Poodles skin

Question
Hey ,
my poodle  out of no where started biting off his fur, but on his thighs only.
It looks as if he is timming his hair, but only his thighs.
And I have noticed in his (leavings) is fur, I even caught him throwing up hair..
What is wrong with him? Is it something wrong with his skin, or just a bad habit?

Answer
Hello Jasmine,
It could be that he has some irritation at the spot he is biting at.  Part the hair and look to see if where he is biting is red or sore looking.  Even though Poodles don't shed for the most part, they do lose dead hair just like people.  Most of the time, their dead hairs get caught in their curly hair and it gets removed when the dog is brushed or shaved.  Sometimes though, the hairs collect then fall off in balls around the house.  
If he is biting or licking himself alot, he could be ingesting the hair and thats why you are seeing him throw it back up.  

There are lots of things that can cause Hotspots or irritated places on the skin.  Fleas or allergies to flea bites are common, as are allergies to other things (dogs can be allergic to the same things people are) and itching is one of the signs.  
Have you changed anything in his diet or have you switched detergents or cleaning supplies?  I am not sure what area you live in, but you do have to watch light colored dogs for sunburn.  If you are near high risk areas for sunburn and sun exposure, dogs can get sunburns as easily as people and it can cause redness and irritation, which would lead to your dog biting at himself like he is.

If you aren't sure what might be causing his biting, and he doesn't stop soon, you may need to visit your Vet.  By him biting at the skin, he can open the wound up and that can cause infections.  If you notice open skin wounds or bleeding, wash the area with Soap and water, then apply a triple Antibiotic cream to it.  

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions/comments/concerns, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim