Itchy Wesitie -any tips for prevention/cures?

Harrie123

Harrie123

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Hi Guys

Took my mums Wesite to have his hair cut at the weekend, this week his is itching all over. Can't decide if it was the shampoo they used or the fact that we let him run around it some long grass over the weekend too (yep that sets him off too).

He is a sensitive sole and I think we have a better idea of what triggers it i.e, grass, some doggie shampoos, stress etc..

So he is going to the vets today to see if they can help but I was wondering if any of you guys have tips for soothing or preventing the itchiness (alongside avoiding the triggers). We did have him on a herbal supplement too but it doesn't seem to as well as it used to.
 
Does he itch all year or does it seem to be seasonal?

If it's all the time, you might need to look at triggers like food, household chemicals (air fresheners etc), washing powder used on bedding, shampoos, dust mites etc.

If it's seasonal (which my bt/lhasa apso cross gets) then it's more likely to be grass pollen or something else in the air for only some of the year.

We have tried skin creams/sprays on him, anti-histamines, washing his paws when he comes in from fields etc but unfortunately the only thing we have found that helps our terrier is a couple of steroid injections over the summer. I don't like doing it but his skin gets so itchy he chews it raw and it can get infected. The steroid stops it almost immediately.
 
My mums old dog suffers with a pollen allergy in spring but mainly autumn. The only thing that works is a steroid tablet! He chews his paws raw and scratches all his eyes too - it's horrid to see and I couldn't risk using anything that wouldn't get rid immediately. Although I did use to bathe them with cold saline solution and rub aloe gel into the sore bits which he seemed to appreciate!
 
We give ours cod liver oil daily. Also she gets bathed about once every 2-3 months in an aloe vera & tea tree oil shampoo.

When we first got her, she was very itchy but not any more. The cod liver oil definitely helps :)
 
Skin problems are so difficult to diagnose. It could be diet...it could be whatever he was shampoo'd in, it could be whatever you washed his bed in, it could be the grass/pollen/dust mites - it could be the fact he's a westie! You'd need to systematically start eliminating things in order to really get to the bottom of it.
 
Thanks for all your replies, I think I had better start making a list of things to eliminate!!



JennBags said:
We give ours cod liver oil daily. Also she gets bathed about once every 2-3 months in an aloe vera & tea tree oil shampoo.

When we first got her, she was very itchy but not any more. The cod liver oil definitely helps :)
Click to expand...

I will try the cod liver oil too, it can't do any harm! Where did you get your shampoo from?
 
Have a look at what detergents you use around the house, ie carpet cleaners, washing powders for the dog bedding, or sofa covers etc. Check what you are using in the garden for weeds or fertilizers. Any of these could cause a reaction as well as what has already been mentioned. Westies are known for their sensitive skins.
 
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