken does not help, then switch to an alternate meat source, for example venison or rabbit.
Only boil or microwave the meat. Do not add anything else, and absolutely do not use table scraps. Table scraps are usually too rich for dogs, and may contain spices or ingredients (e.g. onions) that are poisonous to dogs. Some dogs may be allergic to multiple common ingredients. My Siberian Husky, for example, is allergic to wheat, oats, and fish.
Once the extreme itching goes away, slowly introduce our dog’s normal food back into his diet, one by one, until we find the problem ingredient.
Start with only 1/4 portion of the first food, and slowly increase the portion by quarters in each subsequent day. If everything is well after one week, then introduce the next food on the subsequent week.
If we are using dry food (kibble), find one that is grain free, and has good protein sources.
Some good kibble brands include Innova EVO, Orijen, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and Wellness CORE.
Dog Itching Reason 3
Environmental Allergies
Dog itching can also be caused by plants, pollen, or other chemicals.
The best way to deal with these environmental allergies is to keep our dog away from the offending chemicals or contaminants. For example, my dogs often stick their muzzle into holes, bushes, and plants. Therefore, I try keeping them inside the house-only for a few days.
If the itching improves, then it is likely that my dog is allergic to something in the backyard or neighborhood. Once I identify which plant is the source of the skin allergy, I remove it from my backyard and avoid it during walks.
Note that some plants can be poisonous to dogs.
Like us, dogs may also have a reaction to inhaling certain air allergens such as pollen, or mold. However, this usually results in nose irritation, and frequent sneezing.
Dog Itching Reason 4
Skin Parasites
Dog itching may also result from mites, fleas, or other skin parasites.
This can be easily diagnosed by the vet with a skin scraping. Depending on the parasite and the severity of the infection, different treatments may be appropriate.
Our vet will be most equipped to advise us on the different treatment options.
Note that many parasite treatments involve the use of toxic chemicals to kill the mites or fleas.
Some dogs may have allergic reactions to these toxins. Remember to ask our vet about possible dangers of the treatment, and get additional information from online sources before going ahead with it.
My Siberian Husky recently got demodectic mange from her puppy playmates in dog daycare. To treat the skin mites, our vet suggested the use of Goodwinol ointment. This treatment got the mites under control after about one week, but it also caused some vomiting and irritation to the eyes.
There are also some horror stories on flea and tick repellent products. This article has some good information on the dangers of various flea and tick repellent products.
Since these repellents are designed to kill fleas, ticks, and other skin parasites, they are all toxic to some degree. As such, there is always the possibility that our dog may have an allergic reaction.
Flea and tick collars can be especially dangerous because if they are not properly fastened, a dog may chew off pieces, or even swallow it whole.
Note however, that not using flea and tick repellents may expose our dog to skin irritation, as well as dangerous diseases such as lyme disease. Before making a decision, it may be useful to read what the FDA has to say about fighting fleas and ticks.
If we do find some ticks on our dog, do not try to pull them off with our fingers. This may cause the body of the tick to break off, and leave the head still embedded in our dog’s skin. Embedded tick parts may sometimes cause a skin infection.
One of the best tools for removing ticks easily and safely, is the Ticked off tick remover.
It may look just like a silly plastic spoon, but it works surprisingly well for removing ticks. Since I got it, I have been able to remove all ticks from my dogs without any problems.
Conclusion
Finally, dogs may also lick themselves as a result of stress, nervousness, or anxiety (e.g. separation anxiety). In these situations, a dog may engage in displacement behaviors such as self grooming, to calm himself down. Over-grooming can cause irritation to the skin and hair loss.
In general, we want to address skin irritation issues as soon as possible. Otherwise, our dog will likely keep licking and scratching at the problem area, and worsen its condition. Excessive licking may cause pain and further irritation to the skin, which will encourage even more licking, and so on. If not addressed, this may be habit forming, and lead to Acral Lick Dermatitis.
These are the most common reasons for dog itching, dog scratching, and hair loss. However, there could be other causes, so it is always best to consult with the vet.
When dealing with allergy issues, find a vet who is willing to help us identify the source of the allergy, rather than just treat the symptoms with shots.
Note – In this article we only focus on dog itching and scratching. For a broader, more general discussion of dog allergies, check out Allergies and Atopy in Dogs. Dogs may also have allergic reactions to their yearly vaccination shots. This article on Vaccine Side Effects and Risks gives a good overview of possible dangers.
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Does anyone know if it is possible for a dog to be allergic to spiders, we have hundreds in our garden it seems to be the last thing we have not kept her away from to determine her terrible skini irritation. Babs
I believe so. Some types of spider bites can cause an allergic reaction in some dogs.
Hi i found this site and it seems very interesting … I have a 3 month old siberian husky named shieba ( with a coinsidence)
.. Today we just had an accident and i really need a help, i left her home alone and somehow she was able to open the bathroom and she grabed hair gel, bath sponge, hair removal cream , powder and some tishues, i called my vet and she told me to observe her and to inform them if i see some reaction like bad smell from her mouth. Now i’m noticing that she does not have the bad smell but she’s sneezing a lot and she looks itching her neck.. Right now is very late in malta as i can’t contact again and i’m looking forward for some help.. Thanks a lot and pls help :/
Hello Angelique,
How is Shieba doing? From what you describe, it sounds like skin irritation, likely from the gel, cream, or powder. I would be most concerned about her eating some of the stuff, and having that cause physical issues. Was there a lot of gel, cream, or powder left when you got home? Was most of it on the floor? Do you think she ate a lot of it or was she mostly just playing with the stuff?
When in doubt, I usually bring my dog in to see the vet just to make sure that everything is ok.
Hugs to Shieba. Hope she is feeling better.
Hi
i don’t think she ate a lot of cream etc i dont think she stupid enough to mix the taste material with something delicious 
… Thanks for your response and time again 
Shieba is doing fine thanks and yes i took her to the vet but everythig is ok till now.
my 7 months female siberian husky got allergies legs now now chest wats the best care and medicine for my husky name kayla i buy dog flea and tick powder and soap for her allergies not effective to kayla pls help
There can be a variety of reasons for skin allergies and hair loss. First, I try to identify the cause of my dog’s allergy. Once I identify the cause, then I can come up with an effective treatment or solution.
To do this, I take my Sibe to the vet, to rule out skin parasites, and get my vet’s advice on next steps.
Next, I may look at other contributing factors, for example examine my dog’s diet, stool, and routine. These will indicate whether the cause is dietary or environmental in nature.
hi.. I have a 6 month old female husky. And I noticed that there are red markings just below her mouth and near her eyes. Is it an allergic reaction? There is a construction site near our place and dust are every where and we leave our dog all day outside our house. Are her red markings because of this? Should I take her to the vet?? by the way i love all your articles. I’m a first time dog owner. <3
Congratulations on your new Husky.
What kind of “red markings”? Are they little dots? Is there hair loss? Does she try to scratch the area frequently?
For health issues that I am unsure of, I usually take my dog to the vet, especially if it is causing discomfort or irritation. Otherwise, I end up worrying myself silly anyway
; so better to be safe and catch things early.
Thank you for responding…
I just found out what those red markings are.. and its a sunburn! I live in a tropical country and its summer now. Which means it’s super hot. Do you have any suggestions on how can I prevent it from spreading all over her body? and how can I treat those sunburns? Thanks in advance
Ah, it is good that you have figured out the cause.
My Huskies also have a lot of fur, and because of that, they heat-up really quickly during hot weather. Here are some of the things that I do to help my Sibes stay cool during the summer months.
They usually prefer to stay inside the house, when it is hot outside. When they do venture outside, I make sure they have a ready supply of clean, cool, water, and that there are many shady spots with free air-flow.
As for sunburns,
Here is another article on dogs and sunburn -
http://www.petside.com/article/can-dogs-get-sunburned
Hi! Im so glad I found your website! I have a 7 yr old sheba inu, her name is foxy. she is a healthy dog. has some allergy problems with scratching at different times of the year but nothing major except for lately. she has started scratching both sides of her mouth with her front and back paws to the point where the skin is raw. I was doing some research and the only thing I found is tge possibility of mouth cancer? what are your thoughts? it just seems like it drives her crazy all the time! any thoughts would help!
Hmmm, the closest I have experienced to this is when Shania had some hair loss on the eye area and it turned out to be mange. Luckily it turned out to be localized demodectic mange so the vet gave us some topical cream to treat it and we were able to get it under control fairly quickly.
Checking with the vet is probably best to get a good diagnosis and treatment.
Big hugs to Foxy and hope she feels better soon. Keep us posted on what the vet says.
I have a shiba dog female. Today i notice that she have hair follow, red stamps in her hand . Please can you tell me what that is??
