itchy skin

Question
I have a miniature wiener dog, who is the cutest dog in the world.  She is digging in her ears, as well as her armpits, and itches on her belly and ears. It appears that she has dandruff coming from her coat on her back.  She scratches a lot at night.  Otherwise, she is a happy, well fed, member of the family.  Any ideas as to what may be causing this??  What can I do??

Answer
There could be a number of reasons.  It could be a flea allergy, a food allergy, an allergic reaction to something in the house.  Anything change recently?  You can try giving her an oatmeal shampoo bath and check with your vet about giving Benedryl - the amount depends on her weight.  You can also try switching gradually to a high quality food such as Wellness, Solid Gold, etc.  It could also be sarcoptic mange which are like mites on the skin and makes the dog very itchy on the ears, belly and armpits especially.  This will end up causing sores on the skin and crusty skin.  If this is the case, she needs veterinary treatment.  My best advice is to take her to the vet - they can give you something to stop the itch quickly and check for the mange.