My puppy keeps biting herself,vets appointment booked but worried.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Hi all,

I have a 5.5 month old Jack Russell Terrier puppy. She's always been very fastidious about keeping herself clean but I noticed the other day when I had her on my lap on her back (she hates this unless she is very tired) that she seems to have bitten herself to the point of scanning all across her lower body and hind legs.

She is regularly treated with flea spray,as are the two cats. She has had fleas quite badly before,she q&a a rescue puppy,born in a dogs home. When we brought her home at 8 weeks,she was riddled with fleas and had kennel cough. The fleas didn't bother her then,at all. I check her daily for fleas because the cats go out and who knows what they get up to out there!

So basically,I don't think it's fleas. Any ideas what it could be? She's a very happy puppy in herself and it isn't a boredom thing,she is very rarely on her own. Any advice welcome.

Thanks.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

scabbing. was a rescue puppy.
iPhone typing sorry.

[fluffygal]

I'm sorry but I think its mange :-( my foster dog was doing that for weeks, nibbling all over his leg to the point of bleeding. Took him to the vets last week and they diagnosed mange (scabies). Have to bathe him 4 times over the next 4 weeks in this poison stuff outside with gloves on, on a plastic mat.

[fluffygal]

Mange is mites which lay dormant under the skin until they get disturbed. Not overly contagious according to my vet but needs treating.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

That's exactly what's she's doing :(. Glad I've booked that appointment now! Thanks for the advice :)

[fluffygal]

That's ok. The vet told me they would normally do tests for mange by putting the dog under and it would be very expensive and probably come back inconclusive so he said he would just give us the treatment anyway as he was positive that's what it was. Just to prepare you for what your vet may suggest! Hope it clears up soon.

[lucyellenmum]

She could have developed a flea allergy, im not sure if it is mange though as this tends to be more prominent around the ears and neck, dry flakey skin as well as sore patches, but its easy to check for and your vet will know.

What flea treatment do you use?

[lucyellenmum]

Your vet told you your dog would need an anaesthetic to test for mange???? Thats madness that is! You test for mange by doing a series of skin scrapes, its uncomfortable but by no means needs an anaesthetic. The vet was right in that it is difficult to be conclusive as you need to see the mites.

You can also treat mange with stronghold, a spot on treatment, your vet seems a bit behind the times there fluffy. Was it aludex that you are bathing in? That really is unpleasant stuff, do wear gloves.

[fluffygal]

Ah maybe I wasn't listening properly then, sure he said that but maybe I was wrong. I am not sure what it was, he was moving to a different foster home the next day so I didn't get to bathe him (someone else got that job, lucky them!). It came in two glass bottles?

[lucyellenmum]

I remember having to bath dogs in aludex when i as nursing, it was packed choccablock with organophospates so maybe they don't use it anymore.

OP, i would talk to your vet about one of the spot on flea preps if he suspects mange, that way you get to sort the fleas (and worms) in with the price and it will probably cost about the same as if you went for a straight mange treatment. That is, of course, assuming it is mange. A mangy dog has a very distinctive smell to it in my experience. Im sure most dogs have a few mange mites as they can lay dormant for years and never bother them, there are different types of mange too both responding differently to treatment, just to confuse things even more :)

[fluffygal]

All I know is he said don't do it in the bath as it will ruin the bath! Sounded pretty scary stuff! OP at least you have a bit of info to prepare you for your vet appt. And if it is mange I would definitely be requesting the stronghold stuff rather then faffing about with bathing in poison!

[fluffygal]

All I know is he said don't do it in the bath as it will ruin the bath! Sounded pretty scary stuff! OP at least you have a bit of info to prepare you for your vet appt. And if it is mange I would definitely be requesting the stronghold stuff rather then faffing about with bathing in poison!

[Alisvolatpropiis]

lucy I use frontline puppy spray, the vet prescribed it. She had a couple of visits quite soon after we got her,primarily due to the kennel cough. But the fleas were unbelievable,I'd never seen anything like it,so had that too.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

lucy just saw your second post. She doesn't seem to smell particularly,still slightly has the puppy smell. But is definitely a good idea to discuss other treatments at the same time.
Thanks for the advice :).