It sounds like a visit to the vet may be best.
we just got a 8-10 year old dog and i am a little bit concerned. He is supposed to be a cross between a chitzu and terrier and since we have him i have been noticing a few things, he shakes alot, rubs his head into the carpet, rubs his back on the couch cushions the last two days, he is a very skinny dog, and his breath is fowl, is this normal for an older dog, he is very quiet and very lovable with our family, not sure if he ever had shots or was medicated for anything before please help
he also threw up something hard and yellow today and have no idea what it was
I would take him to the vet asap.
Hello,
I have written a couple of times regarding my Schnauzer’s itching back paws and ears. I have been trying to figure out if the allergy has come from the fish based food I was giving her, chicken treats or environmental–grasses, pollens, etc. I stopped giving her the fish based food in March and started her on a food of the same brand that has less fish in the ingredients but is generally chicken (Acana–all of their formulas have some fish). Also, since June we have been watering our grass more and I lifted up some curtains that were touching the floor that she laid next to often. Anyway, she stopped licking her paws and scratching her ears in the second week of July (what a relief–it had been going on for over a year) and I was wondering what your opinion is whether it was the food or the environment? Would it have taken 3-4 months to see a change if it were the fish food? As a reminder, the itching was ongoing for over a year–it did not stop during weather changes; it had only stopped for five days once when she was sick for a week. Thank you again for your time.
Hello Marie,
That is very good to hear!
It is difficult for me to say whether the cause was food or environmental, since I have not seen the dog or his environment. When Sephy had food allergies, he was itchy all over his body, and his stool was soft or liquid.
Hugs to your furry one.
Hi, our 16 week shiba is constantly itching. She has no fleas, no ticks, but we noticed that she has flaky, dry skin. I heard from a lot of places that oatmeal baths relieve itching skin. So we took her to Petsmart to get an oatmeal bath, but she STILL keeps itching and STILL has dry skin! Is there a next step we should take? Thank you.
How long have you had her? Did she itch as soon as you got her or did it only develop after? What food is she eating? Does she get a lot of baths normally? What is her routine like?
Has she been to the vet for her shots? What did the vet say?
We had her for 8 weeks. The itching started to develop after. She is eating Orijen Puppy food, which is a very high quality dog food. She gets baths at least once a month. She has been to her vet for shots and the vet says she is very healthy.
Does she itch everywhere or only in particular spots?
Some possibilities that come to mind include-
1. The shampoo is too strong and drying out the skin.
2. There is some shampoo left over in the fur which can irritate the skin.
3. There is contact allergies with something else in her environment.
I don’t bathe Sephy very often. During the summer I play the water hose game with him, and turn that into a play/bathing session.
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-bathing-how-to-bathe-a-dog-with-a-fun-game
What did her vet say about the dry skin?
The vet hasn’t said anything yet. But we have an appointment on Thursday. Thanks!
Hi Shibashake! We took her to the vet and asked him about her dry skin. The vet gave us fish oil to put on her food and it helped her itching and dry skim tremendously. Thank you so much for taking time to reply!
That is great to hear! Thanks for letting us know.
HEllo
I own a three month old husky, she is a beauty, as of lately I have noticed that she has developed some kind of rash on her groin area. I brought her from the Dominican Republic the other day, and she has all her shots. I had to switch her food abruptly because the one I was feeding her is not available here in NYC. The new food gave her the runs as expected but it seems to be getting better already.My worry is about the allergies. I don’t want to take her to the vet yet because it may be something that can be easily fixed. Here is a picture of what the allergies look like.
http://imgur.com/qU0bj
Any idea on how I can manage her allergies. Also if you think it is an emergency please say so that way I can take her to the vet asap. The only new routine we have been doing is me taking her to the park where she runs and lays on the grass and gets to lay around for a long time. Besides that everything else has been the same
Hmmm, it looks a bit like Folliculitis (also called Pyoderma or bacterial infection of the skin). Is it only in the groin area?
It is hard to say though. Are there any other symptoms in addition to the rash? Does she lick a lot at the area? Does she lick a lot in other areas?
In such cases, I usually just bring my dog to the vet just to be sure. Even if it is just light allergies, at least the vet can confirm that it is not something else.
Hi thanks for your reply,
I have not seen her licking it or anything it doesnt even seem to bother her. Since I’m a first time owner it has me a bit worried, Just want feedback on if I have to take her to the vet, or do you think its something minor?
