My dog bites, scratches, loses hair. How to help a fearful dog?

Question

I have a Japanese mastiff he is 3 years old, we adopted him 2 months ago. He bites himself quite a bit and scratches and has started losing hair in armpits and back knees. I haven't been able to take him to a vet because he has an extreme fear of cars. And an extreme fear of stairs so I haven't been able to bathe him yet. Any suggestions? He has had a very hard 3 years of life and abuse. Pet's info: Dog | Mastiff | Male | neutered | 3 years old | 110 lbs

Dr. Leigh, DVM · Accepted Answer

It sounds like he could have some allergies with a secondary skin infection. He really should be seen by a vet to diagnose and treat. Your vet can do a skin scrape, cytology, and or culture to help diagnose. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, corticosteroid, hypoallergenic diet, and/or other medications. You could also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo, like Epi-Soothe, and add Free Form Snip Tips to his diet to see if that helps keep his skin and coat healthy. If you can't take him to a vet, you might be able to find a mobile vet that can come to your house to treat him. Also make sure to use a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, or Advantage to prevent fleas and ticks.

My dog bites, scratches, loses hair. How to help a fearful dog?

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