My dog is scratching and hyper after backyard, no rash. What to do?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry Charlie is having this problem. It is likely a contact rash and not usually a terribly threatening issue. I would recommend bathing him in your regular shampoo with a good rinse after. If it is very itchy-Benadryl is generally accepted as safe for dogs and you can find a dosing for this medication online by searching the Merck Veterinary Manual. Triple antibiotic ointment is considered safe topically if your pet is not allowed to ingest any of it as well. If the rash spreads further or worsens quickly or you notice any other issues or abnormal behaviors besides this rash-generally this then warrants a trip to your vet to stave off symptoms and be treated for a potential reaction. I hope this helps and that Charlie feels better soon!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Jack. Allergies can be very frustrating but with the right diagnosis and treatment, can be effectively managed. You have described what could very well be seasonal allergies called Atopy in dogs since you talk about a seasonal pattern. We are in a peak time for late summer allergies in humans and dogs who are allergic to weed pollens which are high at this time of year. Of course other inhaled allergies could be present and cross reactivity exists between some allergens. Each year or allergy season can be worse than the last if the pet becomes allergic to more things. Dogs can also be allergic to flea bites called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and a smaller group of allergic dogs can have food allergies. What you are describing sounds like an inflammation/infection of the skin due to self trauma caused by Jack licking, scratching, chewing, etc those areas. Once the skin barrier is broken the surface bacteria can multiply and gain access to the deeper skin areas causing problems like you discuss. I would advise taking Jack to your vet and let them take a thorough history, do a complete physical, and then advise some diagnostics and/or treatment to address what is going on. Some skin diagnostics include skin scrape, Wood's lamp exam, fungal culture, etc. These would be performed to rule out a problem with mites or fungal organisms. Treatment for allergies includes antibiotics, antihistamines, sometimes steroids for itching, immune modulating drugs (Apoquel), using a good flea/tick product advised by your vet, fish oil, topical treatments, etc. If you wanted to pursue allergy testing, your vet can advise you on that. There are skin tests and blood tests for that and sometimes that involves going to a veterinary dermatologist for some of those services. The goal would be to identify the allergies and then start a hyposensitization program to decrease the body's immune response to the allergy, very similar to allergy shots. They even make allergy drops or sprays that are oral now. Good luck with Jack. I hope he gets a lot more comfortable very soon.

It sounds like something irritated his skin. Do some investigating and see if you can part his hair away and look at his skin for more clues. IF you don't see any irritation, then the culprit was probably not severe enough to cause harm to the skin. You can then try bathing him in an aloe-based or oatmeal-based shampoo to see if this can help calm his skin down and then monitor him for the next few hours for improvement. If hsi irriation worsens or does not resolve, then it is best to get Bix evaluated by your vet for further treatment. Best of luck moving forward with Bix and I hope that his irritation resolves soon. Take care.

They get scabies generally from other dogs. He is probably allergic to something in the yard. I recommend bathing him with a hypoallergenic shampoo, and you can give Benadryl to reduce the allergic reaction. There is a section on this website that has information and dosages for common over the counter medications. If the skin isn’t improving in a few days I recommend a veterinary exam and treatment. They may prescribe medication to reduce the rash and itching, and if the skin looks infected oral antibiotics. I would keep him out of the yard until this resolves. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Wilber.

If he scratches and is itchy year round, it could be a food allergy or an indoor allergen. Discuss desensitization injections (allergy shots), hydrolyzed diets, antihistamine use and food elimination trials with your veterinarian. https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-a-novel-protein-pet-food/ https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/

Poor Ivar! These could certainly be from outside like from ants or it could be a bacterial infection secondary to allergies. You could try Benadryl and a medicated bath. I like miconahex shampoo or something similar that has chlorohexidine in it. See link below for Benadryl dosing. If they aren't improving or if they are getting worse, I would have your vet take a look at them to ensure he doesn't need a stronger allergy medicine or oral antibiotics. I would also make sure he isn't licking at them. I would put a cone collar on him if needed. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

If you haven't yet had him seen by a vet, ideally I would recommend that you have him evaluated. He may have a secondary bacterial infection that needs to be cleared up with antibiotics, and he may benefit from prescription medications such as Apoquel which can make a big difference for these guys! If you are unable to get him to the vet, you can try him on an antihistamine such as Benadryl. See here for dosing info: https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/. Try switching him to a "sensitive skin" food, such as this: (this s actually what I feed my dog who has some skin allergies/dry skin/itchiness) https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/hills-science-diet-adult-sensitive-stomach-and-skin-chicken-recipe-dry-dog-food You can also give some Omega 3 supplements, as this may help as well. Bathe him once a week to cut down on topical allergens being absorbed in the skin, and follow with a dog cream rinse. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-shampoo-with-vitamin-d3 https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-rinse-with-vitamin-d3 If these "at home" measures don't give him relief, though, get him in to see your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!