Also to add to it, some people suggested that it was most likely contact allergies, they said to shower her with a non detergent shampoo, any idea on which one I can use
Hmmm, contact allergies will usually also show up at the paws or muzzle. Those places usually have the most contact with the ground and other objects, so they are most susceptible to contact allergies. The belly/groin area is pretty protected.
Has only her belly area been in contact with anything unusual?
This is not to say that it is not contact allergies, only that it seems a less likely cause (to me) given the area of incidence. Please remember though that I am not a vet and I have only seen that one picture – so this is merely my best effort at speculation.
Husky Lara had a bacterial skin infection (pyoderma) on her belly and groin area when she was a pup. It didn’t itch and didn’t seem to cause her any discomfort. We noticed it soon after we got her, so my guess is that she may have developed it because of stress from the change in environment, food, etc.
In Lara’s case, the infection was superficial (only a surface infection) and secondary (likely triggered by something else, e.g. stress, change in food, environment, etc). The vet didn’t think Lara’s infection was serious so we just kept the area clean, kept her environment very clean, and we also put her on Innova puppy kibble. We wiped the area several times a day using dog wipes. At the same time we kept a close watch on it to make sure it didn’t worsen. It went away after several weeks and has not reoccurred.
However, each case is different. Based on what I have read, pyoderma can result from many things and can be superficial or deep skin.
Hello again thank you so much for your reply. I gave her a bath with a hypo allergenic shampoo and have not taken her to the park ever since. Thankfully her allergirs are going away now, her skin is back to normal. Haha it seems that one problem gets resolved then comes another. She had diarrhea because we switched her food abruptly. Then she had allergies. Now she is developing the bad habit of biting the leash, and if i take the leash away she goes after my jeans. Haha although she is not perfect i honestly couldnt be more happy now that I own her. I will try to send pictures of her when i have the chance
Awesome! That is good to hear.
LOL! Yeah – puppies are like that. I had a lot of leash biting issues with Sephy (Shiba Inu). He is a wild one!
Big hugs to your girl! I would love to see pictures of her when you have the time.
Hello again
, although she loves strangers more than me haha she jumps from joy whenever any of my sisters get home, she even started following my sister around everywhere, something she used to do with me, I feel lonely haha 
This is Saya the very first day we got her, although I don’t see the size difference since I see her everyday. When I look at the picture I see how small she was when she first arrived. http://imgur.com/L3fUj
This is one of the more recent pictures, I took not too long ago http://imgur.com/WZnud
and this is her once again http://imgur.com/Tvs1s
Well those are the pictures of the love of my life
She is absolutely adorable! I especially like that last picture with the grinning face.
Haha, yeah my Sibes are like that as well. They will go home with whomever has the best dog cookies!
Put cheese in your pocket and she will follow you around everywhere!
Big hugs to Saya. She is a cutie!
Haha indeed they do follow anybody, it scares me sometimes because I leave next to a precint nd she loves jumping on cops. Haha specially when they are not looking she tries to harass them lol
LOL! I bet they love her. It is difficult not to love an affectionate, playful, and people friendly Sibe.
You got that right. They love petting her and playing with her. Nice to have a few police friends, They might let me get away with breaking some laws lol. By the way which collar would you recommend for Saya. She is always pulling I stop when she pulls and don’t walk until she stops. But whenever I take another step she decides to start pulling again
LOL! I was thinking the same thing. Like the “Get Out of Jail Free” card from Monopoly.
I use the Premier martingale collar and a 6 foot leather leash with all my dogs during walks. I take the collar off after we come home so that it doesn’t accidentally catch on anything while they are running around. They each have a different colored one.
I use this collar only for its no-slip properties and not for collar corrections.
With Lara, I stop when she pulls and I also shorten the lead and bring her in right next to me so that she can’t be walking around and smelling things. After she does a Sit, I start walking again but I shorten the lead and give her less freedom. If she walks well, I give her back a bit more freedom and so on. If not, then the next time I stop for a longer period of time. The lead is also a great communication tool. I play around a lot with the lead length and lead pressure.
Sometimes, if she pulls many times in succession or is walking especially badly, I will turn around and walk in the opposite direction. In this way she learns that if she pulls and does not listen, we take even more time to get to where she wants to go.
Hugs to Saya!
More on leash training techniques.
More on leash training equipment.
