Help! My dog is itching terribly. Is it a bug or skin issue?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | 9 months and 4 days old | 5.5 lbs
My dog has a bug. She have itching badly.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 12th, 2017
This looks like an area of infection and inflammation of the skin, probably from itching excessively. Sasha needs to be seen by a vet so she can be prescribed some antibiotics and possibly some itch medication. Your vet can also make a recommendation for a good flea control for Sasha. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 15th, 2017
Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There are a few things that could be going on with Sasha, but I would start by making sure she doesn't have fleas. This is a common area for fleas to collect and bite, which can make her itchy. Try treating for fleas, and if that doesn't work they start looking for other causes including hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, infected anal glands, etc. Also, they can sometimes get a 'hot spot' or a patch of skin infection, where they have been chewing because of the moisture and bacteria in their saliva, so you may need to treat a secondary skin infection as well. Best of luck with Sasha.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my dog has been scratching constantly since I brought her home form the kennel on August 20th. She's always been an itchy dog but lately it has been way worse than normal. She is breaking her skin and has red inflammed spots on her hind legs and
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Trisha! It's hard to say 100% in the pictures but Trisha may have a skin infection which can make scratching worse. She likely has underlying allergies. I can tell from the pictures that she likely licks excessively too (the fur around her vulva is red brown which is salivary staining). Plus you mentioned that she is an itchy dog in general. This time of year can also be hard on dogs with allergies. Allergies can be from food allergies (especially if allergy symptoms occur year round) or environmental allergies or atopy (also year round but can be exasperated by food or environmental allergies). I always tell my clients that a lot of dogs need to be on a few medications plus a diet change to keep them comfortable. First things first, she needs to be checked by your vet for infection. If she has a bacterial skin infection she will likely be put on an antibiotic. To rule out food allergies as the cause of her scratching I recommend changing her
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My name is Kyle and I own a German Shepherd named Sasha. Over the past month, the skin on her lower back (where her back meets her tail) has been turning grey and scaley and losing hair. Her tail is also losing hair. When I touch her tail, she moves
Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. There are a few things that could be going on with Sasha, but I would start by making sure she doesn't have fleas. This is a common area for fleas to collect and bite, which can make her itchy. Try treating for fleas, and if that doesn't work they start looking for other causes including hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, infected anal glands, etc. Also, they can sometimes get a 'hot spot' or a patch of skin infection, where they have been chewing because of the moisture and bacteria in their saliva, so you may need to treat a secondary skin infection as well. Best of luck with Sasha.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
My dog has these spots (and some other marks) on her belly near her genital area. They just turned up a few days ago, aren’t irritating her, aren’t red or bumpy or crusty. Just a flat bald spot in a perfect circle, some have peeling edges. She’s othe
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Sasha! It's hard to tell in the picture. The 2 pink areas look like scars. But describing them with a scaly crust around them sounds like a skin infection. I think it is fine to watch for worsening before taking her to the Vet. If you notice small white heads or red bumps then that likely confirms a skin infection and she should be seen. You can try the below shampoo and bathe her twice weekly leaving the lather on for 10 mins before rinsing. I wish Sasha the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27306
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Dexter gets these reactions seasonally only and it seems only after being outside. He will get them when nothing in his diet changes. What could be the causes? He gets very itchy and usually benedryl will takes care of it. If untreated, could it beco
It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the itch so it can be treated appropriately. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. Once the infection has resolved a long term allergy medication
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My border collie itches himself constantly and has red scabed patches under his armpits... he has to stop all the time to itch himself. We don't have fleas here. We have already switched his food and have started him on fish oils. Should I take him t
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Bo! You are describing a very itchy dog! I think he would benefit by being seen by your Vet. There are many other causes for severe scratching that aren't from fleas or food allergies: allergic reaction, yeast or bacterial infection or scabies (a contagious mite). Your Vet may do a skin scrape to rule out mites Then prescribe something to relieve the scratching, possibly an antibiotic or a medicated shampoo. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is staying the week with me at college and there are these small, skinny bugs that keep biting him around his rear. It’s causing him to gnaw at himself all night. I picked some of them out. Do I need to take him in to see a vet or could I just
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! It’s hard to see the bug in your picture. It is likely fleas. I would start a flea medication. I like the oral ones like Nexgard, Simparica or Bravecto and I also like the Setesto collar which lasts 8 months. With these you can bathe him as well. With the topical medications you can’t bathe until 2 days after application. And personally I do not think they work as well. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog hasn’t been doing none stop scratching at his neck and chest and constantly biting at his front legs. He’s also constantly scratching his left eye and I have to wipe boogers from is quite often. I haven’t found fleas or ticks. I don’t know i
It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the itch so it can be treated appropriately. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, My self Mriganka Bain, having Saint Barnard. she was well but in the last few days, she is suffering from skin disease. She is just 3 years old. Can you please suggest me any medicine.
It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the itch so it can be treated appropriately. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. Once the infection has resolved a long term allergy medication
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog is shedding this sticky hard to remove black substance which I do not know is skin or not. He also has this really bad smell which is has a similar smell to something rotting. Hes always scratching and sometimes his eyes get this green gooey s
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. It sounds like this possible infection may be significant though it is hard to tell without an examination. 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 wh
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Within 2 days Riley has chewed herself and bald spots have appeared. She is on flea medication.
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! From the pictures, it appears Riley has a skin infection known as a hot spot. She will need to be seen by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause and get treatment for the infection and itching. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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