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My dog is scratching her neck non-stop. Is it fleas or something else?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Is it normal that my dog scratches her neck every 3- 5 minutes or is there something biting her? (Eg. Fleas)

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 15th, 2017

If your dog is scratching that often, I would be concerned something is irritating her. She could have fleas or an allergy causing irritation, but we would also be concerned about itching in the ears (can look like they are scratching the neck when they are trying to get the ears) or the oral cavity (teeth). You can try looking at the ears (into the ear canal) and mouth for any signs of pain/discomfort/discharge/odor. If these are present, a visit to the vet is in order. If they are not, then you could try starting a flea preventative. If no improvement is seen, then a visit to your vet is needed.

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    Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Fleas are an extremely common cause of scratching in dogs. If he/she is not currently on a preventative product, I would definitely think to rule this out as a possibility. Look for scratching near the hind end at the tail base to look for cuts and lesions. Also, use a flea comb (you can get one of these at a pet store) to comb through the hair on your dog's coat. Look for evidence of dead fleas or live fleas. Even the presence of a single flea can cause significant discomfort particularly if you dog has an allergy to them.

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