Scratching and biting himself

Question
My chow/golden retriever mix puppy (6 mos. old) has taken to biting and scratching himself since we took him to a groomer a few weeks ago.  We have found he has what feels like scabs/very dry skin on his back mostly.  He is scratching/biting so much we are now finding small tufts of fur all over the house.  Until the holiday weekend is over, I would like to help him feel better by using Medicated Gold Bond Powder.  Is this ok for him??  We are going to bathe him and dry him first.  I don't want to make him sick if the powder has something in it that is not good for him.   Thanks

Answer
Hi Gail,

Even better than Gold Bond Powder for itchy hot spots would be 100% pure Aloe Vera gel (not a blend) which you can find at health food stores and drug stores.
Aloe Vera gel comes from the Aloe Vera succulent plant and contains enzymes which break down inflammatory proteins and enhance healing. Pure Aloe Vera gel is not harmful for pets who want to lick it off. You might find it helpful in relieving your own itchy skin or bug bites!

Adding some Epsom salts, baking soda, or colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno) to the water will increase the bath's soothing effects. This will provide only a temporary relief lasting from a few hours to a few days. After the bath, pat the dog with a towel. Do not rub the skin, this will only increase the dogs itch. Do not use a hair dryer on a heat setting. A cool (no heat) setting would be okay. Heat and rubbing the dogs skin will increase your dogs itch, making the bath ineffective.

Be sure to thoroughly rinse your dog's coat, since shampoo residue that has dried on his skin could be the culprit that's making him itch. Bathe and rinse your dog with cool water, it's soothing, whereas rinsing with warm water can cause a histamine reaction that will only causes more itching.

You can also try Witch Hazel. This product has a cooling effect on the skin that is soothing for both animals and for people. It is available as a spray or lotion.  Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply on hot spots up to 4 times a day.

You can give your dog an over the counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl, or Tavist.
Antihistamines are not free of side effects; they are notorious for drowsiness in some individuals. Typical dosages for dogs under 30 pounds: give 10 mg
dogs 30 to 50 pounds: give 25 mg
dogs over 50 pounds: give 50 mg. Use only the plain Benadryl formula. Benadryl may interact with drugs that your pet is taking, so be sure to discuss use of ANY drugs for your pet with your vet before using any.

Dab with milk of magnesia to calm irritated skin to relieve the itch.

Apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the affected areas. This also helps soothe itchy human skin in case you, too, have a sting, rash or poison ivy.


I hope I've been a help.


Best of luck,
Patti