My dog is scratching like crazy!!

zoeysmom · 12-17-2007, 09:33 PM

Hi all..I am new to the boards. I have a 2year old Bichon mix named Zoey. I think she is part poodle/part bichon. I am not certain, because when we adopted her they were not sure. I just saw a little white fluff ball and fell head over heels!!

Anyway....She is really scratching the heck out of herself. Especially around her face. I have checked her for fleas repeatedly, and I Frontline her every month. She is almost transparent when she is wet, so it is pretty easy to see. I have found none. I do not bath her too often, just occasionally in between grooming visits if she needs it. She is scratching sores on her head and face. Now she is biting at her feet.

My question is...Is it doggy dandruff? Or a skin condition? I have read that bichons are prone to skin problems. How do you know? Any advice that anyone has to help her would be greatly appreciated.

I feed her Iams food. That is what my vet recommended. I have read other posts and I know not a lot of people like that brand. Any suggestions there would be helpful also.

Thanks in advance!!

Ziva329 · 12-17-2007, 09:41 PM

could possibly be allergies, or even mange. I know that My parents dog was losing patches of skin from itching so much and they gave her the mange test, and thenjust gave her the shot and then an allergy shot. Mange came back negative, so they pretty sure she has allergies.

Try giving her some benedryl. 1 mg per pound so if the dog is 65 pounds, give her 3 of the normal benadryl. Thats what our vet had us do when our puppy had an allergic reaction to one of her vaccines.

Another thing I would suggest is to switch to a different brand, that is specifically formulated for "skin sensativity" or something for sensative systems is what it might also be called t see if they helps.

TomN · 12-18-2007, 09:07 PM

Fish Oil tabs and Vitamin E many times will help with allergies as well.

Durbkat · 12-18-2007, 09:14 PM

I wouldn't give her any medicine unless your vet tells you to. I would take her to the vet as those sound like symptoms of allergies. It could be her food as iams is a real bad food.