scratching poodle

[RoxyinLa]

I have a few things that I have questions about...some of what might be related to one another...My poodle, Bambi, has been scratching under her chin and around her mouth until the skin is red and blotchy. Today she scratched until it bled. I don't see a single flea on her, and I am not feeding her anything different that she could be allergic to. When she first got back from the groomer about 4 weeks ago she scratched at her face until it was raw and I just assumed that it was a razor burn type thing because it has happened before, even though this time it was much worse than usual. I wonder if she could have gotten some kind of infection from the groomer's clippers and if so, could it be affecting her as just an itch and in just the area around her mouth. I'm just guessing here, because I'm clueless...The only different thing is that just last month she had a bad ear infection and was treated with anti-biotics and drops. Her ears are red again so I've started using the drops (not an easy task, by the way!) so I'm wondering if some kind of infection may have spread from her ears to around her mouth..Is that even possible? She doesn't scratch all the time, and when she isn't scratching the area looks normal...no hair loss, sores, or bumps... but when she starts, she just really tears herself up. Has anyone ever had anything like this happen to them? And could anyone suggest anything that I could do to stop this itching?
Thanks for any opinions or advice.
Roxy

 

[xxxpoo]

If you're positive she doesn't have any parasites (fleas), it's probably some type of skin infection or she may be allergic to something the groomer used.

Have you always used this groomer? You should seek your Vets opinion on this matter so he/she can actually look at it.

 

[bubbatd]

You might want to use an elizabethen collar until you find the cause. If you have an aloe plant, apply some of the juice, but watch the eye area.

 

[RoxyinLa]

I am not positive that she isn't having a reaction to something. We are doing hurricane repairs and have a bare plywood kitchen floor right now. We've also been sanding and grouting and even though I vaccuum I'm sure I don't get all the dust and residue from our work. I wonder if she could be walking in something that is irritating her this much? My other dog isn't affected. I bathed Bambi yesterday with sulphadene shampoo and she didn't scratch as much afterward, but we'll see what today brings. What I can't figure out is why just around her mouth area? Another thought that crossed my mind was that about 3 weeks ago I took her to the vet for an ear infection and he had to muzzle her (and eventually sedate her!) to examine her ears...I wonder if the muzzle may have been used on a dog with mange or something else contagious! I would thing that in a vet's office as well as a groomer's everything would be sanitized. Thanks for your thoughts on this! I am open to any opinions!

 

[joce]

Have you changed her dog bowls lately? The chin scratching is what a lot of dogs do if they are bothering them.

 

[Gilshuman]

Look up Dermacton on the net, I get mine off ebay. It is wonderful for itching, fungal skin conditions etc and gives relief instantly. Our dogs stop scratching within minutes of putting it on them - all their doggy friends use it too.