Why is my dog scratching so much she bleeds and loses hair?

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This wound looks severe enough that shaving and appropriate local cleaning is indicated as well as most likely starting antibiotics. You could use an e-collar to try to prevent further self-trauma though this is not going to help longterm if the allergic issue is not 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 a

Thank you for your question. Patches must be pretty uncomfortable. There are several possible reasons for this type of itchiness. The first thing I recommend is make sure he has been treated for fleas. Even one little flea can trigger massive itching in a dog that is sensitive to them. Other things that can cause this type of itching are food allergies, environmental allergies, mites, and bacterial skin infections. When the skin becomes this damaged, a trip to your veterinarian is necessary. We often have to prescribe antibiotics to control local bacterial infections that can result from all the scratching. We also need to get the itching under control. Sometimes this means steroids, and sometimes we prescribe a medication specifically to control itching. A t-shirt can be used to protect the skin from further scratching while it heals. There are some over the counter anti-itch sprays you can try, but many times they are not strong enough. I hope this helps, and Patches is feeling bett

Poor Puppy! It sounds like he's having some serious skin problems. The most common cause of excessive itching with redness, hair loss, and bleeding on the lower back and rear end is a flea allergy - so if Puppy isn't already on a good quality flea control medication like Nexgard, Bravecto, or Trifexis/Comfortis, this is the first thing I would suggest. Flea and tick shampoo is not an effective way to control fleas in my experience, especially in a dog who is allergic to them. If you're positive that he doesn't have fleas, other possible causes of this problem would include an allergy to something in the environment, food allergies, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). In that case, I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to - he/she can do some simple skin tests to help determine what is causing the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.

I would recommend taking Sugar to a veterinarian. There are a few different things that can cause skin like this. It could be allergies and she could just be so itchy that she is creating the infection. It could be fleas and you may just not see them. Even one flea can create bad reactions if the dog is allergic to them. There are different mites that can also make dogs very itchy which in turn leads to issues like this. It could also be an endocrine disorder if everything else is ruled out and then blood work is required to see what is going on with her. Your veterinarian can evaluate her skin, provide medication to help her feel so much better and pin point exactly what is causing this in Sugar. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her 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 env

Poor Pepper! Since it sounds like the antibiotics have not fixed the problem, I would recommend taking her back to the vet for a recheck exam. She may need some diagnostic testing, such as a skin scrape, to help diagnose what is causing the itching. Prescription medication like a short-term course of prednisone may also be needed to relieve the itching, in addition to treating whatever underlying problem is causing it. In the meantime, you can try using a topical hydrocortisone spray labeled for use in dogs (you can get this at most pet stores) to help relieve some of her discomfort until you can get her back in to see the vet.

I would recommend taking Peanut to the vet to check for mites. They are a common cause of hair loss in puppies, and if the skin becomes infected, there can be bleeding, pus, and a foul smell. The vet will do a thorough examination and can scrape the skin to look for the mites under a microscope to determine the best course for treatment.

It is hard to say what is causing Bacardi's problems. The third picture you included looks like pus, which would indicate infection and would need antibiotics to treat. Some dogs can be allergic to fleas, and it may only take 1 bite to make them itchy all over. If you are seeing scabs from where you applied a flea medication or flea collar, it may be irritating the skin so I would recommend removing it and bathing with dog shampoo thoroughly. Causes of itching in dogs include fleas or flea allergies, mites, or skin infection. The hair in the second picture looks like normal shedding to me, but if you feel it is weird for Bacardi, it could be caused by inflammation or from the extra itching she is doing right now. You can try a shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo, but if it doesn't respond in a day or two, Bacardi should be seen by a vet as she may need oral medications to control the itching.

It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in Peanut'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. Peanut will need antibiotics and/or antifungals (depending on the type of infection) to help clear up the infection and possibly an anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. Topical medication like you have been using can be effective but with infection as widespread as Peanut's oral medications are indicated. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend she be on a good flea control too. In dogs with severe, recurrent allergies, they may need to be on an allergy medication long term to help prevent infections from coming back. I hope this helps. Thanks for

Poor Penny! It sounds like she may have an allergy to something (either food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. I would recommend talking with your vet to see what they recommend as the next step for Penny, since she is still very itchy and losing hair. Some possible testing or treatment options that may be helpful would include bacterial or fungal skin cultures, a trial course of steroids and/or antibiotics, or a food trial with a prescription hypoallergenic diet.