Help me stop the itching!

[Kalyxa]

Lola's itchiness is insane lately. Typically she just showed a special fondness for back scratches, but that's it. The last couple weeks though...

She scratches all the time. No localized spots, just everywhere. If she's awake, she scratches. If we're walking and stop at an intersection, she scratches. She will prioritize scratching over playing, eating, socializing.

When we first got here she had some itchy red spots on her side, I got her an essential oil mix that was supposed to soothe the skin and they cleared up right away. Few weeks of normality, then this starts.

She has a dry patch at the base of her tail, and 2 or 3 tiny red spots further up her topline. And she keeps rubbing at her muzzle, sometimes it looks red, then back to normal.That probably concerns me the most, because it's the only part of her that is showing effects from the scratching.

I tried the oil again and it didn't help at all. I stopped giving her any kind of treats or food beside her kibble (I'd started using some frozen cooked pork as treats when it started and thought she just reacted to that). When that didn't work... I've been trying ACV on her food every day and applied topically every other day, but I just started that 4 days ago so not much change. I feel like itchiness definitely subsides after I put it directly into her coat. She eats Costco brand super premium kibble and has been fine on it all year, but for the hell of it I bought a small bag of Canidae grain free bison kibble today in case it's a sudden food sensitivity.

What else can I try? What could it be? I haven't gone to the vet because I feel like they'd just give me antihistamines or cortisone and call it good. I actually want to know WHY and deal with that. I don't know, should I take her in? Should I wait and see how the new food and ACV work? I really almost hope it's not the food because I have another unopened 45 lb bag and this mostly full one. But if it is I'll make the changes. I just want her to be comfortable again, she hasn't been herself. On walks she's still her normal self, but she is not playful in the house anymore.

 

[MericoX]

Has she been checked for fleas?

 

[smkie]

I had to take Neccy completely off of all grain. Not a crumb, even a little set her right back to 30 days straight. It took baths with a vinegar rinse and eventually special shampoo and meds from the vet. Now we have to be dliligent. THere is no mistake if there has been a slip up. It takes such a tiny bit to send her right back to itching hell. I am sorry your dog is going through an itching ordeal. I hope you find the right answer. Ours was kibble that is absolutely grain free. ANd nobody can ever drop a crumb or leave it where she can steal it.

THe fur on NEccy's base of her tail is the one place it never grew back.

Neccy;'s muzzle also swells. Its the first sign. My neighbors let their trash get carried into the field where we walk. I dind't even know she had found a bite until I saw her face and then the rest began. Your situation just sounds so familiar. benedryl helped but it was only a bandaid. I did get a tube of women's yeast medicine and rubbed it in the worst of it, and that seemed like immediate relief to her. ONly used it when she was at her worst and watched her so she didnt' lick it off.

Just remember it takes a full 30 days for the gut to heal and the body to return to a normal state.

 

[Kalyxa]

Has she been checked for fleas?

Whoops, forgot to mention that. It was the first thing I looked for, she got a bath, I went through her whole coat with a flea comb, checked thoroughly, nothing.

I had to take Neccy completely off of all grain. Not a crumb, even a little set her right back to 30 days straight. It took baths with a vinegar rinse and eventually special shampoo and meds from the vet. Now we have to be dliligent. THere is no mistake if there has been a slip up. It takes such a tiny bit to send her right back to itching hell. I am sorry your dog is going through an itching ordeal. I hope you find the right answer. Ours was kibble that is absolutely grain free. ANd nobody can ever drop a crumb or leave it where she can steal it.

THe fur on NEccy's base of her tail is the one place it never grew back.

Neccy;'s muzzle also swells. Its the first sign. My neighbors let their trash get carried into the field where we walk. I dind't even know she had found a bite until I saw her face and then the rest began. Your situation just sounds so familiar. benedryl helped but it was only a bandaid. I did get a tube of women's yeast medicine and rubbed it in the worst of it, and that seemed like immediate relief to her. ONly used it when she was at her worst and watched her so she didnt' lick it off.

Just remember it takes a full 30 days for the gut to heal and the body to return to a normal state.

Poor girlie, I'm glad it can be managed if that's what it is. Lola is dreadful about snatching food from the bushes when we're walking. I didn't know so many people tossed food on the ground in this city until I brought Lola up here. I didn't even think about that in regards to going grain free, I'll be extra diligent about it. I tried benadryl on her with the first round of itching but I hated how drowsy it made her.

If it is a food sensitivity, is it common for them to just suddenly crop up like this? Lola's 5 years old.

 

[*blackrose]

Has she been checked for fleas?

That was my first thought as well.

If she were my dog, I'd treat for fleas. If I was still having issues, I'd start her on an antihistamine/possible steroid if the antihistamine alone didn't cut it, just to get the itching under control. Then I'd start a food trial, but those can take up to 3-6 months before you start to see any affect. If after she's been on a food trial and when she's taken off the antihistamines/steroids she gets super itchy again, I'd either start to look into maintaining her on the antihistamine/steroids or look into allergy testing.

ETA: And fish oils and soothing/medicated baths never hurt anyone.

With Cynder, she just has some very mild allergies. I keep them in check with benadryl, medicated baths once a month, and Temaril-P for when she gets SUPER itchy.

 

[smkie]

THe previous owners that had Neccy told me she was fine until she was 11. SHe had been in that condition for 2 years. THey had also given her cooked bones all her life, her gut was a mess. She is a terrible thief tho, so everyone had to go on grain free. A few pieces of kitten chow when I was weaning the kittens did exactly the same thing. I was grateful for her being sleepy because anything was better than her being itchy for her sanity and mine.

 

[Kalyxa]

Okay here's a thought:

Could it be the weather? I always get dry skin during the winter, and have to keep moisturizing my arms especially, otherwise they get itchy and drive me nuts. Could it be the same kind of thing for her? Lola grew up in Baja and this is her first real winter, and I know Seattle doesn't exactly freeze over, but change is change.

 

[Devika]

Hi

I would recommend you to visit vet immediately than actually wasting time here because things might get serious later. Its a skin problem and I believe medication is must.

Thank You,