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Why are all my dogs severely itchy with hair loss and scabs?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 7 years and 5 months old | 5 lbs

She has intense itching and hair loss and I have 3 dogs and they are all itchy and have lost alot of hair my smallest dog has lost almost half her coat they have alot of scabs. It's not fleas and I have tried medicated shampoos for skin infections, natural shampoo, shampoos with Hydrocortisone, and just itching and hypoallergenic shampoos. Nothing works I have tried a hot spot spray at first and it didn't work. We have a dirt backyard could that have something to do with this. Or maybe the food

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 1st, 2017

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you are not using one of the better topical or oral flea preventatives, & you are just relying on a store bought flea collar, then I would not rule out fleas. In sensitive dogs, all it takes is 1-2 fleas to drive them crazy. For all of your dogs to be itching & losing hair, I would also want to rule out sarcoptic mange. This mite is easily spread from dog to dog. And it is possible for all of your dogs to suffer in various ways for environmental allergens. If you can, take the most seriously affected dog to your vet. With a couple of skin tests, most things can be ruled in or out & the proper treatment/medications can be given for relief. Hope everyone is doing well soon. Take care.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on August 9th, 2019

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are medications such as Apoquel or prednisone which may help with the itch. 

 There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. 

Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). 

If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests.

 Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!


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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on December 10th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This could also be due to something like mange and a physical examination and basic diagnostics would be needed to know for sure what is going on and that is something your veterinarian could do. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on July 16th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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