Itchy dog - any ideas what this could be??

[JulietBravoJuliet]

Every now and then (2-3 times a year) my dog gets twitchy and bites at herself, always on her left side, until there is a visible bald patch. It comes on very quickly (left the house this morning and she was fine, came home to clumps of fur everywhere and a semi bald dog). She also seems to get very restless, pants a hell of a lot and just seems unhappy.

Have taken her to the vets every time, spent a hideous amount of money and they have come to no conclusions :( obviously, will be taking her to the vets yet again but feel I will be wasting my time, as it always last 3 or 4 days, then she's back to her normal self and it clears up.

Her diet hasn't changed at all; she's fed on Applaws dry food, dentastick every day plus raw bones a couple of times a week. She has some scraps, but only potatoes, plain pasta/rice, meat etc, never any sauces or anything as she's very quick to get a runny tummy!

I'm just at a loss as to what it could be. Any ideas?

Umm, feel free to ignore this but I took one of mine to the vets today for itchiness and he's nibbled/ rubbed a patch on his back/ bum. Turned out to be overfull anal glands- yuk!!

Not even sure girl dogs have them but could be an option?

Well I just rang the local vet, who we're not even registered with, and he said he'd stay open for me to bring her down. Said it looked like non-specific dermatitis, and probably feels, to her, like pins and needles, hence the twitching and panting. He's given her an anti-histamine type injection, relieved me of £37 and recommended bathing the area with salt water. Hopefully, this will work as she's driving me, and herself, crazy nipping and scratching at it!

You can give piriton instead of vet injection...the vet told me after charging me £60 for injection. Just don't tell the chemist it's for a dog because they won't sell it you if you do.

honestly i'd say don't bother with the vets anymore over this.

we all skin and whatever issues that flare up now and again but we don't go running to the gp to say ooh i'm itchy what shall i do? we just buy some antihistamines, keep it clean and see how it goes. it's ok to do the same with our animals rather than go running to line the vets pockets if it's a regular occurrence.

could be hormonal, could be a particular pollen, could be anything. it's regular, it's been tested and not been linked to anything more serious so just let it be imo. washing with warm salt water is always good, if you have lavender oil add that to the mix.

Ooh how much Piriton do you give? I have some of the syrup in the cupboard. Didn't realise it was ok for dogs!

I give my 6stone weimararner half a tablet, not sure how this translates to syrup. What sort/size of dog is it?

She's about 14kg, poodle x border collie.

ok so i'd say give her the equivalent dose of a child under 12 at that sort of weight.

Our (thieving) lurcher consumed a whole pack of Piriton that I'd left on a (high, high) shelf before we had got to grips with the lurcher instinct to consume absolutely anything (even if it meant climbing onto the kitchen units and then streching to full reach up the shelving). He was about a year old and around 25 kgs. I was mortified. The vet was quite relaxed about it and suggested we "kept an eye on him" but felt it would be ok. It was.

honestly i had a paediatrician who told me babies were 'just like puppies' which was reassuring and likewise dogs are just like children.

it's ok to use common sense and logic rather than instantly leap to the £50 just for showing up solution.

I feel it's possibly hormonal as I've been having issues with dogs mounting her even though she's not in season. Mentioned this to the vet and he said spaying should sort this out (she's booked in to be done next month) so the itching is possibly related.

I'll see how she goes after this injection and try Piriton if she carries on scratching :)

Added bonus is that it knocks them out for 12 hours ;)

Dog has been flat out since we got back from the vets :)

if you are giving piriton make sure it is the original one NOT the non drowsy version.

our staffie is on piriton and has two tablets a day - one in the morning and one in the evening. if you give it with an evening primrose oil capsule this apparently increases the effect.

aloe vera gel is good for soothing any itchy patches (despite the piriton our boy still gets very itchy) and is completely safe.

good luck!

Thanks :) I think I've got some Aloe Vera gel somewhere. Just been putting Sudocrem on it for now.

Yeah I've got the original Piriton that you take more than once a day.