Dog scratches self constantly - no fleas

[Earlybird]

What else could it be? Sometimes he even scratches to the point where he bleeds a bit.

Do dogs have allergies?

What can I do to help him?

I may well be his food. Our friends havave a dog who does this and my mother advised changing its food to something less rich.

You may well want to consult a vet but dont discount the diet. Some modern dog foods are just to rich.

Are you sure there are no fleas? Have you treated him?
It only takes one bite to set off a flea allergy.
Dogs can be allergic to all kinds of things.
You can buy soothing shampoos for the itch but you need to go to the vet to find out the cues really

He is on a dry dog food - gets no table scraps or people food.

He is treated once a month for fleas and ticks, so don't think there is a problem there.

I wonder if he has allergies? He is mainly an indoor dog so not much chance to be exposed to lots of outdoor things.

I feel terrible for him when he starts scratching himself!

What brand of food? Cereal allergies/intolerances are common.

Allergies are very common to both food, but actually much more common are environmental allergies house dust mites and certain grasses. There is lots that can be done to help these.

Our dog was the same, would scratch till he bled. Our vet suggested changing his diet first of all. Since then he's only eaten James well beloved dried and never had a problem since. Might be worth a try for you

Isn't there a mite in some dry foods that dogs can be allergic to? Some vets recommend that you don't use the last bits in the bottom of the dry food sack because of this.

also one of my friends dogs has doggy eczema so maybe a possibility

I think I should take him to the vet to be checked.

BTW, haven't listed the sort of food we feed him as we're not in the UK.

Thanks for advice.

My Mum has an itchy dog and they switched to a completely grain-free, high-protein dog food. He's much better. Dogs can absolutely have allergies (both food and seasonal) so it's something to keep in mind.

Better quality food may be expensive but I think it goes a long, long way toward keeping allergic dogs happy and healthy and ultimately reduces costly vet-bills.

What breed is your dog? Some are prone to atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions.

Dog is a peekapoo.

I buy high quality dry dog food, but have no idea if it is grain free. Will check.

He has had dry skin in the past - no idea if it is in reaction to something, or if it is simply 'the way he is'.