My dog has a skin problem. What can I do to stop her constant itching?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 63 lbs
What can I do to help her skin condition?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 13th, 2019
I recommend bringing Precious to a veterinarian to have her skin fully examined. This can be allergies, it can be an endocrine disease or it can be parasites. Without an examination it is hard to determine. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 1st, 2021
Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The most common cause of itchy skin in dogs is an allergy. Dogs can be allergic to plants, pollen, food, carpets, chemicals used at home and outside and more. Insect bites also can produce itchy skin but this is usually local irritation and the bites are obvious on the skin. A visit at your local vets is recommended to make the definite diagnosis and to start treatment for your dog. It will likely be a short course of anti-inflammatory medication.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been suffering for the past couple of months from severe itching. She’s loss all her hair. My first vet said it was severe allergies. So we’ve tried allergy drops but haven’t seen results so I’ve tried a holistic vet. She said the same thi
I would recommend getting some blood work on Precious and see if there is something system causing this like hypothyroidism or cushings disease. If everything is normal then I would recommend try Apoquel, which is a daily medication for allergies or Cytopoint which is a monthly injection for allergies. I would call your veterinarian to discuss these options with them. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dachshund keeps itching and biting at himself. Dry ears, bloodshot left eye. Mangey Skin. I thought it was food allergy but doesn't seem to be. He has all the necessary shots and we ckean his ears. How can I help him?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Skin issues like you are describing can have a variety of causes, including skin parasites (fleas or mites), allergies, an infection, or an underlying medical issue (Cushings disease, diabetes). I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, have any necessary testing done (bloodwork, skin scrape, culture) and start on any treatment that he may need. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is having a hard time with skin issues for a month. Tried using shampoo, anti tick soaps, and finally a medicine called clinar (diluted) was applied on her. Still skin issues are not decreased :(. Can you suggest what medicine should i give h
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 envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is losing his hair, he's a golden retriever. He keeps on scratching at munching his skin because of itch.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. Other possibilities include something like mange for example. 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
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I apologise for asking for the same question; but I'd appreciate it if someone could help me with this. It's been really itchy and painful to her. Any advice and suggestions?
Awww what a sweet face! A number of different things could cause what you are seeing. It may be a bacterial skin infection, a fungal infection such as ringworm or an allergic cause of some kind. Ideally, she should be seen by your veterinarian. If you are not able to do so, you can try a product such as [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), for a few days. If it is not improving after 3-4 days, please take her to your veterinarian. Thank you for asking Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of skin condition my dog has?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his 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 envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our puppy has dry patchy skin and scratches all the time, she was born Dec 2 2017 and is a pamaranian weiniedog mix. We got her yesterday, 1/26/18. What can we do to help her dry skin and itching?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. Given her young age, I would suspect that if that is the case it could be due to flea allergies. Another possibility is something like mange. This is something your veterinarian would check with a physical examination and basic diagnostics like a skin scrape and cytology. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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 mo
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Any idea what is wrong with my 21year old dogs skin due to her age I don’t want to put her through the stress of going to the vet
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This may be 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. 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 environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs skin is changing colour going dark. Also itchy What can I do to calm the skin?
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 envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my dog has been scratching constantly since I brought her home form the kennel on August 20th. She's always been an itchy dog but lately it has been way worse than normal. She is breaking her skin and has red inflammed spots on her hind legs and
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Trisha! It's hard to say 100% in the pictures but Trisha may have a skin infection which can make scratching worse. She likely has underlying allergies. I can tell from the pictures that she likely licks excessively too (the fur around her vulva is red brown which is salivary staining). Plus you mentioned that she is an itchy dog in general. This time of year can also be hard on dogs with allergies. Allergies can be from food allergies (especially if allergy symptoms occur year round) or environmental allergies or atopy (also year round but can be exasperated by food or environmental allergies). I always tell my clients that a lot of dogs need to be on a few medications plus a diet change to keep them comfortable. First things first, she needs to be checked by your vet for infection. If she has a bacterial skin infection she will likely be put on an antibiotic. To rule out food allergies as the cause of her scratching I recommend changing her
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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