Thank you so much for taking your time to reply. I will order that collar as soon as possible. The problem with Saya to be quite honest is inconsistency. I walk her on certain days and I don’t allow her to pull or to bite on the leash. On some days I can’t walk her and my sister has to do it. But everything I teach Saya goes downhill. My sister allows her to pull, allows her to buy the leash etc. So sometimes it feels like what I’m teaching her is pointless since my sister does the exact opposite although I tell her how to do it properly
Heh, Lara is the same way. I walk her in the weekdays and in the weekend my partner walks her. I am usually a lot more strict with her, so come Monday, she will try to see what she can get away with.
Sometimes, it helps to all go walking together. I walk Lara part of the way and then my partner walks her the other half. That way, we get to see what each of us is doing, what we are doing differently, and what can be changed. Sometimes, it is difficult to be strict with them when they hit you with those beautiful eyes and face!
Indeed it is difficult! Quite honestly if there is one thing I would like to fix is her walking properly I would love for her to heel and walk besides me. Sometimes she actually does it. Other times not so much
Hello,
I originally wrote to you on January 22, 2012 regarding my itchy Schnauzer. Thank you for your response. My dog is still licking her paws and experiencing hot ears that are itchy too. I thought maybe it was actually environmental but it seems to be year round now since January, 2011 and since feeding Acana by Champion foods. I thought it was the fish based formula so I switched to the Chicken formula, which has a smaller amount of fish and she is still itching. I mentioned that I give her chicken jerky treats and have even before the itching began. I know a food trial is going to be a lengthy process and I have two dogs that I prefer to feed the same food so I was wondering what your opinion is as to how likely her allergy might be the chicken or the fish…basically, do you know if it is that likely that she would become allergic to chicken after being fine with it for the first three years of her life or does it sound like it would be the fish since the itching began a month after giving her the fish based food? Thank you for your time and help.
Hello Marie,
Based on what you say, it sounds like fish is more likely the problem. However, it could also be some other ingredient in the kibble. The problem with kibble is that it contains many things and the brands may also change their formula. My Husky Shania, for example, is allergic to oats and some types of fish.
When I suspect that my dogs have food allergies I put them on a bland diet. I give them boiled chicken and plain white rice – no sauce or anything else on it. For dogs that are allergic to poultry, we can try some other meat source such as lamb, rabbit, or deer. No treats at this time. This limits the type of ingredients to just 2.
I keep them on the bland diet for a week or more. If the allergy symptoms disappear, then I know that it is food related. If it does not, then it may come from something else, some of which are listed in the article above.
Have you tried giving your girl a bland diet? If so, how did it go? Did the allergy symptoms lessen or disappear?
Hugs to your girl. Hope she feels better soon.
hi.. we just got a 2month old siberian husky. it’s been a week since we brought her home. now she develops this skin allergy on her belly. red spots that looks like a pus in the tip of the spot. her food is beefpro. we put hot water to it to make it soft for her to eat. we brought her to a vet to see the allergies. the vet gave us topi derm wound cream. instructed us to clean the area with hydrogen peroxide, dry and apply the cream 3 – 4 times a week. we did as instructed but the spots seems to have grown plenty. we asked the vet and says, it must be the food we gave her and need to change her food to a hypo allergenic one.. what do you say about it?.please help.. thanks!
Hello Maya,
I could not find the ingredient list for Beef Pro. Could you give me a link to their list of ingredients?
