Older dog - itchy

[Jenko109]

My lurcher is nine. Never had any history of itchiness or skin problems.

For the last few days she has been itchy. It's not to excess but more often than is usual for her.

I'm perplexed. Her skin appears perfectly healthy.

Do older dogs get more itchy? Could it just be drying skin as she is aging and perhaps some fish oils or something would help?

I had some Malaseb so gave her a good scrub with that as a precaution.

I can take her to the vet if it persists, but feel a bit weird when she has perfectly healthy looking skin!


Anyone have any suggestions on what to try first?

 

[Sandstone1]

Has she had flea treatment recently? Lots of grass seeds around at moment that can get stuck in unlikely places. Harvest mites? Have you changed your laundry products that you wash her bedding in? Any new cleaning products she may be allergic too? If not and it continues a vet check would be best.

 

[Jenko109]

I don't think she has been treated for fleas in about seven years lol. Have gone through her pretty thoroughly and no signs of fleas.

Her bedding is always washed in sensitive non bio.

My only other thinking is that she is not a big eater at all. She has half a pack of Barking heads wet in the morning (150g) and will pick at a few biscuits in the evening (markus muhle, the more expensive one without maize) so perhaps she is not getting everything she needs to support healthy skin.

Perhaps I'll give her some oily fish and see how she goes over the next few days and if not then take her in.

 

[meleeka]

Older dogs can develop allergies, where they didn’t before, so don’t discount that. If she were mine I’d give her a bath with mild, moisturising shampoo and then treat for fleas/mites and if no improvement off to the vet.

 

[scats]

Bess recently had an cytopoint injection for her itchiness. She doesn’t suffer from redness or anything on her skin, but gets very distressed.

The injection has been a huge success and she hasn’t scratched since.

 

[Birker2020]

My lurcher is nine. Never had any history of itchiness or skin problems.

For the last few days she has been itchy. It's not to excess but more often than is usual for her.

I'm perplexed. Her skin appears perfectly healthy.

Do older dogs get more itchy? Could it just be drying skin as she is aging and perhaps some fish oils or something would help?

I had some Malaseb so gave her a good scrub with that as a precaution.

I can take her to the vet if it persists, but feel a bit weird when she has perfectly healthy looking skin!


Anyone have any suggestions on what to try first?

We are having significant issues with ours at the moment at the top of her front legs where they meet her chest. She is biting them. She was given spot on and then four or five days later due to being wet dog smelly I bathed her. She started scratching and chewing at the top of her legs, causing scabs. So I completely bathed her again, thoroughly rinsed her thinking I'd maybe left a bit of shampoo in her coat previously. Partner also has had her in a full bath of water so that any residue can be dispersed. Vet has seen her twice, and a telephone consultation where she has prescribed creams. She has been sprayed with front line this time (sure that's what my partner said). He feels she has had a reaction to grass seeds. It has now started down the inside of her back legs.

The vet has said there is a huge flea infestation (47% increase) at the moment due to the barmy weather we have had this summer. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/...or-increase-in-fleas-this-autumn-bayer/274539

 

[Jenko109]

I do have some flea stuff that I got free with an insurance policy, so I'll give her a bath in some nice moisture rich shampoo. I do actually have a pop of coconut oil which apparently supposed to be good? Then flea her as a precaution.

I just picked her up some sardines which she is going to be most impressed with

 

[Clodagh]

I wouldn’t de flea unless you can see them, or their poos. But I’m fairly anti chemicals unnecessarily. I think if she had them you’d see them, check round her vulva they can hide there.

 

[Chiffy]

Jenko, I never treat for fleas and have never found any. I agree with Clodagh.
Barking Heads is a great high end kibble but I would never just feed kibble however good, especially if she isn’t a great eater. I personally add Naturo meat but I am not necessarily recommending this. Great that you got some sardInes, mine love them as a treat.
For itching I recommend NutriPaw supplements. They do one for itching. My rescue dog is on their Pre and Pro Biotics which have helped her itchy gungy ears that she won’t let me put any drops in.
Hope you get sorted.

