Dont want to waste money on vet visit, but my baby is scratching like crazy!
 

This is not a new problem, it seems to come and go and I have posted similar things before. I have made several trips to the vet when it gets bad, he gives her Temeril P and off we go. Usually that seems to help for awhile.

I guess I would rather know what is causing it. Its mostly her bottom and her feet and legs that bother her, especially her back end. I use Frontline Plus, just treated she and the other 2, 3 wks ago, plus have combed her endlessly looking for fleas and only found one on her, one time, the day I treated her.

Do we really know much about dogs allergies? It seems like if thats what this is it has gotten worse since I went back to home feeding, probably the rice is the culprit as I usually only feed them meat, (most times chicken), rice and vegies with a supplement in it. Ive posted before about trying so many different kinds of high quality dog foods (all the ones mentioned here) and wasting so much money because my dogs wouldnt eat them. Ive gone back and forth a couple of times with home feeding because of this issue. It sure would be easier for me to feed them dog food, so if that would lessen the allergy issue, I guess I will try it again.

I have some Temeril P left so rather than going to the vet and getting no help Im just using it myself. I hate to give it to her though as Im sure it has nasty side effects.
Can I use the dog hydrocortisone sprays that are on the market? Will that hurt her is he licks it, which she will? Can she use that stuff plus the Temeril?
I feel bad for her and me as she is keeping me up at night scratching.

Your poor little girl! Do you take her on the grass? Maybe she is allergic to that!!
Check your food and make sure there is no corn, wheat or soy too! those are known allergens!!
If she is allergic to grains, there are several foods that are grain free.
Good luck!!

I may be out in left field here but it's something I noticed with my own. I couldn't figure out why two of my girls would scratch and cause matts in the same places, usually worse a few days after their baths. I changed shampoo and no difference. Then I watched a grooming video that warned against putting shampoo on the skin. I started diluting the shampoo in a squirt bottle and putting it only on the hair. Of course some gets on the skin, but very little. This one simple thing has made the unexplained itching decrease by 75%. I'm guessing it's because the shampoo doesn't remove the essential oil from the skin and the skin stays healthier. I bath once per week and brush every day. It's just something you can try that doesn't cost anything. Good luck! :bulb:

I hate to say it - but if you saw one flea - it very well could still be a flea problem....

I have checked her over and over though and I have never seen another flea...plus the other times Ive been to the vet for this itching, he checks her and has never found any, even with the flea comb. Besides, if I treat her with Frontline, I thought it killed all of them. I dont bathe her that much but next time I will try to dilute the shampoo, just in case

If you think it is food, your dog needs to go on an elimination diet.
It could be rice but it could also be a certain kind of meat.

The parts of the body that are itching don't sound exactly like a food allergy though. It is possible but it might be something else...

Have the EVER done a skin scraping for mange? Have you ever done a fish based diet or fish based kibble?

What is going on inside of her ears? Are they stinky, normal, itchy?

I would have an allergy test done. Exspensive but worth it in the long run. Turbo has so many enviromental allergies and is on Atopica. He is doing so much better and actually looks like a westie now. He lost so much hair scratching all of the time and his poor feet were always red from licking them. It is a miserable feeling to have an itch that you can not scratch, just imagine how your poor baby feels. The temaril-p helps, Turbo uses this along with his atopica on his worst days, but atleast he feels some relief. I can not stand to see him suffer. I feel your pain and good luck!!

I was also thinking that it might be some kind of mange, however, that typically comes with hair loss. My suzi had dandruff and was very itchy at times. I learned that if the dog is bathed too frequently it can dry out the skin and cause the dog to itch. :aimeeyork Skin scraping and allergy testing may be in order to find out the cause of your dogs discomfort. :aimeeyork Best of luck :animal-pa