Dog scratching raw, no fleas. What's causing severe itching?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | American Staffordshire Terrier | Female | unspayed | 5 months and 27 days old
Why won’t my dog stop itching and scratching herself she definitely hasn’t got flees she is cutting herself by scratching so much and it’s getting sore?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 2nd, 2019
If Bonnie doesn't have fleas, this could be caused by mange, allergies, or ringworm. I would take her into the vet in the morning. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on September 10th, 2018
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Since this has been going on for 1.5 weeks now, I recommend having Sadie seen by your veterinarian. The most common cause of itching in dogs is flea allergies. Your vet can perform a full physical exam, check for fleas, and perform skin cytologies (looking at the skin cells under a microscope) to look for evidence of a bacterial infection, yeast infection, fungal infection, and/or mites. Other causes of itching in dogs include food and environmental allergies. Dogs can cause a significant amount of trauma to their skin by itching so much, so I recommend having her evaluated by your vet as soon as you can make an appointment. I hope this is helpful!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 4th, 2017
Poor Marley's skin looks irritated! In order for her to be able to get her fur back, the cause of the itching needs to be diagnosed and treated. This itching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If she isn't up to date on her flea treatment, she will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If she is up to date on her flea treatment, I recommend taking her into the vet for an exam tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Tonight, you can give her an oatmeal or Epsom salt bath to see if that helps temporarily with the itching.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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