How much is too much itching/scratching/biting self?UPDATE

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our new puppy, now about 17 weeks old has been itching and scratching so much that it's driving her and us crazy.  I just held up my camera to wait for her to start scratching and I didn;t have to wait 1 minutes between one scratch to the other. The only time she isn't is when she is asleep. And then I hear her during the night.

She is on Fromm, and I know it is rare that it could be food, but she gets yogurt also. I just started giving EPO and Fish Oil this weekend. She is bathed often, because she digs, but I went from baby shampoo to a non-soap oatmeal shampoo that I use on Murphy (who hardly has ever been an itchy doggie)

This morning I rinsed her in 50/50 White Vinegar and water also. She just kept licking that. I left it on without rinsing. Am I supposed to rinse?

This isn't necessarily a change from when we got her at 10 weeks old, just getting to be more annoying as it is so frequent. No red or hot spots, no particular area, just all over her body from paws to tail and everywhere in between. This is her usual pose!

 

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT A MAJOR INPROVEMENT IN BELLA'S SCRATCHING. FOR ANYONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I DID:

1. I washed her in the Tropiclean Oatmeal Shampoo. Got it at Petco. Followed directions and sudz'd her up and massaged in for 7-8 min. This helped about 50% right away.

2. I used a spray leave-in called:Earthbath, Tea Tree Oil formula and again followed directions and used after her bath and occassionally afterward. This seems to cut down the scratching about another 20-30%

3. I did not bathe her again for 3 weeks.

4. Added Fish Oil capsules to her EPO capsules she recieved daily. This probably has finally kicked in and with all the above has limited her scratching to maybe 3-4 times a day rather than 3-4 every 10 minutes all day.

 

She is getting baths again and has had 2 in the past 2 weeks. Using the Tropiclean. It is a soapless shampoo and my Vet recommended soapless when I had asked her about the itching.

 

So she is much happier and so are we. I hope this will help someone else. Thanks again for all your advise with this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't know if this was for the Grooming, Food or Medical Group.

 

Monday update: she seems about 50% better with the good shampoo and spray. At least she can play and be more normal without stopping every 2 minutes to itch!!!  Now just wait it out and see if less frequent bathing makes it better. Let's hope, that's an easy fix.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Renee, I believe the Earthbath was at Petco too. Tea tree oil at any health food store and the fish oil probably from Puritan Vitamins. Or even Costco. I do get the Evening Primrose Oil from Puritan as they have a buy 2 get 3 free deal all the time. They get 2 caps of EPO every morning now only. I can now go about 2 weeks between baths before Bella starts scratching more than normal.
As for scaly skin, not sure I would think allergy to food right away. He is too young for that. Read more in the Food Group or Allergy Group I think it's called.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I was so confused when i got the email notification of a response to this discussion! Now i see why, it's two years old, lol!

Yes, Monreaux is too young for food allergies.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I applaud you, Renee for doing some searching and homework before just asking a question that's been discussed many times. There is so much experience and knowledge on here already. I wish more people would do this. But it did surprise me too Karen to see that it's been two years. Time flys in Doodledom!

[Paula Shawber]

Good morning!  I haven't gotten to read through all the messages here.  Roxy has been biting at herself for months now.  It was so bad a few weeks ago that all four paws were bloody.  She went straight to the vet that afternoon.  We discussed food and contact allergies.  We even discussed fleas and no fleas.  She was given a steroid shot.  The shot helped but didn't stop her.  She targets her back feet, her hind end, legs and around her ears.  I have even tried Zyrtec and really didn't notice a difference.  

She had to be shaved yesterday because I can't keep up the matting from her bitting herself nonstop.

Has anyone else dealt with this?   I am at a lost on how to help her.  

She eats Fromm dog food -Chicken au Frommage, Rancherosa and Surf & Turf. 

She uses NextGuard monthly.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pawla, you're finding some really old discussions here, although most of the info us still relevant when it comes to allergies. This one is more than 6 years old, lol.
I saw you commented on another discussion about allergies and stated that your vet has diagnosed your dog with Atopic Dermatitis. You also saw my tips there for keeping her comfortable.
It really sounds to me like your dog needs to see a dermatology specialist. They are the only ones who have the knowledge and the tools to properly treat A.D.
Please don't allow your dog to suffer while searching for answers on internet forums. As previously mentioned, this has nothing to do with food, and it is not curable. It's an immune-mediated disease that can be controlled, but you need the right treatment. 
If your vet can't give you a referrasl, here's the link to the ACVD website where you can find a specialist.
https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatol...