Wimpering and biting.

Question
I recently adopted a female puppy beagle.  She is 2 monthes old and I have had her almost a week.  She is training well, so far.  The main problem I am having with her is that she bites her hind legs and scratches alot!  She does this when we go outside to potty, when we play, and even when she tries to eat.  She also wimpers when she does this.  I have given her baths in mild puppy shampoo, checked for fleas (I haven't seen one yet), and even got her a flea/tick collar.  Do you have any ideas on what this is and what I can do to help her?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Dakota!

I think that maybe the reason for the scratching is jsut because she has an irritation on her skin. But whatever the cause is behind the scratching, it's probably the same reason why she's also biting her hind legs. The whining and whimpers are probably because when she scratches and bites herself it may hurt. Now here are some remedies to try and stop the itching.

The easiest way to soothe an itchy pet fast is to give a cool bath.The temporary relief from a cool dip can last for several hours hours to as long as several days.Try to keep your pet in the water for about ten minutes,but if he won't stay still that long,even a few minutes in the tub will probably help.

Oatmeal baths cab be helpful to animals just as they're helpful to people.You should wash your pet with an oatmeal shampoo or putting colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno) in the bath water.If you don't have collodial oatmeal,you can substitute regular oatmeal from the kitchen.Take an old sock and fill it with oatmeal.Tie the sock over your bathtub spout so the water comes through the oatmeal.

If your pet has been biting or licking his paws,he could have itchy feetYou should sooth those paws with an Epsom salt soak.Run several inches of cool watr into the tub.Add two cups of Epsom salts and lift him in for a five-to ten-minute furry-foot soak.

Sinse itchy skin is often dry skin,using a moisturizer can help relieve the problem.Avon Skin-So-Soft or Alpha-Keri Oil is good for the itchy pet with dry skin.Dilute one tablespoon per gallon of water use it as after-bath rinse.Or splitz your pet's coat once a week or so.

A lot of itching in pets is due to flea allergy.And there doesn't have to be ferocious horde.One bite could make your pet itch for days.Washing your pet with a flea shampoo will get rid of pests that often cause itching.It's also a good idea to spray or powder your pet with insecticides containing D-limonene or pyrethrins.Outdoors,keeping the grass mowed,the yard raked and brush cleared will also help keep fleas away.

Giving your pet supplements containing essential fatty acids may help calm itchy skin while adding sheen to his coat.You should have combination supplements containing linoleic acid,gamma-linoleic acid,which are available in pet stores.Fatty acids don't work quickly,but you should see results withing two months.

Since itching is often caused by hay fever,giving an anithistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadrly) can help.Many vets recommend giving one to three milligrams for every pound of pet;ask your vet precise dosing instructions.For best results,don't give him the medication only when itching flares.It should be given throughout allergy season.

NAME THAT ITCH
Does your dog flail with hind leg or nibble between his toes?Where your pet itches can tell a lot about what's causing the problem.Pets with fleas,for example,usually scratch the rear half of their bodies,especially above the tail and down the back of the legs.The pattern is like a Christmas tree pattern along their back.If your dog has hay fever,however, it is usuallly the front half that itches.Front-half itching causes face-rubbing,foot-licking,armpit-scratching and neck-and-chest-scratching.If your dog is itching all over,he could have a food allergy.Some pets that itch all over also have flaky skin or greasy coats-a condition vets call seborrhea.But if those flakes of skin start to move,watch out:Your pet may have a case of "walking dandruff" ,which is really a skin parasite called Cheyletiella.

Well, I hope this is helpful and please contact your vet first before trying any of this! Please keep me updated! Sending wagging tails your way!  ...Nikki...