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Why is my puppy itching and biting if the vet says she has no fleas?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 8 days old | 5.52 lbs

My puppy itches a lot. She also used her teeth to itch/bite I can’t see any fleas on her and she was delfead 2 weeks ago. She cries when she does this. The vet said she hasn’t got fleas and I can’t see any

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Shaneez Wallani, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 28th, 2019

Itchy skin can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. As you mentioned Thea is biting at her skin and crying, it sounds like she is uncomfortable, and she needs to be seen by a veterinarian. I recommend making an appointment to have Thea seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the itching and to make sure it is treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment. In the meantime, you can use a hypoallergenic, unscented shampoo for dogs to bathe her, and put an e-collar (cone) on her to help prevent her from biting/licking at her skin, as this may help reduce the risk of infection, although it is unlikely to resolve the current problem.

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