Both my Sibes have pretty sensitive stomachs. They do well on high protein kibble that is grain free. Here is more on what I look for when choosing kibble for my dogs-
http://shibashake.com/dog/feeding-your-dog-a-healthy-diet#dry_food
Hello , ive got a wolf/german shepard breed dog , ive had him for 8 years , and all has been well ,until about a year ago. he started scratching and biting his back and base of tail causing his skin to become raw red, so we took him to the vet and she gave him a jab , and gave us some cream , and she also shaved the area that he had been scrathching , his wounds and stuff got better and where it was shaved it grew back , then a few months later he starte again , so we took im vet again where he got the same treatment and was asked to use cream again , each go costs us around £50 makin it very expensive , anyway it cleared up , and came back again , so we shaved his back and keep a constant eye on him so that he dosnt itch himeself, his back is getting better, but he just will not stop tryin to scratch it , it still ver flaky , and almost exma like, hes now got a muzzle which anytime we go out we keep on him so that he cant scratch himself but the problem is he still keeps itching withb his feet. Anyway tonight i heard him squealing a little and found him with his muzzle off, he managed to get it off, but when i looked under his tale its sorta almost no skin under his tail , and hardly any hair on his ass, and it looks very red and flaky , but its impossible that he did all this damage, also its almost like the infection is coming rom his bum area and spreding to the back of his tail and down to his penis area, he also nibbles his legs and under his armpit until its bleeding. , its very concerning for me to see him like this. it can’t be fleas as he ha been frontlined about a month ago. Also we found this strange lump on his left foot at first we thought it as a pad, but at a closer inspection we realised its in the wrong place , its like on his thigh and when we touch it gently its squidgy as if there is something in it like pus.Its like hes got hotspots and infection. I also have began noticing he seems much , much weaker on his back les , which is not good , please help , thanks you for your time
Hello Michael,
Hmmm, some common causes that I know of-
1. Fleas. My dogs are also on a flea and tick preventative, but they still get ticks from time to time during walks in the hills. I think that these preventatives reduce the occurrence of fleas and ticks, but during tick season, for example, my dogs still get them. If there are fleas in the house or backyard, they could cause recurring itch issues.
I had a flea attack once when I was renting an apartment for the summer. We had the place flea bombed and that seemed to get rid of them. However, I made sure to have a long discussion with the people about the chemicals used, how toxic it is to dogs, and how long before it is safe for dogs. Some people also suggest using sprays, because that is more effective at getting under furniture.
2. Anal Sac. One of my dogs worry a lot on his rear area and our vet said it could be because of irritation from his anal gland. I make sure the vets check on his gland, and manually expel it if necessary during our yearly examination.
3. Tape Worms. Based on what I have read, tape worms can also cause irritation to the rear area. When my dog got tape worms, I could see them (little white grains) in his poop.
What does your vet say? (2) and (3) can be more easily checked for, so it is usually the fleas that are problematic.
hey I’ve found your site very informational! thank you, anyways I’ve got a 15 month old pure breed GSD, that i bought in Germany about when he was 9-10 weeks, has no fleas,ticks an just gave him his last dewormer! and his shots are up todate also,our problem is the itching, sometimes he goes on an on for a long time, it’s very depressing to be honest! an today while i was brushing him i noticed him had flaky skin that came of the brush….he get’s a weekly bath sometimes 2-3 times depending on how muddy he gets, due to the fact that i’ve made him a house dog and never had the pleasure of sleeping outside, i highly doubt he has outdoor allergies! where the food is concerned, i don’t thick so either becausei monitor his eating habits and i’ve changed it up 4 times now! one being that he is very funny when coming to food only certain type of dry food and meat he will eat! and because i thought he might be allergic to it. so i need help badly, when his uncomfortable i am as well ask my wife she sleeps on the couch lol
Interesting, I just asked my breeder about this, and wrote an article about dog bathing. Bathing multiple times a week may be too often. I have two Siberian Huskies and they have a double coat similar to the GSD. They are usually naturally clean because their outer coat is dirt repellent and water-proof. Too frequent bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils, and dry out their skin. Shampoo residue can also cause skin irritation.
My breeder sometimes bathes her dogs every week (for shows), but only with mild shampoo that is specially made for dogs. She says that once a week is ok to still maintain a nice coat.
With my Sibes I find that frequent brushing is sufficient to keep their coat clean. If they get really muddy, I just wipe them down with dog wipes.
What food are you currently using? Many dogs are allergic to wheat and corn. I feed my dogs a high-protein, grain free kibble, and they seem to do well on that.
Hi ShibaShake!!! I was actually reading this and had read Carol’s comment that she posted on Jauary 23rd 2012. I have the same problem with my 2yr old male Siberian Husky. It seems that we have had this problem since we first got him which he was 3 months old. I have had him on Taste of the Wild dry foods. I have tried the salmon and the fowl formulas and he is still having a problem. I really am starting to think that its not food related. And as far as I have read Taste of the Wild is grain free. We have taken him to the vet and they only response is that he has an allergy which we can see that. Also we have noticed that the only time he bites and licks is when we are away which makes me feel maybe there is an anxiety issue too? Any suggestions? Thanks so much!!
It could be from separation anxiety. When dogs are stressed, they may engage in displacement behaviors (such as self grooming) to calm themselves down. Does he also chew on things around the house? How does he act when you get back? Where does he spend his time when home alone?
