My dog keeps licking her rear. Why aren't allergy meds working?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | American Cocker Spaniel | Female | unspayed | 23 lbs
My dog keeps licking her vaginal area. It’s either her butt that she’s licking it her vagina. I recently took her to the vet and they said she has allergies because she had a bad rash. They gave her a shot and then instructed I start giving her pills twice a day as of 10/2. The pills don’t seem to help. Based on the picture is there anything I should be concerned about or anything I can do to help her feel better?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 6th, 2018
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sneaky. Her skin still appears red and irritated. I recommend bathing her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to try to soothe her skin. If this does not resolve her itching, then you will need to contact her veterinarian. She may require a different medication to help control the itching and to ensure there is not another issue contributing (urinary tract infection, full anal glands, etc). I hope this information helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on September 12th, 2019
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 23rd, 2017
Poor Penny! Itchiness can be due to a variety of causes, most commonly due to allergies to fleas, food, or the environment. The concern is that in some cases, intense itching can lead to the development of a skin infection, which often resemble pimples. Penny should see her vet to have her skin examined and may be started on a course of antibiotics. Until then, I'm glad to hear that she is on a flea and tick preventative. Make sure it is a high quality preventative, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, and Advantix. You get what you pay for with respect to flea and tick preventatives! Some pets are highly allergic to fleas and even one bite (which can occur despite prevention) can set off intense itching. You may need to consider changing her food to one with a different protein source (i.e. lamb or salmon rather than chicken) in the future. If you decide to do so, be aware that it can take 2-3 months to see full effect from a diet change and make the change gradually over 5-7 days. Until you are able to take Penny to her vet, put an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further itching and licking.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 28th, 2020
Hello and thank you for your questions about Athena. I hate to hear she is itchy. That can be miserable! Pitties can have sensitive skin but there are things you can do to help ease this. I recommend to make sure it's not fleas or skin mites by using an oral flea prevention like Nexgard. Oral flea is much better than any topical product or collar. Do this for 2 months to rule out parasites. If she continues to itch, it could be food allergies. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. At home, continue a fish oil though I am not familiar with the product you selected. I recommend a product called Welactin or one carried by your veterinarian. This will ensure the best efficacy. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. It will take 2-4 weeks to see positive effects from a supplement or diet change. Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Lastly, you can wash the lesions once a day (not her whole body, just the lesions). This will help to remove topical bacteria, dead skin cells and skin oil. If your veterinarian does not seem comfortable looking into a deeper cause of the itching, I recommend to find a veterinarian who is comfortable. Being a puppy, this could be an issue that she deals with for her entire life so figuring it out now is a better option. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on June 15th, 2020
Hello. It looks like Penny is having an allergic reaction to something. Bathing her in cool water using a colloidal oatmeal based shampoo should be soothing & help the skin to heal. You can repeat this daily if necessary to control her symptoms. If this gets any worse, do see your veterinarian for further treatment recommendations. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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