What is the best thing to put on my dog that has irritated skin from scratching and biting?

My dog has been scratching and biting and his skin is slightly irritated is places from this. I find an occasional flea or two, and believe he is allergic to flea bites. I am using an all natrual anti-itch shampoo and conditioner, he's on Frontline Plus and I'm giving him flea treats to prevent from being bit before the Frontline kills (which I am questioning, the FL, is working on him, as I had a problem with ticks a few months ago). I have also treated my house and yard. I live in the south in a warm climate.





I have rubbed vegetable oil, antibiotic ointment, vasoline and cornstarch on him, but anything I try he licks off. His problem lies mostly on his lower belly and back thighs and legs. Any suggestions to what he may leave alone? Also, is anybody else having trouble with Frontline working. I suspect he may, after over a year, be starting to become immune to it's effectiveness. I am considering going to Advantage.

What is the best thing to put on my dog that has irritated skin from scratching and biting?
Very possibly he is allergic to fleas. You're still finding them, so this will be plenty to make him crazy; it only takes one when an animal is allergic. The only way to clear up the symptoms of a flea allergy is to get rid of 100% of fleas. This can be done, but not with your current regime.





Frontline Plus is very effective against flea allergic dermatitis - but if you're bathing as well you may well be inactivating it, at least partially. Bathing is never helpful when fighting fleas. I would stop putting so many treatments on the dog - stick with Frontline, and make sure it's getting all on the dog's skin, not on his fur. Also treat the house - Frontline Plus kills the flea eggs and larvae, but only the ones on the animal - if there were fleas in the house before you started the Frontline, they could well still be there.





Switching to Advantage is fine if you want, it is good stuff. It doesn't kill eggs and larvae though, so I might suggest adding Program tablets in to the mix if you switch, as they do this. Also if the dog's fleas have become immune to Frontline, switching to a different veterinary spot-on is the logical step.





Chalice
Reply:Something from a VET would be a good idea.


Did your vet recommend rubbing all these different at home items on him? This dry skin can also be brought on by his diet. Please speak with a vet about your dogs skin problems and see what has to be done. Its not a good idea to ask a bunch of people over the internet to make a diagnosis for you.
Reply:I got a spray from my vet called "Relief". It's worked well on my dogs and smells nice too.





Your dog may have other allergies too. You may need to have him tested.





I've found Frontline Plus works better than Advantage.
Reply:K-9 advantix works great for flea control. As for the itching, ask your vet for Derma cool, it calms and cools the itch (works great) its not expensive either.
Reply:You say you "believe" he's allergic to flea bites. Have you had him tested for allergies to foods, etc?





Allergy testing is costly. An effective way to rule out some certain things is to take these steps:


1) ride the pet of fleas by giving starting him on Advantage - from your vet. The fleas on puppy will be gone within 24 hrs, and any rmeaining fleas that jump on him will also die. The fleas DO NOT have to bite poor puppy to die, that way you're not having to deal with a flead allergy dermatitis, if this is what it is.





2) Get him on a veggie, Lamb, Veal, Salmon, Buffalo, etc. diet. No pork, chicken or beef in his diet. Keep him on this diet for 12 weeks - 8 minimum and all treats must also be beef, pork and chicken free.


Add Omega 3 (or any fish oil) capsules to his food and 1tsp flax powder p/day. Both are natural anti-inflammatories.





Try this. This is a way of basically saving a bit fo extra money as this is what the vet will tell you to do.
Reply:My dog had to get tested for allergies and we found she was allergic to several things. Simple things like trees that are in our yard, etc. She was put on allergy shots (that we do at home) and after a few months she was much better. Skip to a year later and she started having major issues again. They did more testing and she had gained new allergies so her medicine had to be adjusted. She's still in the "mending" stage, but hopefully it will get better soon. Anyway, besides getting that tested, for now have him wear one of those halos around his head. It could be something that when the areas have healed and the fur has grown back, that he'll be able to leave them alone. The areas often won't be able to heal on their own until the dog starts leaving them alone. So besides the halo, put on whatever ointment the vet says will be of the most help until he's healed.
Reply:My ex's dog once had some skin irritation on his ear. A friend recommended dabbing some milk on it, and, much to my suprise, it worked. Did it a couple of times a day, and within a week, it had cleared up. So, maybe give that a try....?
Reply:do you have SUDO CREAM where you live (its an antibacterial cream) it works wounder on my dogs sores.
Reply:maybe you should check his diet, do you feed him chicken?


also you can get a collar from the vet which is white in colour and stops ticks..also don't buy these things from the pet shops always go to your vet and I would also say do not get food from stores always go to your vet and they will reccomend things if your dog has an allergy..


good luck keep in touch


jeanettespets


p.s. this name only means i looked after dogs in my home.
Reply:Your vet may prescribe a steroid pill like prednisone (can't swear to the spelling lol) and a topical ointment that is also prescription only.





Some of the things you are putting on your dog may exacerbate the irritation, like cornstarch. Whose antibiotic ointment did you feed your dog? Sounds like it may be really bad for him, be sure and tell your vet what you have given him.





To help keep fleas out of your house and dog's bedding/sleeping area, frequently wash all household linens in Borax -- yes, the Twenty Mule Team Borax from the grocery store or, in my area, Home Depot. Borax kills flea eggs and fleas. Mix some Borax in water and put in a spray bottle, spray your carpets and the edges of walls. Vacuum frequently.





Do not put Borax on your dog, it will harm him.





There is a great natural product from Ark Naturals that repels fleas and sooths the dog's skin. It is a Neem spray:


http://www.arknaturals.com/products/inde...





There is also a shampoo. These products are safe for both humans and dogs.
Reply:Our puppy had a similar problem to this. I found that after bathing him in johnsons baby shampoo the scratching decreased. I did again a week later and now he hardly scratches at all. Sometimes the so called insecticidle shampoos can do more harm than good if your dog has sensitive skin. For flea control, I use a battery nit/flea comb twice a week along with a vet prescribed flea drops. So far, no fleas since this method. I think the fleakiller is called drontal
Reply:colloidal silver
Reply:I have been tried to improve the itchy skin on my 2.5 year old yellow labs belly, paws, and ears and found through trial and error over this time for over 2 years. I first fought off the symptoms of the allergy and unfortunately had to get one series of prednisone-Steriod which really changed her (Not recommended) but was necessary at that time doe to her problem which turned into a skin infection.


I found that changing my dogs food to (EVO -NO GRAIN) and adding "The Missing Link" with her new food she has been itch free with no ear concerns. Again this is what worked for me but I think many answers on this board all kind of point to your dogs food. Shampoos may slightly reduce the itch but to me are bandaids and are not treating the problem but the symptoms from the problem. I would contact your breeder or wherever you got your dog and ask if possible if his parents had this condition and his advice. Also, it appears the the summer time where its hot and allergies are at full strength it had been worse for my dog. I also use Advantix and I have found greater overall success than frontline plus. GOOD LUCK!