Here are some of the things I looked at to address separation anxiety issues with my Shiba Inu.
http://shibashake.com/dog/separation-anxiety-dog-why-how-reduce-dog-stress
Thanks for bringing this up as another possible source of dog scratching and licking. I will definitely add it to the article.
Amazing site, so much super information here. I have a few questions here. My 1 year old german shepherd female seemed fine when I got her, however, at about 4 months she seemed to have issues with urine. It was actually struvite(sp?)crystals. Cleared that up as various vets said she would outgrow it. At about 7-8 months I had her vaccinated for rabies. She had a horrible allergic response to it…in fact, cried for one week in pain and went limb in her back. Since then, she had a horrible heat cycle (menstrual) and had allergic responses to everything. I had allergy testing done on her, and she’s allergic to beef and wheat. I have her on dogswell nutrisca lamb and chic pea now. With the heat cycle, she had blood shot eyes, just overall malaise. She just turned one in January, and started losing hair just on the ankle…I had the vet skin scrape her but she is negative for Sarcoptic and Demodec mange. Still itching horribly to a point where it has to hurt her. It is continual and gets worse towards evening. I flipped her over and did not see hair loss at all! She then started having issues with her anal glands…these keep getting full and need to be drained every week to two weeks. Her coat is wiry and not soft like my male GSD’s coat. His is shiny and soft. The gland issue is not good, and the vet told me I had to add more bulk to her diet, meaning fiber, so I’ve done that. But the itching is horrendous, and I’m not sure what to do. The vet just wants her on an allergy medication but I need to know the source. I’ve already done the test for foods, and she is not worse on grain, she is the same. I just don’t know how to treat her. Any suggestions? I’m worried as I consulted with another vet over the phone in California and she said it could be a thyroid disorder. We won’t know fully until a full panel is done, as she is the vet that did all the food allergies for her. HELP…suggestions!!!
Hello bestdogever,
I wish I could be of more help, but what you describe here is beyond my own experiences. I would consider consulting with a specialist and see what they say in terms options.
I went to a specialist for my Shiba Inu’s cracked tooth, and also for my Siberian Husky’s crooked leg. Both times, the respective specialists were able to give me a clear picture of available options, and how to best move forward.
Hugs to your girl. Hope she feels better soon. Please keep us updated when you have the time.
Hi, thank you so much for such an informative article. I was browsing the internet in attempt to find some help for my 3-year old Jack Russell Terrier. Recently my dog had a really bad ear infection and we took him to the vet and got antibiotics. He had already been Lately scratching his face a lot, but we thought it may of had something to do with his infected ear. His ear is better, but the scratching does not stop. He scratches his face and when he does he even whimpers. I feed him a high quality food (WELLNESS) and am not quite sure how to go about finding out what is wrong with him. I’m worried that about him and don’t want him to feel uncomfortable. What is the first step to take?
Thank you so much!
Hmmmm,
Has he been digging?
My Sibe Lara loves to dig, and often, a bunch of dirt would get into her ear and she would scratch it a lot as a result. We started to clean her ear every day, before sleep time, and that seemed to help things a lot.
Have you taken your boy back to the vet for a checkup of his ear? I would probably have a chat with the vet, and see what he has to say.
Another possibility is environmental allergies. We can observe where our dog spends most of his time, and see if there is anything there that may cause an allergic reaction. Dogs can also get stung by bees or spiders, which can also cause discomfort, and itching. Are there any unusual areas or bumps on his face?
How is his energy level? Is he eating and drinking normally? Is his stool normal?
Hi. I was curious about food allergies and all or any signs of them. My 2 year old husky has been scratching and nipping at her hair along her back and tail to the point it looks like a reversed mohawk. She’s been on Purina Pro Plan Lamb and Rice since she was able to start eating solid food. I’ve taken her to the vet and he’s said it could be allergies related to food or fleas (no longer any fleas, but when there were it was very little and taken care of immediately), or just simply dry skin? I’m switching her over to a bland diet of rice, hamburger, and green beans and see how that works. Any suggestions?
Hello Carol,
How is it going with the bland diet?
With Purina Pro Plan Lamb and Rice, I noticed that it contains corn gluten meal as well as wheat. Many dogs are allergic to corn and wheat. I feed both my Sibes a grain-free kibble, and that seems to work well for them. My Shiba Inu is allergic to wheat, and my Sibe Shania is allergic to oats. I am not sure about my other Sibe Lara, because I haven’t given her anything with wheat, corn, or oats. The only grain she has had is rice.
