Itchy in groin/underbelly area

Finnegan's been scratching and nibbling rather profusely in his groin and lower underbelly area for the past week or so. It's gotten progressively worse. I've scoured the skin in that area and it's healthy, free of blemishes, redness or any other visual issues. Beauty isn't itching at all.

He's fed Acana grainfree, I use mild detergent on his bedding, same stuff as I've always used. Nothing else has specifically changed in the household to cause this.

The only thing I've thought of as a possibility are seasonal allergies of some sort. Should I try a few days of Benadryl to see if it makes a difference? Any thoughts?

I would give the Benadryl a shot. You can also wipe down his belly with a warm wet washcloth when he comes in from outside to see if that helps.

Steve had awful trouble with this for much of the summer, and the only thing I can attribute it to is seasonal allergies. The weather's changed and it's gone.

You can try Benadryl, but it often doesn't work with dogs. You could also try a hydrocortisone shampoo, which seemed to help Steve.

Just weird to me that seasonal allergies would happen in mid-October?

I can get him some hydrocortisone shampoo and give that a whirl.

I don't know where you live, but here at least with our climate, we see a considerably large spike in allergy symptoms at this time a year.

Yep, October is a bad time for allergies -- says my dad, sister and Renegade.

Most likely is environmental for sure, but thought I'd add I've read of at least five other dogs who have started itching on the new Acana formulations of their grain-frees. Just as an FYI if for some reason it doesn't stop. I do realize food allergies are a lot more rare, so it's more than likely environmental, but thought I'd add that.

Perhaps, but this is his second bag of the new grain free and the issue just cropped up about a week ago.

Benadryl helps Juno a little but I know lots of dogs that it doesn't touch at all.... so I would try the Benadryl but don't be surprised if you don't notice a difference. I know my friend has had better luck with hydroxyzine but I'm pretty sure that's Rx only.

Yeah. I'll take him to the vet if I have to... I gave him a half pill of Benadryl this morning and this evening to little effect. Bathed him with hydrocortisone shampoo and have seen a bit of improvement, but not much. Been putting Dr. Maggie's on him, but he licks it off. I'd hate to cone him. He just keeps scratching and scratching.

A small update, he has a mild rash on one side. I think it's from giving the area so much chew/scratch attention. He's getting coned overnight, poor sod.

BUT... I may have found the culprit. I started using a new laundry detergent this week. I was out of mine, Costco wasn't happening until Monday (tomorrow) so I borrowed the roomie's rather heavily-scented stuff. Around that time, the scratching started happening, so I'm thinking it may be what's wrong. I hadn't even thought of it when I was trying to think of things that I've changed... derp.

Bought a small bottle of perfume-free detergent and perfume-free dryer sheets for good measure, and will wash all bedding tonight. opcorn:

Ugh...Hope the new detergent helps. Sounds very possible with the timing of it all.

If not you might try flea bath/spot on/spray/something.

Tyr was mega itchy too and went to the vet, was put on pred for 10 days and then hydroxizine with no relief. The vet also did a skin scraping for mites and combed through him for fleas. Diagnosed it as allergies (gooey eyes, ears and anals supported that thought).

Over the weekend I found one flea on the poor guy - after looking for them daily for a couple months. Just to show how elusive those tiny things are, and that's in a short coated dog.

It might be dermatitis. Here's an article that describes the condition. Sounds like you've already addressed changing the food you are feeding.

http://avidlifepet.com/dog-dermatitis/

Yup, was totally the detergent. Other than having pretty dry skin from being bathed two days in a row, he's feeling MUCH better.