Puppy Won't Stop Scratching/Itching

[AnotherOne4]

After some advice, if anyone has had a similar experience.

We have two, four and a half month old puppies. One pup is being driven mad by constant itching/scratching/nibbling at his lower legs. (I would say it's the inner back legs) He is constantly nibbling away all night. I'm worried he's going to make himself sore.

We have been to the vets, and she has ruled out fleas, and has prescribed him some shampoo. He's going to the groomers next week, and the vet suggested we ask if they can trim him short round the back leg area.

I'm aware if could possibly be an allergy to either food or the environment. A colleague at work suggested it might be pollen, as he loves playing in the grass.

Any ideas/suggestions on what I can do to help him.

I would take him back to the vet for some medication to stop the itching

You can give piriton to stop the itching but you'll need to ask the vet what doseage as it's very dependent on weight.

You can pay for allergy tests but they're not especially cheap - would be worth it in the long run though!

Oh goodness reading this has immediately taken me back to my dog doing this as a puppy, I'd forgotten! He used to constantly scratch. No fleas or anything obviously but it was constant. No advice I'm afraid but he did grow out of it.

Could be food related. My dog gets really itchy on one particular food. Its one we started off using as a topper but we had to change. My dog also has a hereditary itching condition. This is calmed by regular grooms and the right diet but its not curable. Its common in some large breeds. We knew all this because mine is a rescue.

Sounds like allergies to food. Take back for allergy tests is my advice.
What food are you using?
What breed is your dog?

Thanks for the replies 😊He is a Shih Tzu.

I've just changed his kibble from Harrington's to Royal Canin. He was a bit fussy with the Harrington's, but seems to love the Royal Canin.

@peanutpancakess It has crossed my mind, that as he is a puppy, and therefore growing, he might just 'grow out of it'

Will see if the kibble makes any change.

(And he will be going back to the vets if things don't improve)

We had one that was allergic to grass, and she was low to the ground with little fur on her belly. She was on and off dog antihistamines but you can give them fast relief by wiping with a cool damp cloth or sponge.

My Lhasa Apso was the same. Constant environmental allergies, starting from about 6 months old. Itching, licking and the worst, paw biting. Cytopoint injections helped, but did not end the problem. Frequent medicated baths, too.
Pretty sure Royal Canin has a retail line that focuses on that (Skin & Coat?) but I don't know if there's a puppy version. It might be worth a try.

My puppy turned out to be sensitive to chicken. He was on Royal Canin from his breeder but is now on a salmon and rice food. He doesn't scratch any more than my other dog now.

A friend's viszla was sensitive to grass and house dust mites, so she got her entire floor laminated!

Get your dog insured immediately if not done already. The vet will have options for you.

Hi, thanks for the replies, really appreciated it 😊

The pupppy is fully insured, so if he needs further vet appts/medical treatment, I know I'm covered.

Interesting what you say about chicken and grass. His diet is very much chicken based. He is on Royal Canin, but the chicken variety. I'll look into the salmon and rice option.

I've kept Shih Tzu for years and they are very prone to this. At the moment I have two (one neutered, one spayed) and both of them scratch. My little girl is terrible for it and half way between grooms I very gently trim the inner thighs and lower abdomen which she bites at quite badly.

Mine get piriton but each has a different dosage as they are quite different body weights, so do speak to your vet. It makes a big difference.

We go through this every summer and I think it's a contact allergy as she's always worse when she's been out to the park. I can hardly stop taking her out though, so we put up with it.

Dunking her in a tepid oatmeal bath will help. (Handful of oatmeal in a net/muslin bag of some sort, taped over the tap so the water runs through it, or pop the tightly sealed bag in the water and swoosh it about a lot). Best not to let the dogs eat it though (or so I have found .....)