With my Shiba Inu, the wheat in his kibble caused him to itch a lot more than usual. He would also lick his paws more and he had some diarrhea. With my Sibes, they both had bad diarrhea, but I did not notice any significant increase in itching.
Here is a bit more on what to look for in a kibble-
http://shibashake.com/dog/feeding-your-dog-a-healthy-diet#dry_food
Hello,
I believe that my three year old schnauzer may be allergic to fish. She started eating a fish based food Dec 2010 and began licking her paws excessively in Jan 2011. I was told it was likely environmental and not food related, however she recently was sick and did not eat for 5 days; while she was sick she did not lick her paws. As soon as she was back on her food, she began licking and itching again and now it seems worse–her paws and ears are constantly hot too. I also give her chicken treats so I don’t know if it is the chicken or the fish so it is very frustrating. I read that your dogs are allergic to fish and that you feed EVO, however it has herring meal in it. Is this not a problem because it is not the main ingredient? Most kibbles have fish oil…is this ok if it is a fish allergy?
Hello Marie,
That is a very good point. In the case of Shania and Lara, they seem to only get problems when I actually feed them salmon and tuna. In particular, they get diarrhea from it. I did not try other fish. I am not sure if herring is different, or just that the kibble preparation process removes something that they are allergic to, but they seem ok with the EVO.
To rule out food allergies, I switched my dog onto a bland diet. I used boiled chicken and rice, but we can also use lamb, venison, or rabbit, as an alternate meat source if we think poultry is an issue. Has your Schnauzer had chicken treats earlier on, or was this a recent addition? What are the ingredients in her old food?
It usually takes a few days before the change in diet will have an effect. Then, if the allergy symptoms go away, we know it comes from the food.
I checked through the ingredient list of Blue Wilderness Chicken and did not see any fish, so perhaps that could be an option.
http://bluebuffalo.com/dog-food/wilderness-chicken
When your girl was sick, did she stay in the house the majority of the time? If that was the case, it could also reduce her exposure to environmental allergens.
Hugs to your Schnauzer. Let us know how it goes.
Hi,
I was wondering what you could tell me about my dog.. he’s been rubbing his nose on the rug and carpets which made a little part of his nose pink now… And I’m not sure if that’s from rubbing his nose too hard. Also he has fleas on him, but I don’t know the best way to treat him.. I already tried frontline but it didn’t seem to work… I also tried a oatmeal flea shampoo but they only seem to work for a couple days.. since I see fleas on him now I was thinking maybe my home is infested with fleas… And if you know the best product to get rid of them could you please tell me. thanks..
Hello Cyndi,
With fleas, it is necessary to not only get rid of the fleas on our dog currently, but to get rid of them in the environment where our dog sleeps and plays. If we do not remove the fleas from the environment, they would just get back onto the dog.
A few years ago, I rented an apartment that had fleas. I got some people to come over and flea-bomb it, which worked really well.
I also use flea and tick repellent regularly on my dogs, to prevent fleas and ticks from when they are walking outside. Note though, that all repellent products are toxic to some degree, so use with care.
http://shibashake.com/dog/itchy-dog#ticks
If the problem is serious, then the vet can probably provide a more powerful medicinal bath.
I have a little Yorkie/Maltese mix he is 2 years old and i think that he may have hotspots..But im not sure…I have a cone on him right now so he cant bite himself and he seems to have no problem until i take it off and then he scratches/bites himself until he looks like he is going to bleed..So i went to pet smart and got him a hot spot ointment and i put it on him 2 times a day…My mom thinks he might just be allergic to the new food we have got him…He also has a smell to him and i have to bathe him almost everyday now…Which i think is drying out his skin even more,,,Does anyone know what may be wrong with him or have any suggestions on what i should do to fix it…
Thanks
-Miranda Burroughs
Where does he itch?
The itchiness is likely from some kind of allergies, which can result from a variety of sources as described above. It is difficult to tell exactly which one just from the itchiness symptom. If there is a smell, then there is probably some skin infection.
When my dogs had extreme itching, I first took them to the vet. The vet can determine whether the itching is from skin parasites. The vet can also provide antibiotics to help with the skin infection.
With my Shiba Inu it wasn’t skin parasites, so I switched him to a bland diet and carefully observed his outside activities to determine if it is environmental allergens. It turned out he is allergic to wheat. With my Siberian Husky, it was skin parasites.