Itchy skin and biting

Question
I have a 9 month Saddle Back Husky. I got her from the poun 2 months ago and she has had her health eval and all shots up to date. About a week ago she started biting herself back by her tail on the left side. She has pulled out most of the hair in one area and it now looks like it is starting to scab over. She still bites and itches in many areas around her tail on both sides. I took her to a vet for a quick opinion and she said it was flea related and I should get her a cotizone shot. Not having the money for this I have been looking at alternatives. I was bathing her once a week, I found out this was bad and stopped. When I was bathing her I was using a Oatmeal shampoo. Her last bathe was about 1 week before this started. She has been given an Advantage flea treatment, I have been putting Neosporen and Cortizone cream on her spot as well as using bitters to help deter her from biting until it heals.

My main question is....Is there something I can put on her to help relieve the itching and dry skin problem. Is Bag Balm ok to use and will it hurt her if she licks it. Is there a oil or cream I can comb into her to help? ANy input would be reall great.

Thanks alot.

Answer
Hi Robert,

I know how frustrating it is to have a dog with a persistent itch.

It can help if you cut the hair around the area where your dog has been itching. Exposing the skin to the air will help with healing. Bag balm is safe if it's licked off. If it seems to be helping, there's no reason to look for other treatments. Though bathing a dog often isn't a good idea, if you're using it for medical reasons it's acceptable. Look for one that moisturizes and also has itch controlling ingredients. Brands to look for are Dermal-Soothe Anti-Itch Shampoo, PetRelief Moisturizing Shampoo, Zema Pet Relief Moisturizing Shampoo, to name a few.
Applying a cool water compress to the itchy area (with just a washcloth, and no shampoo) can help suppress the itch. When done, dry with a hair drier, as rubbing with a towel can aggravate the itch.

You can use 100% Aloe Vera gel on your dog's itchy spots, it will help sooth the itch, it's safe if she licks it off, and it's good for dry skin. Be sure you use 100% pure Aloe Vera though, and not a blend. You can also dab on a little Witch Hazel.

There are also over-the-counter products especially made for pets, that help relieve itching and are safe if it's licked. Look for:  Sulfodene Skin Medication, Dermasol, Miracle Coat Skin Treatment Mist Spray for Dogs,  Tomlyn's Allercaine Spray.

If your dog tends to lick off medication just about as soon as it goes on, try applying it before you take her out on a walk. This will give the medication some time to sink in, and work. It's possible that by the time you come back from the walk, your dog will have forgotten about licking the area, at least for a while.

Be sure to keep up with the flea treatments. Fleas only live on a dog for part of their life span, so it's important to keep up with a preventative.

Your dog's skin can be helped from the inside out. Adding marine fish oil capsules or some other source of Omega-n3 fatty acids to her diet can help control of itchiness, and help with her skin dryness.  The veterinary products most often recommended for this is 3V Capsules or 3V Caps Liquid Skin Formula, DermCaps, or  EFA-Z . You need to give these supplements daily, and results may not be seen for several weeks. If you are unsure of the dose, ask your vet.

Biotin is one of the B vitamins. Several studies have shown that dogs suffering from dry skin, seborrhea, and dry, itchy allergic skin greatly improved when supplemented daily with biotin. Biotin is often used in combination with fatty acids to manage dogs with allergies, is very safe, and there are no side effects or toxicities. Biotin may be found as a supplemental powder such as Brewers Yeast, which contains other vitamins and minerals. You just mix it into your dog's regular food. There are some brands of chewable Brewers Yeast supplements made especially for dogs that also contain Omega-3 fatty acids. But you could also use a Brewer's Yeast supplement made for people that you would buy at a health food store. The dose is 1 teaspoon per pound of body weight for dogs.  It's best to begin with small amounts of brewer's yeast (less than 1 tsp daily) and gradually work up to the recommended dosage, since it can cause gas.

When itching is at it's worst, using an over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton can help. Ask your vet for a brand recommendation, and the correct dose for your dog. The different brands of antihistamines have different active ingredients. If one doesn't seem to help your dog, ask your vet for another brand recommendation, and a dosage. Most antihistamines will make a dog drowsy, so it might be best used over night.

Best of luck!
Patti