Any ideas?

[mschrisgo2]

Sometimes I think we should have a sub-forum for "pets"...
Anyway, I have a new dog, that I brought home exactly 3 weeks ago. Since the day I brought her home, she has chewed on her front legs, intently, as though she is after bugs. She was vetted before I got her, and nothing was noted about this issue.

For several reasons, I won't be able to get her in to our vet until Sat (9/27). Meanwhile, I've bathed her, cleaned our carpet, washed all of the dogs' bedding and my bedding.

Other dog is also scratching, but I can't find any fleas or flea dirt on either of them. Vets office had said to try Capstar, which I gave to both of them late in the afternoon yesterday, and if it worked we'd know we were dealing with fleas. Um, NO, they both scratched all night long, and right now new girl is going at her legs again!

Any other ideas? I'm in California, and it has been exceedingly dry; I haven't seen a mosquito in many months, doesn't seem to be fleas (they usually leave evidence)-- ??

[pony mom]

My late adopted dog did this. It's most likely allergies, possibly contact (like grass/pollen) or food. I had tried every kind of food at that time (grain-free dry food wasn't available back then), herbs, supplements, etc. What finally did make a difference was switching to a homemade raw diet. After that, they would flair up only in the fall. I don't think she had a food allergy, but removing grains seemed to make a difference.

But oh! The constant gnawing and scratching was awful! Her poor belly was always pink and warm and her feet were always damp from chewing. You can try an oatmeal shampoo, or make a colloidal oatmeal rinse for some temporary relief. Do not give any immune building supplements, as the allergies are the immune system's overreaction to the allergies.

Acupuncture may help. It's very frustrating for both you and the dog. Maybe the dry weather has triggered a reaction and the itching may calm down when the weather changes.

[Blackdog Lin]

Allergies. It's a classic allergic dog reaction. (been there done that)

You will have plenty of time to explore remedies - and to try to make her more comfortable. It's a process - not necessarily something you can figure out right away.

We went through many years trying to figure out how to help our baby. We finally did - but it was hit and miss for many years. Allergies are hell.

[sweetana3]

Friend's dog was allergic to something in her food. Vet put the dog on a grain free food. Her itching and yeast infection is getting better.

[Gardenarian]

They might have sunburn or dry skin, too. My dogs like to lie in the sun, though they get too much (those peeling noses!) I put some olive oil in their food to help with the drive skin, and rub some into their coats too (greyhounds - thin fur.)

[larknm]

Grain-free and/or raw diet definitely worth trying. However, it can be emotionally-based. You can think what helps her relax--more running outdoors where she can sniff a lot and go at her own pace (not on leash) for as long as she needs to. You can give her Zyrtec and see if that helps. Especially if you're having an allergy season of some flowers or trees. You can spray or rub in apple cider vinegar at least twice a day. You can give her a marrow bone a day to chew--that relieves anxiety, helps digestion if given after a meal, and cleans teeth. You have to get them from a healthy grocery store or they'll just pick up whatever bad stuff the cows were fed.

[Spartana]

allergys most likely. You'll probably have to put him on Predisone or some sort of allergy meds until you can find the cause and find a more natural remedy.

[iris lilies]

Skin issues have a myriad of causes. Start with eliminating grains--really, corn is the worst offender. Grass allergies are rife.

Your vet will, most likely, start with the easiest things to eliminate and tick them off the list. Skin issues are really tough to diagnose. Good luck!

[Mary B.]

Allergies are certainly a good possibility. Dogs can take Benadryl, which I can't spell but which does seem to help. (Our basset took it after a wasp bite gave her very nasty hives. May I advise all of you not to eat wasps?)

Stress is another possibility. Can't remember if you said she was a rescue? We had a cat once who suffered great stress and sorrow when his best friend-cat was killed by a car -- he tore all the fur from the inside of his legs.

[Float On]

I have to 2nd the Benadryl. I've been giving it to my dog for 3 months now and he's got hair again on his front legs and backside. I also add coconut oil and olive oil to his food, and changed him to grain-free soft food. Seems to really help his allergies a lot.

[profnot]

My late adopted dog did this. It's most likely allergies, possibly contact (like grass/pollen) or food. I had tried every kind of food at that time (grain-free dry food wasn't available back then), herbs, supplements, etc. What finally did make a difference was switching to a homemade raw diet. After that, they would flair up only in the fall. I don't think she had a food allergy, but removing grains seemed to make a difference.

But oh! The constant gnawing and scratching was awful! Her poor belly was always pink and warm and her feet were always damp from chewing. You can try an oatmeal shampoo, or make a colloidal oatmeal rinse for some temporary relief. Do not give any immune building supplements, as the allergies are the immune system's overreaction to the allergies.

Acupuncture may help. It's very frustrating for both you and the dog. Maybe the dry weather has triggered a reaction and the itching may calm down when the weather changes.


Totally agree.

[mschrisgo2]

Thanks for the ideas. She is a rescue, and was transplanted from northern Utah, where it was both cooler and moister and she lived outside, to dry and hot California, where she is now living indoors. She is a cocker spaniel, with hair that was shaved very short, and she is on a totally grain-free diet. She is stressed, still missing "her boy" who gave her away. (she checks out every young man, and is noticeably sad when she sees that it isn't him.) I'm giving her as much time and exercise as I can. Hopefully, this will be short-lived. We'll see what the vet says on Saturday.
Thanks again.

[mschrisgo2]

Vet said she's totally wonderfully healthy and he thinks her chewing is stress-related. I'm doing some TTouch massage with her, and longer walks with only her in the morning, and she had a nice bath with a yummy aloe vera shampoo yesterday. She seems happier and is chewing on herself less. I feel like we're headed in the right direction.

[mschrisgo2]

Oh my! What a difference a week makes... the continuing saga... she began to really snuggle up with me, loving the TTouch massages... and I started getting nasty itchy red bites on me. Since we were now into the 7am-4:30pm work week, I found a different vet, who has evening hours 4 days a week. He listened to her story, including me getting bitten, said he believed a skin scraping was in order, and found MITES!! lots of them! "walking dandruff" mites. No, she doesn't have the "characteristic" hair loss, no she doesn't look like she has dandruff, but there was no denying those bugs under the microscope- I saw them with my own eyes! We got an oral medicine, ivermectin, for her and for my other dog because it is highly contagious. Yikes and Yuck!!

PS I found out that the best treatment for those bites on people is tea tree oil (Trader Joe's, 1 oz bottle)- stopped the itch and the pain immediately, bite nearly completely gone by morning.