Canine Pruritic Dermatitis
My 3 month
old German Shepherd is always chewing or scratching. She doesn't have
fleas. Her skin doesn't seem to be dry or flaky. What can I do to
stop the constant chewing or scratching
Many, many
causes of pruritic dermatitis (itchy skin). A visit by your
veterinarian is really necessary. A certain degree of chewing and
scratching is normal dog behavior. Excessive chewing or scratching does
indicate a problem. She may have mange mites, allergies, contact
irritation, seborrhea, fly bites, skin cancer, metabolic disease or one
of many other causes. Your veterinarian will ask many questions, such
as when, how long, where etc. After a thorough history, a physical exam
will help determine the cause. Certain diseases affect specific areas
on the body. Others affect the entire body. You may need blood tests,
skin scrapings or other samples run at the laboratory. The good news is
veterinarians are generally successful at solving pruritic dermatitis.
Sorry, the solution is not as simple as using a different shampoo.
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