Bald

Why is my dog scratching a bald spot on her stomach?

Our dog has some dandruff, but has a very soft and smooth coat. She's a little over 3 and is a mixed breed that weighs about 35 lbs. Recently she has begin itching all over; especially in this one spot on her stomach which looks like a bald spot. We know she doesn't have fleas, and are wondering what else it could be, and some (hopefully cheap) remedies we can use to make her feel better. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. watch his/her eating and drinking habits ... and make sure that his/her peeing and pooing is normal ... if not you might have to do a little more research online ... like ... www.webMD.com for dogs ... good luck.
2. Has her diet changed recently? Easiest answer is a possible food allergy. Is there a new source of stress in her life, or something that is just different? That can cause both cats and dogs to scratch, over-lick (which can cause balding) or otherwise self-mutilate. Skin irritations can also be caused by mites/mange. She would need to see the vet and they can do a skin scrape and look under the microscope to see if there are mites (you can't see them without a microscope). If she has picked up some mites somewhere, treating it early is very important.
3. Hi Mites usually are caught by dogs via cats. My own personal experience is with food allergies, you may want to change your dog food. I changed our dog's food about three years ago... I pay more for the food, but Wayyyy less on vet bills. My one black pug had hot spots so severe I spent over $200.00 on meds for him. A good hypoallergenic dog food is Solid Gold Holistic. Please be aware that food allergies take at least a month or so to clear up... however you should notice a difference in about two weeks.
4. It could be allergies, either food or inhalant. You don't have to introduce a new food in order to see a reaction; often dogs develop food allergies over time, so her normal food could just now be affecting her. It sounds like it could be a yeast infection. Yeast infections can be treated, but they are always due to an underlying problem (such as fleas, allergies, stress, etc.). If the underlying problem is not addressed the yeast will likely return over and over until the problem is fixed. Keep the area dry, and don't let her scratch it or chew/lick it, as that will only worsen the infection. I won't tell you how to treat it since of course I don't know if your dog does have a yeast infection or not, but there are some natural remedies on the following sites that may help you. http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_yeast_infection_of_the_skin.html http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_inhalant_allergies.html http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_food_allergies.html http://www.doggiesparadise.com/dog-skin-disorders-yeast-infection.shtml http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/yeast_infections_dogs.html
5. My lab did the same thing. Come to find out, she was allergic to the shampoo I was using. I was using human shampoo for the scent and it was too harsh for her. Try changing shampoos to a dog shampoo or if you are already using a dog shampoo, try a milder formula or an oatmeal based one. They make some shampoos that are designed for animals with sensitive skin. If that doesn't work then try johnson and johnson's baby shampoo.
6. This happened to my dog as well. I was trying to look up mange and found some things about walking dandruff. It is a mite that causes itching and dandruff. If the dog scratches to much it can cause bald spots. I also found that usually a flea bath will clear it up. It worked on my dog. I'm not saying this is what it is but flea shampoo is inexpensive and it is worth a shot.