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My dog has severe itching. Is it fleas, food, or other allergies?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Lhasa Apso | Female | spayed | 1 year and 11 months old | 17 lbs

how can I tell the difference between allergy to flea bites or to food? Lhaso apso doesn't have fleas, gets a weekly bath, and has been itching non stop in the last 36 hours! also has been licking at the skin where her tits are at! we can see red splotches but not a raised aread such as pimples! she itched do hard under her chest that it created a red bloody looking area, like a red blue bruise! she's 17lbs!23 months! how much Benadryl or sudafed can I give her? or can zyrtec help? and how much?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 26th, 2017

Poor Duchess sounds very uncomfortable! If she isn't on a flea treatment program such as a monthly spot on treatment, then she certainly could have fleas even if you don't see them. Weekly baths do not provide any protection again fleas. It could also be allergies, but food allergies are actually rare in dogs so it could be environmental allergies or a flea allergy as you suggested. The only way to know for sure is to have her seen by a vet, and I'd recommend taking her today since she sounds so itchy. The vet can diagnose the cause of the itching and the best way to treat it. As for the drugs you mentioned, unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I can say, do NOT give sudafed to her, that is not safe drug at all for dogs. Good luck with the vet, I hope this helps!

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