 

[Jenko109]

It's the wet food that she has from Barking heads, but yes, appreciate that as she isn't much of a foody, I should perhaps look at adding some other bits in there.

Will take a look at pre/pro biotics.

 

[Jenko109]

She is looking rather bemused, following her coconut oil massage and moisturising shampoo scrub

 

[skinnydipper]

We are having significant issues with ours at the moment at the top of her front legs where they meet her chest. She is biting them. She was given spot on and then four or five days later due to being wet dog smelly I bathed her. She started scratching and chewing at the top of her legs, causing scabs. So I completely bathed her again, thoroughly rinsed her thinking I'd maybe left a bit of shampoo in her coat previously. Partner also has had her in a full bath of water so that any residue can be dispersed. Vet has seen her twice, and a telephone consultation where she has prescribed creams. She has been sprayed with front line this time (sure that's what my partner said). He feels she has had a reaction to grass seeds. It has now started down the inside of her back legs.

The vet has said there is a huge flea infestation (47% increase) at the moment due to the barmy weather we have had this summer. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/...or-increase-in-fleas-this-autumn-bayer/274539

Birker, wasn't your dog previously diagnosed with food allergy which was affecting her ears and skin? Is she still being fed Purina HA and nothing else, no toppers, no treats?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mine has had to have cytopoint, Malaseb shampoo and a long course of Apoquel plus some Canesten for her vulva area. I'm on beans for the rest of the month and nearly started crying on the vet receptionist, but she's worth it
Not fleas, obviously.

Is the Nutripaw stuff any cop? I keep seeing ads pop up on FB.

 

[skinnydipper]

My lurcher is nine. Never had any history of itchiness or skin problems.

For the last few days she has been itchy. It's not to excess but more often than is usual for her.

I'm perplexed. Her skin appears perfectly healthy.

Do older dogs get more itchy? Could it just be drying skin as she is aging and perhaps some fish oils or something would help?

I had some Malaseb so gave her a good scrub with that as a precaution.

I can take her to the vet if it persists, but feel a bit weird when she has perfectly healthy looking skin!


Anyone have any suggestions on what to try first?

Jenko, does her skin look dry and flaky, a bit like dandruff? If so it might be as well to have your vet take a look and check that she doesn't have cheyletiella.

 

[skinnydipper]

Mine has had to have cytopoint, Malaseb shampoo and a long course of Apoquel plus some Canesten for her vulva area. I'm on beans for the rest of the month and nearly started crying on the vet receptionist, but she's worth it
Not fleas, obviously.

Is the Nutripaw stuff any cop? I keep seeing ads pop up on FB.

That's tough, CC. You have my sympathy.

Did the vet know if it is likely to be food or environmental allergies?

 

[CorvusCorax]

That's tough, CC. You have my sympathy.

Did the vet know if it is likely to be food or environmental allergies?

Environmental. And also seems to be triggered by hormones/seasons. A few females out of her mother to different sires seem to have similar issues. Generally otherwise very healthy and looks like a seal

(She already had a course of steroids and antibiotics a couple of months ago, hence now going to the Gucci vet)

Sulphur in her water seemed to do the trick last time but she's learned to fish it out and play with it...

 

[Jenko109]

I've found a tiny area that looks sore on her tummy, assumedly where she has little hair there.

Most of her scratching seems to be around her neck which appears perfectly healthy, but I suppose that will soon change with a few more days of scratching.

I'm away for a week from Friday and partner will nope cope getting tablets down her. I struggle with her. She is an absolute devil lol.

Have an appointment at the vets at 3.45pm tomorrow. Going to see if they can give me some liquid pred for a week or similar, so he can he dose her and take the itch off while I'm away. Then we can crack on with scrapings and whatever else they want to consider once I'm back.

 

[meleeka]

I've found a tiny area that looks sore on her tummy, assumedly where she has little hair there.

Most of her scratching seems to be around her neck which appears perfectly healthy, but I suppose that will soon change with a few more days of scratching.

