My dog is itching and scratching after being outside. Allergies?

Question

My small dog (Shih tzu) is itching. She has been treated for fleas and ticks, but every time she comes in from outside she will not stop scratching. She is itching to the point that she has lost some hair and there is a small amount of blood. We have another dog and his fine. It appears she may be allergic(?). Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 4 years old | 9 lbs

Penelope Graben, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there, Good to hear that you have Tootsie treated for fleas and ticks. Tootsie may well have allergic skin disease or atopic dermatitis, and she may have a secondary bacterial or yeast infection as well. Any of these could cause her to be very itchy. I'd recommend taking her to her veterinarian to be seen. They can recommend the best diagnostics and treatments after her physical exam. The two most commonly used medications for itching itself are an injectable called Cytopoint and a tablet called Apoquel. If allergies are present as well, they tend to be environmental or food based. Environmental allergies often have seasonal patterns and food based ones are typically to an animal protein such as chicken or beef. Hypoallergenic diets are based on novel proteins like fish, kangaroo, or vegetables for these reasons. Your vet can guide you through making the best choices for Tootsie after seeing her. I hope this his helpful information!

My dog is itching and scratching after being outside. Allergies?

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