Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: My dog wont quit biting herself.... Fri 22 Dec 2006, 9:45 pm

My dog is 10 yrs old,,,she has been on and off biting on her back leg,,such as like she has fleas,,but no fleas are there.She bites and gnaws at her leg till there isnt any hair left and its red and gross looking.

We tried all kinds of stuff,,such as hot spot med from a pet shop,,bag balm,,vaseline,,she leaves it alone then goes to another leg.We try to stop her each time she does this,,she has toys,,bones etc..she gets alot of attention,,just cant seem to figure out why she does this and what to put on it.The Vet said treat as a hot spot,,,but we have absolute no luck with anything treatments for those.Any advice or experience with this problem? scratch

Subject: Re: My dog wont quit biting herself.... Sat 23 Dec 2006, 8:15 am

sometimes an allergic reaction can cause this. In that case you would need to administer benadryl. My sis's dog is allergic to something in the yard and she has to give him benadryl but over Thanksgiving it got so bad he had his paws bleeding so they took him to the vet and they administered steriod shots
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: My dog wont quit biting herself.... Sat 23 Dec 2006, 8:31 am

Here is some info I gathered:

Treatment
Two approaches are neccessary for dealing with hot spots: treat the sore and remove the underlying cause to prevent recurrences.

Veterinary dermatologist Lowell Ackerman recommends the following treatment in his book Skin and Haircoat Problems in Dogs:

trim the hair around the sore to prevent further spread of the infection and expose the edges of the lesion;
wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or antiseptic;
be prepared to use antibiotics or cortisone if the washing does not give results.
Ackerman recommends against the use of ointments or creams because they can seal in the infection and hinder recovery. In severe cases, a veterinarian may suggest the use of an Elizabethan collar to prevent mutilation and give the spot a chance to heal.

Prevention
If the underlying cause is tangled or matted hair or trapped dead hair, put the dog on a regular grooming schedule either at home or at a grooming salon. Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, Shih-Tzus, and other breeds with long hair that tangles easily should be groomed at least twice a week so that snarls and mats do not form. Never bathe a dog with matted or tangled hair — comb the snarls out first. Clip mats if you cannot easily comb them out, and make an appointment for professional grooming every four-to-six weeks if you cannot keep the dog mat-free on your own.

If the underlying cause is allergies, begin an aggressive campaign to rid your home and yard of fleas and work with your veterinarian on a plan to reduce allergy triggers for your pet. Household dust, plant pollen, lawn chemicals, and diet can all cause allergies or can build to a crescendo of allergies if the dog's sensitivities cross a threshhold. Frequent vacuuming, supplements to keep the skin and coat healthy, air purifiers, and baths in skin-soothing herbal or medicated shampoos with aloe, oatmeal, jojoba, or eucalyptus can help. Next step is over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl or Atarax — with a veterinarian's approval. If these don't work, then steroids to reduce the inflammation and the immune system reaction to the allergen and perhaps antibiotics to cure the infected hot spot are the next course of treatment.

If the underlying cause seems to be behavioral — if your pet doesn't have allergies or fleas or a more serious skin condition, but is so bored, stressed, or lonely that he maims himself with constant licking or scratching, he may need more exercise, playtime, and attention. This can be the easiest or the hardest treatment to implement because there's no pill or ointment for long-term success; the requirements are time, consistency, and perhaps an investment in training books, an obedience school, a dog sitter, or an animal behaviorist.

Remedies for Various Skin Ailments:

* Some ways to soothe insect bites, hot spots, and other skin conditions:

** Dab with milk of magnesia to calm irritated skin.

** Aloe vera from plants and creams. Apply gel directly on the spot. Or dilute with water, put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the spot.

** Dab with organic apple cider vinegar.

** Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply on hot spots for several days.

** Apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the affected areas. This also helps soothe itchy human skin in case you, too, have a sting, rash or poison ivy.

** Epsom salt: mix 1 teaspoon in 2 cups of warm water for drawing out infection and bathing itchy paws and skin.

** Combine 3 capsules of sage, 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salts and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Cool to room temperature, then strain out the sage. Store in a spray bottle or jar in the refrigerator to keep fresh. Apply to the affected area several times a day.

** Emu oil is a natural, soothing substance that helps treat canine skin ailments such as ringworm, flea bites, bee stings, rashes, hot spots and lacerations. Apply on the affected area.

** Aveeno. Mix a package of Aveeno oatmeal bath powder with 2 cups of water, wet the dog down with cool water, then apply the Aveeno mix. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off with cool water and towel dry.

** Petkin Reliefstick, which comes packaged like a stick deodorant. It contains natural ingredients to cool the skin as well as reduce redness and swelling and promote healing -- plus a safe licking deterrent.

** Petroleum jelly or Bag Balm � use either to seal in moisture. Also excellent for chaffed paw pads.

** Brewers yeast: one pill for every 10 pounds of the dog�s weight; just add the pills into the dog�s food.
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Vicki

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Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

My dog also has an issue of bitting himself...he is 10 too! LOL, what we do is mix a bit of veg. oil in with his food and this sems to work. It helps him have oil in his skin and that relieves the itching. may take a few days to work. Hope your dog finds relief, this is hard on them!

kim

Subject: Re: My dog wont quit biting herself.... Wed 17 Jan 2007, 7:55 pm

My dog, Harvey is also 10, and he is also itchy right now, I think it's the coral dust in the soil combined with the heat, it's been in he 80s. Benedril cream helps, but it's a little messy, also I was told washing his paws with baby wipes when he comes in might help. I do bath him once a week in Aveeno skin calming baby wash, (or the Walgreen brand) it's economical since I use it, too.