Why is my dog chewing his legs raw? Could it be allergies or stress?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

This sounds like a food allergy to me, though fleas are a constant threat and she should be on a good quality flea prevention from your vet. Food allergies in dogs are almost always due to a sensitivity to the protein source. I suggest a food trial. Get a food that has a protein source your dog has never been exposed to, such as venison or duck. Ask you vet about limited protein foods they recommend. Also, treat your house and yard for fleas, just to make sure this isn't a problem. Fleas are opportunistic and will hitch a ride indoors on your pant leg. Behavioral chewing is much less common, but in order to curb that possibility, make sure Yuki gets plenty of playtime and exercise, to tire her physically and mentally. Poms are smart little things and behavior problems often stem from very intelligent dogs not having enough to keep them busy, they need a 'job'. Teach her obedience, get her involved in agility, take her for walks, runs, arrange playdates with other dogs, take her with you wherever you can, teach her tricks, play fetch, anything and everything you can to tire her body and keep her mind busy. Consider getting her a slow feeder or puzzle feeder to make her 'hunt' for her food, and thereby keep her mind occupied and stimulated. The best toy I've found for dogs that need something to do is a Kong toy. They are great for chewing, they bounce randomly so some dogs learn how to amuse themselves with it, and it has a hollow place you can stuff with peanut butter or some other treat to keep her quiet and occupied and not chewing on herself. Hopefully some combination of these will help distract her from chewing herself.

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat him with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might revile an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the chewing and repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Aster. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian to have his leg assessed. Yes, a seasonal allergy is possible due to you new location. He could also be experiencing an overgrowth of mites known as Demodex. This is diagnosed with a procedure known as a skin scrape. This tends to cause bald patches. In the meantime, you can bathe him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I would also place an E-collar on him to prevent any further self trauma. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. This is quite severe and warrants therapy. The likely secondary infections need to to be addressed and the itchiness also need to be addressed to prevent this issue from getting worse. Medications like prednisone can be used for the itchiness and antibiotics for the infections. In the meantime, you can use an e-collar in the meantime to prevent further self-trauma. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

If Jeb is a puppy, some itching/scratching can be normal, we often attribute this to growing skin. If the skin is becoming red or raw, there is loss of hair, or the hair is becoming discolored or there are any crusts/dandruff/pimple like lesions these can be signs of an issue such as allergies and would necessitate a visit to the vet. Giving a fatty acid supplement can help keep the skin moisturized and can decrease inflammation and itching. Products are available at your vet's office, at most pet stores, or online (such as the product Welactin). Continued licking of one specific spot on the body, such as the top of the foot/wrist area, can sometimes be seen with compulsive behavior so if it is just one specific spot then a visit to the vet to discuss this is warranted.

It is unusual for a food allergy to only affect one area and there may be an underlying trigger or painful focus in the area which should be excluded by your vet, compulsive behaviors can also develop but would improve with an e collar and changes in routine such as additional walks, activities and chew toys to distract him. Food sensitivities are best ruled out by a 6week food trial on a hydrolyzed diet such as royal canin hypoallergenic, symptoms would then recur if you rechallenge with the original foods