German Shepherd Bitting and Scratching problem. Help needed ! - Page 1

My 8 months old german shepherd is bitting himself and scratching all over his body. I have searched for ticks and fles in his body and found some of them. I applied tick removal solution by which tick are out now but he is still biting his body continously. If anybody know how to eliminate this problem, Please reply to me. My email is gaurav.prm@rediffmail.com

regards
Gaurav Parmar

I would bring the dog to the vet and have him checked for worms/parasites. Also, the vet can give the dog a cortisone shot to counter allergic reaction to flea bites, so his biting won't become a habit. Next thing to do is check his food, make sure you are feeding a high quality food with no corn. Just some ideas to consider.
 
I went through this with my cat who suddenly started pulling the hair out of his backend. Even though there was no evidence of fleas the vet wanted to put the cat on frontline, which I declined. I think the worming and shot worked because his hair is growing back and the cat has stopped biting himself.

Good luck finding the problem.

 Gaurav,

Are you in India or somewhere other than the United States? I think the advice Beetree leaves here is very good advice. You should take the dog to your vet and make sure you get proper treatment for fleas and ticks. These can be more serious than making the dog always biting and scratching. Tick bites may lead to infection. Some dogs have allergic reactions to flea bites and saliva. Getting rid of them, bathing the dog in something that is soothing, and making sure the dog does not get a new group of ticks and fleas or other parasites AND a proper diet will help. You may also have to clean and get rid of fleas and ticks where the dog spends time (*outside, in the house, in a kennel). 

So a visit to someone who can help you is much better than hoping we can give you an idea that may or may not work.

Good luck.

Sound advice.

Watchout for steroids on a young dog, it will suppress his immune system and that could lead to - OH NO! - Demodectic Mange epsode.

Pharaoh was itching and scratching and had a rash.  The vet thought it was allergies, gave him a shot of steroids and some pills.  Long term it didn't work.  Mpnths later, I went to another vet, got allergy testing and more steroids.  Tje allergy testing came back - no allergies!!!!

I ran into a guy I know who works with shepherd rescue, told him Pharaoh's sad story.  He told me that it sounded like I had shredded redwoood fir bark on my property-and I did.  He said that it breaks down into mini-splinters.  If you are familiar with redwood, the splinters almost always get infected and sore.

That was good news, all I had to do was keep him out of the yard.  Then he got a bare spot on his face-Demodex.  That is cleared up now.

So, I own a half acre fully fenced and Pharaoh cannot play in the yard.

Michele

I agree with the other posters. You should seek Veterinary attention for your pup.
He does sound like allergies, but those allergies could be to several things, fleas, ticks, grass, Food, Pollen, inhalent,(perfumes, air freshners etc) and in poor Pharaoh's case, redwood Fir Bark. ( I never heard of that one). 1 flea bite can set a dog to chewing for up to 10 days if really allergic to the flea saliva. keep a good treatment on your dog. The rest is process of elimination.

I had a female that we discovered was allergic to the red food color used in a dog food. She is fine as long as what she eats doesn't have red food color. and We treated her biting/chewing-hot spots with steroid/antibiotic spray daily. no Injections. she has been fine since. All our dogs are on flea and tick prevention continuosly.

Bonnie

Thanks to all above posters'. Your advice is very improtant for me. Thanks once again.

Now I want to tell you all that, I am from a very small town of India, where vetrenary service is very limited. Here in my town only on vet is available in Government vetrinary hospital. I have taken my pup to him and he suggested me to give my pup bath of anti parasitic liquid and also given  him tablets of ivermectine of 10mg. I started his treatment immediately.

I have given him ivermectine tab. and next morning my pup vomits and a soap water type liquid is all over his mouth. So I again talked to my vet and he said may be the medicine should be overdose. So I stop giving medicine immediatly.

As it is my first pet thats why i have very less experience about all this. So please tell me what sort of medicine should I gave or what should I diagnos in my pup to cure him.

thanks !

 

I own a dog grooming shop ,lately we have had ALOT of this sort of complaint.  I'll just throw this thought out there.  If you are giving your dog  beggin treats, canine cuts, puparoni stop.  This could be the problem.  The clients that would come to me after the dog had been to vet and got steroid shots.  They would drag in bottle after bottle of shampoo (vet prescribed)
I started talking to them about these treats finding out that ALL of these people were on one of these treats. Guess what quit the treats It takes about 2 months before you see really see difference in the dog.  Also find a organic yogurt (stoneyfield)  and start giving it to your dog.  Especially if your dog has had the treats and is itching.     It seem to help keep your pets flora in check.  Those treats have red dye 40 and also a BHA perservative in them.  I guess that is the problem with them.   This is Just my observation.    Plus stay on a flea preventative.

I am curious though if your dog does use these treats would you please post yes or no.

Thanks
December 

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