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smiles
Life is good!
Member since 2/06 1450 total posts
Name:
S
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Constant scratching and biting
Okay, apparently my vet is useless. My poor puppy has been scratching away for two months now. We can not figure out why. It is his belly (no hair) and his armpit (for lack of a better description) on his front paws. He is biting, scratching, making himself bleed at times. We have changed his food and taken him off chicken and chicken product completely. He is on a fish based food. He has been given two different antibiotics to try and clear it up, an antibiotic cream, special baths and even twice daily allergy pills. Nothing is helping.
Any guesses or suggestions? I feel so bad for him. He skin is red and he has bumps in some spots. The vet is saying it is an environmental allergy but has no idea from what. That is not going to help him and I am out of ideas.
TIA
Message edited 4/27/2011 11:47:10 AM.
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Posted 4/27/11 11:46 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
wo0shply
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 2702 total posts
Name:
Tass
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
i had a dog that was allergic to dust mites and rag weed. we had to give him benedryl.
You said you switched his food, how long did you switch it for and what food was it?
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| Posted 4/27/11 1:53 PM |
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Irishlass
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2961 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
I am having the same issue at the moment but what we found out was that she is allergic to flea bites. She didn't have fleas per say but was bitten, I don't know how that happens but that's what I have been told. She has gotten much better but is still itching a little. I am trying to cut out chicken but there is chicken by product in everything!!!
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| Posted 4/27/11 5:13 PM |
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KimberlyScott
Graceyn=My World <3
Member since 10/08 4173 total posts
Name:
Kimberly
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Posted by Irishbride
I am having the same issue at the moment but what we found out was that she is allergic to flea bites. She didn't have fleas per say but was bitten, I don't know how that happens but that's what I have been told. She has gotten much better but is still itching a little. I am trying to cut out chicken but there is chicken by product in everything!!!
I was told the same thing (flea bite) and envio. I usually give him benadryl and it clears up.
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| Posted 4/27/11 5:34 PM |
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smiles
Life is good!
Member since 2/06 1450 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
How long do you give benadryl for? How much?
He is now on Blue Longevity. It is fish based and he has been on for at least a month.
He is on allergy medicine, Chlorpheniramine.
It is doing nothing.
This has been going on a while. I see one of two bumps that could be bites but I am not sure what a flea bite looks like.
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| Posted 4/27/11 6:12 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Did he rule out other things like fleas,, chiggers, etc?
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| Posted 4/27/11 6:38 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Posted by Irishbride
I am having the same issue at the moment but what we found out was that she is allergic to flea bites. She didn't have fleas per say but was bitten, I don't know how that happens but that's what I have been told. She has gotten much better but is still itching a little. I am trying to cut out chicken but there is chicken by product in everything!!!
But if it's flea bite allergy, why continue to cut out chicken?
My dog gets allergic reactions when bitten by anything. Could last for weeks.
Best thing is the vet can give you an antiobiotic spray called Gentocin to relieve the itch and help it heal. Works amazingly.
I would say maybe time to try a new vet to help get some answers asap.
Message edited 4/27/2011 6:43:39 PM.
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| Posted 4/27/11 6:39 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Posted by smiles
How long do you give benadryl for? How much?
He is now on Blue Longevity. It is fish based and he has been on for at least a month.
He is on allergy medicine, Chlorpheniramine.
It is doing nothing.
This has been going on a while. I see one of two bumps that could be bites but I am not sure what a flea bite looks like.
More importantly than seeing flea bites, do you see any flea dirt? Thats flea droppings, little spots on the belly area that will look like dirt or black pepper. If you see this, your dog has fleas. You may never see a live flea. But you will see flea dirt.
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| Posted 4/27/11 6:46 PM |
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smiles
Life is good!
Member since 2/06 1450 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
He has no signs of fleas at all. He bites three areas, between his toes, his belly (where there is no hair) and that armpit area behind his front paws. The last area has scratch marks from his back paws scratching at it and not biting per say.
The vet took a piece of skin from the belly area and looked under a microscope to see if he saw yeast. Yeast is supposed to be a sign of allergy. He did not see what he thought he would and that is why he started us on the antibiotics again but they have done nothing. I am just at such a loss. I feel so bad that 70% of the day he is scratching or biting.
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| Posted 4/27/11 6:51 PM |
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bettybcafe
Big brother in the making
Member since 7/07 8611 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
You should do allergy testing
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| Posted 4/27/11 10:13 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
has the dog been tested for mites. My puppy had them in the beginning.
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| Posted 4/28/11 7:59 AM |
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pnm1654
Mommy to 2 boys!
Member since 5/05 4565 total posts
Name:
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
It might not be chicken vs. fish. Have you looked into Natural Balance foods? They have foods specifically for dogs with allergies. It will say LID (limited ingredients) on the bag. It contains no grains which many dogs are allergic too. Good Luck
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| Posted 4/29/11 8:51 AM |
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smiles
Life is good!
Member since 2/06 1450 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Thanks everyone. I am going to take all this info and figure out what is wrong with my baby. I have not seen him biting and scratching as much yesterday and this morning but he is still all red so I know he is still doing it.
Ugh, I hate not having the answers.
Thanks again.
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| Posted 4/29/11 9:14 AM |
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MetsGirl07
LIF O2 Vendor
Member since 12/07 16202 total posts
Name:
Deanna
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
from what you are describing, my dog has the same symptoms.
she has been allergic for a few years now.. just constantly biting and licking.
well we found out on our own that she is allergic to grass.
and the only reason we found this out is because when it snowed this winter and blanketed the grass for almost a month.. my dog has not scratched once.. once the snow melted.. she started scratching immediately.
the only thing we do to relieve it is give her prednisone.. and we don't give it to her everyday.. just when it gets bad.
we just deal with it unfortunately. 
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| Posted 4/29/11 11:22 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Posted by bettybcafe
You should do allergy testing
Agreed. Did the vet suggest this at all? With the hundreds of allergens out there, and with what you've done already, I'd get the testing done to settle it so you can set a course of action.
I also agree about the Gentocin. Our first dog had red spots on his belly and underarms when we got him. We'd clean him with sensitive skin baby wipes when he came inside, then spray him with Gentocin. Switched him to Natural Balance potato and fish, the problem cleared up.
Now they're both on Evo Herring and Salmon, extra fish oil pill, extra vitamin e pill. No more scratching.
I hope you find the source soon, I feel for you and your pup.
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| Posted 4/29/11 5:54 PM |
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Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
Posted by bettybcafe
You should do allergy testing
I second this..
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| Posted 4/29/11 7:22 PM |
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Rubylove
LIF Infant
Member since 4/11 191 total posts
Name:
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Re: Constant scratching and biting
my parents in law havea Bichon who has done this for years. He will bite and scratch himself raw. They just say he has super sensitive/dry skin. They've put him in shirts to keep him from hurting the skin. Now I wonder if he has allergies though.
I've told them to try the Bitter Apple spray to keep from licking/biting.
Don't let it get out of hand though, their poor doggy scratched himself so bad he ended up getting an infection that went into his blood and they almost lost him.
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| Posted 4/30/11 9:10 PM |
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