looking for some insight here.
We have a 4 yo lab. He has been scratching like the dickens for the last three weeks.
Admittedly, he has not been treated for fleas recently and he is due.But I fulminated him weekly - no fleas. again FLEAS ARE NOT the issue:)
He keeps scratching and licking this one area (back haunches) - he has never done this before.
I looked at the skin - no breaking (thank goodness), no rash, no hair loss.
We DID change his food three weeks ago from the regular blue buffalo for large breed to the wilderness formula blue buffalo for large breed. Could that make his skin more dry?
He has been spending more time in the water now that duck season is here. . .
I am just at a loss. Any thoughts? products to recommend?
NOTE: we are boarding him with his Vet for Thanksgiving travels so we will be talking with him at that time. Just didn't know if you all had any advice for the short term.
TIA
DVMMom - that is kind of what I was thinking, but now that i hear it, apparent that is what needs to be done.
Calling Vet today . . .
I love the website - so helpful!! Also good to know about allergies being able to be treated with OTC.
THANKS!!!! keep it commin'
I would bite the bullet and make an appointment at the vet now. He sounds miserable and they can examine him, determine what the issue is (could still be fleas, or an allergy, or skin mites, or something else), and prescribe meds and treatment to give him some relief that much sooner.
Sounds like a hotspot to me, very common in Labs. But they are also prone to dry skin, itching, especially during winter months, food allergies, etc.
Here's a good site I found that covers it.
http://www.labradorwell.com/Hotspots.html
:)
Sounds like my dog - I took him to the vet - allergies and dry skin! I just give my dog an over-the-counter allergy pill and he's doing much better. As for the dry skin - ask for a specific shampoo - I can't remember now what it's called but it has helped tremendously!!!
Good luck!!
Do you give any omega-3's? I give it to my dog with her morning meal, it helps a lot with dry skin.
Maybe there is something in the water at the duck pond or because of the wet fur in the cooler weather is drying out his skin.
Have the vet check it and see if it gets better while you are away.
My lab did the same thing and there were a couple of things that I discovered.
Labs like to be very clean.. and he would over groom if he hadn't been in water or clean enough. 2. He got allergies and when gave some benedryl (1/2 tab) it helped. 3. I changed food several times to fine the ones that worked for my dog. 4. Try giving him some olive oil in his food to help give him more of the fats that he needs for skin. Best of wisdom to you..
If he is due for flea treatment, I would start with that. I know you say it's not that, and that you haven't seen fleas, but I had the same issue with my dog. I have two dogs and the other one wasn't scratching and I never saw any fleas, although they WERE due to be treated. As it turned out, my vet recommended treating for fleas before doing anything else, and loe and behold - my dog quite biting that spot by his tail and back legs. As it turns out, my vet said that some dogs have more of an allergic reation to flea bites than other dogs do. You can have two dogs, both of which have only a few fleas, and one dog won't scratch and the other one will be miserable because he's more allergic to the bites.
Some dogs have allergies. They can be put on a Benadryl regimine.
