Itchy pug

Hi, I recently adopted a 2 y.o. male pug. Two months ago, when he was originally rescured, he was treated for a skin disorder with antibiotics (he was sitting in his own urine at the shelter he was rescued from). Last month he had his anal sacs expressed (ew), and he was treated for flea infestation with Advantage and some flea pills.

He still scratches a lot and seems pretty miserable when he does. I bathe him once a week--could I be adding to the problem? Does anyone have any suggestions on good shampoos to use?

Thanks!

beth

First, welcome to Pet Talk and THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING!!!!!! :D :D :D

It could be a food allergy or mange. (along with other things it could be)

Was your dog tested for Mange? The vet would do a skin scraping and look at it under a microscope to find out.

Are there areas your dog is scratching more than others?
I ask because with Mange, the dog will itch like CRAZY and will start loosing fur around the edges of the ears and on their elbows first. If it's a food allergy, I think most times it starts with the feet. But every dog could be different.
Maybe try switching foods first to see if it's a food allergy. What food do you feed your pug? If its chicken based, I'd try something without chicken (lamb, salmon, duck... etc)
As far as shampoo, I'd use one with oatmeal.
I speak from experience, My Sierra had mange when I adopted her and she’s allergic to Chicken (does not get itchy… it gives her the runs) and recently I tried switching to a higher quality food and I found out that my Buddy is allergic to something in the food and started itching and chewing on his feet and has lost fur on his feet.

I hope to see pictures of your pug! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bethd

Hi, I recently adopted a 2 y.o. male pug. Two months ago, when he was originally rescured, he was treated for a skin disorder with antibiotics (he was sitting in his own urine at the shelter he was rescued from). Last month he had his anal sacs expressed (ew), and he was treated for flea infestation with Advantage and some flea pills.

He still scratches a lot and seems pretty miserable when he does. I bathe him once a week--could I be adding to the problem? Does anyone have any suggestions on good shampoos to use?

Thanks!

beth

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Or the weekly bathings could be drying out your pugs skin causing him to scratch alot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bethd

I bathe him once a week--could I be adding to the problem? Does anyone have any suggestions on good shampoos to use?

Thanks!

beth

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Definitely. Bathing frequently is usually not recommended for most breeds. As a general rule, dogs should be bathed once or twice a month at most. My Pekingese is bathed once a month. My dobie mix is bathed ..maybe 3-4 times a year. My greyhound is bathed about 2-4 times a year.

Bathe less, use gentle shampoo (I use Earthbath, but almost any shampoo you find at a pet store will do), and *groom* to spread around those skin oils! I recommend a curry comb for that.

I also agree you should look into food allergies and mange, but these two are pretty obvious. Allergies often result in raw, sometimes bloody, paws, patches of fur falling out, flaking dandruff, etc. And mange should show up in a simple skin scraping.

I agree - bathing him too often is not helping, and may be causing the itchiness. Also food allergies can be something to look at, once mange has been ruled out by a vet trip. What food does he eat now? Take a look at the ingredients list - and consider switching to a simpler one if you suspect allergies.

Fewer baths can help. Also adding Omega Fatty acids to the diet can make a big difference. Missing Link is a good way to do this.

It could also be the kind of food. Some dogs don't tolerate corn (or other things). A switch to a different food might be a good idea. What do you feed now?

thanks. these have all been great suggestions!

beth

My 11 year old American Eskimo is also itchy but usually only when the heat goes on at this time of year. My vet diagnosed her with allergies some time ago and switched her food to a sensitive skin type which seems to have helped a lot. But she still bites spots on her legs and belly till they bleed and right now her eyes are running back ookey stuff and she rubs them on the carpeting or with her paws. Any ideas for this? I wash them with mild soap and water which she actually seems to like and it helps some.