Itching dog!!

[LeoTheLateBloomer]

My labrador's been itching for a few days now. I can't find any fleas and I've tried piraton (as recommended to my parents by a vetinary nurse once when their lab was itching).

What could be causing it and what can I give him? I'll de-flea him just in case, but I'm certain that's not the cause.

Any ideas would be most welcome. TIA.

I had this a couple of weeks ago with my lab X puppy and in fact after defleaing him and the house I took him to the vet because he was driving himself nuts.

Even though she didn't find any fleas on him she said if a dog has an allergy then all it takes is one flea bite to cause massive discomfort. She also said fleas this year were really bad and were not being killed by the likes of Frontline.

I went in September and she thought my problem could be harvest mites, and I must confess he has got much better as the weather has turned colder but she also said that because we walk in the woods there are any number of parasites that could cause him discomfort and to shampoo him to get anything out of his hair and skin.

Although he still scratches now I think it's more an ooh I've got an itch rather than the frantic scratching of last month.

My pup is scratching around his neck and bum region, but he has some kind of skin infection. We are bathing him twice a week with malaseb anti-fungal/anti-bacterial shampoo as prescribed by the vet. Does he smell? Our dog was very stinky.

Thanks for replying. No he doesn't smell. I'm going to take him for a swim in the sea in a bit to see if that helps. Salt water often sorts things out.