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Why is my dog constantly licking and biting his skin until it bleeds?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 11 months old

My dog licks himself alot to the extent that he causes wounds to his skin, and most probably he bleeds from licking and biting himself. What could be the reasons ?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on October 19th, 2019

Licking or scratching that much is a sign of very itchy skin. There are many reasons including fleas, skin mites, allergies, infections or endocrine disease. I recommend to have Zastar examined by the veterinarian to look for infection and parasites. You can also start him on a flea prevention. Two of the best are Simparica and Nexgard. You can also feed him a diet called Royal Canin which is very good for the skin and start an additional supplement like an omega 3 fatty acid for pets. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 10th, 2017

    This could be a sign of an allergy to food or something in the environment like a grass or pollen. Fleas and some other parasites can also cause itching. If Peppy has hair loss and his skin is red you should see your veterinarian - these can be signs of a secondary skin infection that will require treatment.

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    Answered By Amy Poole, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 4th, 2019

    Poor Bacio! It sounds like he may have some allergy issues that is causing his skin to be itchy based on your description. Allergies in dogs tends to manifest as itchy skin that they chew at. This can lead to a secondary bacterial or fungal infection. I would recommend you take Bacio in to see your vet to have his skin checked out. He may need a medicated shampoo or potentially some oral medication to resolve any underling infection. I would also recommend he be on good flea control, as flea allergies really make dogs uncomfortable and itchy. Even though it is winter, one or two fleas can still be around and their bites can cause an allergic dog to be incredibly itchy! Your vet may also have some medication to help stop the itch reaction, so that overall Bacio is much more comfortable in his own skin. I hope he is feeling better very soon!

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 17th, 2017

    I am so sorry to hear about your dog Rico! It can be very frustrating to deal with skin issues such as this. The most common causes include parasites (fleas and mange) and allergies (either food allergies or atopy which is allergies to airborne particles like pollen, dust, etc.). If you did the elimination diet under the supervision of a vet and they don't think a food allergy is the issue, that helps rule that problem out. However, if you were using an over the counter diet then we need to do a diet trial with a prescription diet or homemade diet under your vet's guidance. Diet trials are very strict. Here is an article with information on them: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2499 . If your dog is not on a flea preventative they need to be placed on an effective one, such as Comfortis or Nexgard or another recommended by your vet. Your dog may also need to be checked for bacteria or yeast infection in the skin which can commonly complicate trying to solve allergy issues. Many of these dogs need treatment for skin infection along with allergy medication to eliminate the itch. If atopy is suspected, then allergy testing to start allergy shots can be done, or a trial of medication such as Atopica or Apoquel or a new drug called Cytopoint can be tried. These drugs alter the immune system response to the allergen. In the meantime, you can check out this article on other ways to help control your dog's itch at home. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-things-you-can-do-at-home-to-keep-your-dog-s-allergies-at-bay-t/ . If your vet is feeling like they cannot help with your dog's allergies, you can also request a referral to a dermatologist (yes, dogs have dermatologists too!).

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