Dog Can't Stop Scratching & Biting: What to Do?

Hello everyone, welcome to Oxygen Pet Doctor!

Many inexperienced dog owners might observe their furry companions scratching and gnawing at themselves and mistakenly assume that the dog is simply playing with us, not taking it seriously.

However, this behavior actually signals a red light for your dog's health! Let's take a closer look at what might be going on.

Skin Allergies

Dogs can be allergic to certain foods, pollen, dust mites, and more, leading to itchy skin.

Symptoms:

Red patches or bumps, itching, hair loss, constant scratching, and rubbing against objects. In severe cases, this can lead to skin breakdown and increased infections.

Treatment:

Actively identify and avoid allergens.

Apply "Pipute" (Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray) and "Fuan特" (Oxide of Zinc Ointment) to the affected areas for antiinflammatory and antiinfection purposes.

If the allergy symptoms are mild, oral "Newmeino" (Chlorphenamine Maleate Tablets) can be given to relieve itching.

In case of severe symptoms, it's advisable to take your dog to a veterinary hospital for desensitization shots.

Feeding "hypoallergenic prescription food" can be beneficial if the allergy is related to food.

Parasite Infection

Dogs may be infected with external parasites like fleas and lice, which bite the skin and cause itching and discomfort, even though there may be no visible skin abnormalities.

In addition, some internal parasites like roundworms and hookworms can also cause skin itching, often accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.

Treatment:

Regularly deworm your dog internally and externally.

Regularly disinfect your home environment and your dog's belongings.

When taking your dog out for walks, avoid letting them play in puddles or damp grass.

Don't let your dog eat anything randomly.

After walks, wipe your dog's fur and paws with pet wipes and regularly comb and bathe them.

Microbial Infection

The most common are Staphylococcus and Malassezia infections. When a dog's skin resistance drops due to allergies, these bacteria can invade the skin, causing pyoderma and Malassezia dermatitis, leading to severe itching and scratching.

Treatment:

First, disinfect the affected area and surrounding skin with iodine solution, clean away any dirt to avoid affecting the effectiveness of the medication.

Treat with antibacterial drugs, such as erythromycin ointment for bacterial infections; for fungal infections, use "Dashi Ning" (Combination Ketoconazole Ointment).

Relieve itching promptly with "Newmeino" (Chlorphenamine Maleate Tablets) to break the vicious cycle of "itchingscratchinginflammation".

Prevent your dog from licking the affected area by putting on a collar to prevent the spread of the disease.

Neurodermatitis

This is a skin disease caused by abnormal nervous system function, leading to severe itching in dogs. The dog may constantly scratch, gnaw, and rub the itchy areas, leading to skin breakdown and infection.

Treatment:

Put a hood on your dog to prevent scratching.

Reduce itching by using topical corticosteroid ointments and taking chlorphenamine maleate tablets orally for itching relief.

Control infections by using antibiotics (such as mupirocin, clindamycin, cephalosporins, etc.) or antifungal drugs (such as clotrimazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, etc.) under a veterinarian's guidance to control secondary infections caused by Staphylococcus/Malassezia.

Repair the skin barrier by adding supplements that benefit skin structure to the diet (such as omega3 fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, phospholipids, etc.).

Improper Bathing

Dogs have a different skin pH than humans. Using human shampoo on dogs can disrupt the natural balance of their skin, potentially leading to irritation, itching, allergies, or inflammation.

Dogs' skin pH ranges from 6 to 8, slightly alkaline and neutral, while human skin pH ranges from 5 to 6, slightly acidic.

The role of shampoo is to balance the pH to achieve cleaning effects. Human shampoos are alkaline, while dogs require acidic shampoos.

Treatment:

Use shampoos specifically designed for dogs: they should be gentle, unscented, and meet the pH requirements of your dog's skin. These products can effectively clean your dog's fur and skin while protecting their natural skin barrier.

Avoid bathing your dog too frequently.