Itchy pug

[Giselle]

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

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.

[Karen]

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.

[mruffruff]

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?

[bethd]

thanks. these have all been great suggestions!

beth

[Eskie Girl]

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.