Why does my dog's itchy skin and ear infection return after heat?

Question

We adopted Willow in April of 2018. She came with a small skin infection they thought was mange so we treated it with antibiotics and it didn't clear up until I used some hydrocortisone cream on it. (it was also when she went into heat) It came back just when all her hair grew back. we were unsure of whether it was a food change or something else but we didn't change food again and it went away for a month But she just came out of heat and now its as bad as ever. Itchy, red, also in ears. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 3 months old | 50 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. It is very difficult to say what might be going on with Willow without an exam, but one thing it could be is demodectic mange. The reason I would consider this is because a young dog who has this often will outgrow the problem as their immune system matures. However, when a female goes into heat, the hormones can reactivate the mites. So, you have to decide if you want to confirm this with a visit to your veterinarian. If it is demodex, you can treat her with medications, but we really encourage owners to spay their pets with this. Otherwise, she can pass the mites on to her puppies & spaying will help in treating the mites, too. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Why does my dog's itchy skin and ear infection return after heat?

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