My dog won't stop scratching and biting at his skin. I checked for fleas and don't see any. What else could it be?
Constant scratching without visible fleas is usually caused by allergies, dry skin, or a skin infection. Environmental allergies (pollen, grass, dust mites) are the most common cause and typically affect the paws, ears, belly, and armpits. Food allergies are less common but cause similar symptoms plus digestive issues. Check for red, inflamed, or hot spots on the skin. Look inside the ears for redness, discharge, or odor which indicates an ear infection, often secondary to allergies. For immediate relief, give your dog a bath with an oatmeal-based dog shampoo which soothes irritated skin. You can also give plain Benadryl (diphenhydramine, NOT the combination products) at 1 mg per pound of body weight, 2 to 3 times daily. So a 50-pound dog gets two 25mg tablets. Check with your vet to confirm dosage. If scratching continues beyond 2 weeks, see your vet for proper diagnosis. They may recommend allergy testing, a prescription diet trial, medicated shampoo, or medications like Apoquel or Cytopoint which are very effective for allergic skin disease in dogs.
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