Toy Fox Terrier

Question
Sadie has mostly white hair with large black spots; she seems to have itchy skin but she does not have fleas.  I feed her puppy food with Lamb to help try and keep oil in her skin but is there something else I should be doing?

Answer
Pull back the hair at the base of the tail.  If you can see or feel gritty, reddish specks, she has fleas even if you haven't seen any.  If so, the best thing is to get her to the vet and let him suggest the best flea remedy for her.  

Feed a decent chow and as little else as possible, seldom if ever bathe the dog, and brush it daily with a soft bristled brush. You might add a teaspoon a day of liquid cooking oil to its food.

Avoid overweight. It can cause skin problems too. Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different. Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its food adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx

A certain amount of itching is normal.  If the dog still itches too much, best see the vet.