Why is my dog itching the base of her tail? The Ultimate Guide

Why does my dog keep scratching but no fleas?

There are a few reasons that could be contributing to your dog scratching at their skin that are not fleas. Some of these could include food allergies which will require careful monitoring from your vet, sensitivity to pollens, mites, or other causes. If your dog appears to be scratching but there are no fleas, it may be worth consulting your vet to determine what other underlying issues could be causing your pet’s discomfort.

Possible Causes for Dog’s Itchy Skin

So, what’s behind your dog’s itchy skin? It may be caused by a medical condition called allergic dermatitis (skin allergies). This means your dog’s body overreacts to an allergen in the environment or food, which makes them feel itchy. There are a number of potential culprits:

  • Fleas. Flea bites can create extremely itchy areas on your dog. They can be found anywhere on the body, but are most common at the hind legs, tail base, and rear end. Just because you don’t see any fleas on your dog does not mean they aren’t there – keep in mind that a bite from a single flea can cause an allergic itch in your dog.
  • Environmental. Your dog may be allergic to environmental triggers, like pollen, mold spores, or dust mites. Environmental allergens can cause allergic itch during certain seasons, or even year-round. Dogs with environmental allergies will often show signs of allergic itch around their face, belly, and paws. If your dog gets itchy outdoors, invest in an outdoor dog bed to keep them off the ground.
  • Food. Your dog’s itching might be caused by a food allergy. Some dogs are allergic to common dog food ingredients such as beef, chicken, and dairy products. Food allergies in dogs can lead to signs of allergic itch around the paws, face, armpits, and belly.
  • Allergic dermatitis can make your dog uncomfortable. It also can lead to secondary health problems if there is a delay in treatment. When a dog licks or scratches an area excessively, it can damage the skin and lead to skin infections and wounds. These can cause changes like hair loss, body odor, and inflammation. Severe skin infections and wounds may even be painful for your dog.

    Dogs Keep Itching Due to Bacterial and Fungal Skin Infections

    Dogs who keep itching but don’t have fleas or mites are more likely to have a skin infection. These infections may be bacterial or might be fungal. Yeast infections may also be a culprit for some itching in dogs.

    These types of skin infections have a wide variety of causes and other related symptoms, but they all share itching in common. They are also somewhat difficult to treat depending on the cause, and they can be tricky to get rid of because your dog will be prone to licking and chewing while she heals.

    Dogs who are being treated for bacterial or fungal skin infections may be given a round of antibiotics by the vet or your vet will recommend a topical therapy method, such as using certain shampoos, mousse or creams. They may also have to wear a cone collar in some instances. This collar will help prevent the dog from chewing or licking the affected skin and causing the infection to worsen or spread. The collar will likely only need to be worn for a few days, since the antibiotics will help stop the spread of the infection after your dog takes them for a while.

    However, your vet will give you all the information you need regarding your dog’s infection treatment.

    Dog chewing tail raw | Dog biting tail until it bleeds

    Does your dog keep itching? Do you notice her rubbing her face and body on the floor or furniture, only to stop and scratch her itchy skin with her claws instead? If you have an overly itchy dog, there are many problems that can contribute to this problem. Whatever the cause might be, it’s important to figure that out and help your dog get the treatment she needs to stop itching and feel better fast.

    In this article, we’ll explain some of the most common reasons why your dog keeps itching. You’ll be able to look through this information and figure out which might be the most applicable to your dog’s situation. Don’t forget to speak to your vet about these concerns and bring up what you think the problem might be as well.