Why is my dog itching and rubbing her lower back, causing calluses?

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!

Poor Frank! This itching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam Monday. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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 quite uncomfortable for Bruno! One of the most common causes of redness and itchiness of the back legs and hind end is irritation from flea bites. I understand that he is on a flea preventative, but make sure it is one of high quality (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or Advantix) because many other OTC preventatives are fairly ineffective. Many dogs are also allergic to flea bites, in that the saliva injected from one bite can cause significant irritation, even if a flea infestation is not present. In some cases, excessive itching can cause a skin infection to develop, which causes more itching, and creates a vicious cycle. You can try bathing him in a gentle oatmeal based dog shampoo to ease some discomfort, but also assure that he is on a good flea preventative (wait 2 days after bathing to apply a topical product like Advantix). If the redness and itchiness persist, Bruno should see a vet to determine if a skin infection is present, as this would require antibiotics for treatment. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

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 Bella with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal 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 repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her 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 her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Itching around the base of the spine/top of tail is frequently indicative of fleas or flea allergy complicated by a skin infection. A good quality flea treatment and a soothing skin ointment suitable for use on dogs should be applied; a full vet visit is recommended if it persists beyond 7days or spreads further to rule out bacterial or fungal infection

Hello, sorry to hear about Peanut. The area appears red with hair loss likely from him biting/chewing at it. Potential causes for this may include a local allergy with development of a secondary hotspot, he may be very itchy from flea allergy dermatitis, or he could have a primary skin infection with bacteria, yeast, or even parasites. I would recommend having his veterinarian examine that portion of his lower back to determine if this is most likely associated with allergies or an infection which will then direct this treatment suggestions. In the interim make sure he is not licking or scratching at the area incessantly. Hope this helps and best of luck.