My dog is itching and biting her feet. Benadryl isn't helping.

Question

Hello, I have an Australian Shepherd female that has some type of allergy for the past 2 weeks, biting her feet and legs continually. I give her Benadryl pills, a half at a time, and bathing still does not stop the itching. Can you help me help my girl? Pet's info: Dog | Australian Shepherd - miniature | Female | spayed | 28 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I am so sorry that Daisy is having this problem. I certainly understand how frustrating it is to watch her be so itchy. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types), external parasites (such as fleas or mites), or secondary infections (bacterial or yeast). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You could be dealing with a flea allergy even if you regularly treat Daisy for fleas and have not seen any fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Daisy to discuss your treatment options. Daisy's veterinarian can run a few simple skin tests to rule out fungus, mites, or bacteria as a cause of secondary infections which will make her more itchy. Treating secondary infections can involve topical treatments (like shampoos, wipes or sprays) or may involve oral medications. You can then discuss medication for the itching (which may be prescription or over the counter medication). There are a number of good treatment options for itching and allergies (including antihistamines other than Benadryl), but sometimes it takes a little while to find the right combination for your dog. Best of luck to you and Daisy. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

My dog is itching and biting her feet. Benadryl isn't helping.

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