My poor itchy little black Onyx.

[Whispering Winds]

Onyx is a Shihtsu or something just as cute, I adopted him from the shelter. He is a wonderful guy, old and not had a good life we can tell, but I love him and he has itchy skin which is driving all of us batty. This is the second year I have had him, and the vet told me she has a pretty good idea of why he went to the Shelter. We have tried EVERYTHING and he is on new meds now that are not working. I know there was a thread on here several months ago where everyone had tips for itchy dogs, could we do it again . . .he is miserable and just had grown his hind quarters fur back over the winter and now we are losing it in chunks. I think I am going to ask for a skin scraping because when we had our Boxer years ago, he got something where he itched and all his fur fell out and it was a parasite he had picked up outside. Makes me wonder if we might not have something in the grass. Sohpie our other little rescue is fine though, so it has to be something in their systems that makes them more open to whatever it is. It's really distressing, and I just feel so sorry for him. He is blind in one eye, and can't see out of the other one very well, but is so happy and sweet (except to the cat and the ferret and the primitive dog comes out in him, so he thinks!)

 

[ozarkmomma]

My italian greyhound is allergic to fleas. She scratches and digs till she has scabs. We have tried all the flea stuff stuff and nothing seemed to work until we put her on Bug-Off Garlic. She doesn't have a single flea now and her skin has healed up. NO more itching for this little girl.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Have you checked him for fleas? My lab is allergic to flea bites...

 

[Crazyland]

Can you start him on a raw diet to rule out food allergies?
Can your vet test him for other allergies to even rule out food allergies vs allergens in the home?

If he is not allergic to fish then giving him salmon oil and vitamin E will help with his skin and coat.

What is he eating right now? Is it a grain free food?
Does he get any treats?
What is he getting currently for the allergies?

 

[Skyesrocket]

Have you changed his dog food recently? If not then it probably isn't a food allergy. Because he had it, then the hair grew back and now he has it again.
It could be a contact or inhalent allergy from something outside in this warmer weather. Do you have pine trees? I had a dog that had an allergy to pine. She would lose the fur on her belly, butt, feet and legs. From laying underneath the pine trees.
It could be a flea allergy. It does seem like something he is allergic to outside because it is starting again in the warmer weather.
Has he been stressed at all before he started itching again? A female dog in heat or something else that might have upset him or an illness that lowered his immunity? If so have him scraped for mites.
Good Luck figuring it out!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Allergies are the number one cause of "unknown severe itching". Often caused by FOOD and COMMON ALLERGENS (same as in humans, pollen, moulds, detergents, ect.). Start him on an elimination diet of NO grains, and NO chicken, beef or lamb. Often the alternative carbs can be potatoes and alternative protein souce of fish, such as canned salmon, plus some steamed blended veggies like green beans, peas, beets, spinach. NO corn though.

Try that. See if the itching doesn't abade in just a few days. This also means everyone in your household will have to stop giving ALL treats unless the treat is part of the new diet: a piece of salmon, potato or something like that.

The point of the diet is to get rid of common food allergens. Wheat, corn, beef, chicken, brewers yeast and lamb are very often in dog foods and often those are the culprits. If this works you can slowly start adding foods back into his diet. You will know pretty much with in two days if he is reacting to the new food, sometimes within just minutes of eating it. Eventually you will find a combination of meat and carbs that he can eat. There are LOTS of alternative kibbles out there and you can find one that matches his needs.

For more information you can do some googling on dog food allergies. You will find lots of sources with good solid information. Good luck

 

[Whispering Winds]

He has been eating the same dry food for months on end, and one can mixed in every day and he ate during the winter when his fur all grew back in. It's not fleas as he is treated, but you know . . .I stopped treating for fleas in Nov., which is not a good idea I know, but I believe that we become immune to stuff if we use it continuously without a break, so I take a chance and have a break during winter and so far so good. . .but could he possibly be allergic to the Frontline? Reading all this about fleas and the food make me stop and think what has changed for him since last Nov., and that is the only thing . . .maybe I should try a different kind . . .

 

[TerriLaChicks]

It could be something blooming right now that he gets exposed to when he goes outside. I've had Cockers all of my life, some rescues, some not, dealt w/a lot of 'itchy skin' issues.
I'd change flea meds; try Revolution or Advantage -- do some research & get something w/different chemicals from what's in Frontline.
Check to be sure he doesn't have the "walking mites" - cheyletiellosis - it'll look like moving dandruff on him.
Get some baby wipes & wipe down his feet every time he comes back into the house from outside. Malaseb makes an excellent wipe also, but it's pricey.
Sounds like it's not the food but you never know. All you can do is try one thing at a time & keep careful records of what you do, and maybe you can rule out what his main allergy triggers are. Good luck to you. Benadryl can help control the itch in some dogs. Research it to find out the dosage. Of course there are allergy tests & shots you can give them also.
And thank you for rescuing him & trying to give him some quality in his life.
edited to correct spelling.