I'm away for a week from Friday and partner will nope cope getting tablets down her. I struggle with her. She is an absolute devil lol.

Have an appointment at the vets at 3.45pm. Going to see if they can give me some liquid pred for a week or similar, so he can he dose her and take the itch off while I'm away. Then we can crack on with scrapings and whatever else they want to consider once I'm back.

Ah that’ll be why then. How do animals always know when it’s an inconvenient time to have anything wrong with them?

 

[skinnydipper]

Environmental. And also seems to be triggered by hormones/seasons. A few females out of her mother to different sires seem to have similar issues. Generally otherwise very healthy and looks like a seal

(She already had a course of steroids and antibiotics a couple of months ago, hence now going to the Gucci vet)

Sulphur in her water seemed to do the trick last time but she's learned to fish it out and play with it...

Environmental must be harder, I think. At least with food you have some chance of finding the problem ingredient and removing it from the diet.

I hope you manage to get on top of it for her sake and yours.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Environmental must harder, I think. At least with food you have some chance of finding the problem ingredient and removing it from the diet.

I hope you manage to get on top of it for her sake and yours.

Thanks, it's not the worst problem to have, she's generally still a bonny little thing despite the scratchies.

 

[Birker2020]

Birker, wasn't your dog previously diagnosed with food allergy which was affecting her ears and skin? Is she still being fed Purina HA and nothing else, no toppers, no treats?

The vet believed previously it was possibly an allergy to dairy but this was ruled out this time round as it came on so suddenly and because she's been on the same diet for years and can go months/years between reactions. The vet believes its due to either fleas or grass mites. We need to stop the scratch itch cycle which is why she's been prescribed the steroid cream and why the vet told our partner to spray her with flea stuff.

She will not eat pure dog biscuit and never has done as I have explained the reasons before.

We are hoping it clears up quickly, as we are holiday Friday. I think a 'cone of shame' would have worked quicker, but partner didn't think it was necessary and I was okay with that.

 

[Jenko109]

Given her age, I might ask them to run bloods, query thyroid issue or similar while we are there.

I dont really bath her to remember, but there seemed to be an excessive amount of hair coming off of her in the bath.

 

[CorvusCorax]

With shampoos like Malaseb, you're better using a shower puff or something and apply direct with minimal water, it needs to contact the skin and remain there for a while as it can change the PH balance. I never give a 'bath' as such.

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks, it's not the worst problem to have, she's generally still a bonny little thing despite the scratchies.

I’d stop cleaning the house… you never know.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm being misleading when I say bath. It's actually a shower. She's just stood in the bath.

Normally with Malaseb, I put it on in the garden, we do some training for ten minutes or play some games, then rinse off.

It's actually a bit cold here today though. The lurcher would almost certainly call child line if I expected her to stand in the garden all wet for ten minutes

 

[CorvusCorax]

I’d stop cleaning the house… you never know.

That's a bold assumption that I do any in the first place

 

[tristar]

our dogs have been in better health since having a dose of tinned salmon once or twice a week, also have olive oil on the breakfast, the terrier would scratch at this time of year, but we have just done the harvest, so could be mites but he is ok this year

they also have veg at lunchtime, i cook extra for them

now i am not a dog person, just take in strays, so could be the wrong things to do, but one is ancient and does not look it and the other gallops about a great speed and hes not young

hope you can get sorted, its horrible watching them scratch

also the vet could not work out why the terrier had squinty eyes with tears, but i think that was the dust blowing around, its windy here and he is close to the ground being small, but some optrex eye lotion or similar to flush out the eyes and clean them worked a treat, and as `stable yard manager` he spends a lot of time sitting and observing the horses ready to pounce on any naughty pony that puts a hoof wrong

 

[EventingMum]

Our old boy, a 12 yo terrier started having problems with being itchy and chewing himself. The vet suggested trying YuDerm (from the same manufacturers at Yumove) and whether it's a coincidence or not he hasn't had any problems since.

 

[Birker2020]

Summer today. Starting to dry up and heal with the cream. Not as itchy either.