Brown spots on abdominal area with excessive licking, chewing and scratching
Written by maribfree
I have recently moved and both of my dogs have started scratching, licking and chewing on themselves like crazy. I am using vet recommended HyLyt shampoo for their skin. After bathing them today, I noticed brown patches on both of their bellies and hind legs. If you scratch long enough, you will get a sticky substance off and have to pull it out of their hair, it is no where else on their bodies. I have not changed their diet since the move. The people we got the house from just installed new carpet in 1/2 of the house. Do you have any ideas on what this might be? I have read about fatty acids, but I don't want to do more harm than good. My male (the father) is only 4.5 lbs and my female (the daughter) is about 9 lbs. The dipenhidramine is for dogs 15 lbs and over, so I am afraid to give them benadryl to see if it is allergies. Thank you for any suggestions!!!
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Maribfree, identifying an allergen can be one of the most challenging issues with skin problems. Allergies come in all shapes and sizes from food to contact to fleas to an inhalant. What you are describing does sound like an allergy to something in the environment. It is quite common with season changes to have allergies be more prevalent. There are so many possibilities, it is impossible to say what is causing your dogs to scratch so much.
If you really want to get the best educated guess, it may be worth a trip to the vet or a veterinary dermatologist. It may be a little more expensive initially but the best treatment is to know what you are dealing with and medicate or make changes accordingly. Benadryl or other antihistamines can be very helpful in the right situation but it can also be like a pacifier and the real cause ot the itching is still there.
If the people who lived in the house before you had animals, fleas can still be in the house even if you can't see them. Other remote possibilities include contagious skin issues such as ringworm (a fungal infection), cheyletiella (a skin mite) or sarcoptic mange (a skin mite). They can all be very itchy although you should see other areas on the body affected as well.
I have added a few links (in blue) to some articles with additional information. Good luck and please keep us posted on how the dogs are doing and if you find out the cause of their scratching.
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