ways to stop my dog scratching his head?

Question

my dog started scratching his head a while ago then it turned into a big scab he kept on scratching it and now it is getting really bad. he hasn't got fleas,ticks or mange. i have tried putting a bandage on his head, cleaning it with TCP and surgical spirit, given him anti-histamines and i can't get hold of one of those cone shaped head collar things. any suggestions? thanks

Answer 1

He's scratching his head for a reason. Take him to the vet to have him checked out.

Answer 2

I have exactly the same problem with my chihuahua. Ive been to the vets countless times (spending an absolute fortune) each time being told that they have no idea whats wrong with him. My lifestyle hasnt changed at all in the years that i have had him, so he cant be stressed. one thing it may be is that hes developed allergies as hes gotten older, so i put a fence around most of my garden to stop him going near the plants and i have stopped using things like air freshners but that still hasn't worked. My vet also reccomended bathing him every week and, for a few hours after his bath, he doesnt scratch as much, buit then it just starts all over again. Ive tried medicated shampoos and specialist foods only to find that none of these work. he still scratches like crazy now but not as much since i found Johnsons Tea Tree cream for dogs. I apply it when he starts going crazy at his skin and it calms it down and soothes, so id definately reccomend this. I have also started feeding him steamed vegetables and rice with his normal food, and although it hasnt made a huge difference, its good for him so it must do something!! One more thing... Try to avoid going to the vets if you can, because if he gets stressed there, it will just make him scratch even more. Hope this helps, please let me know if you find anything else that stops the scratching, id really appreciate it.

Answer 3

Sounds like a hot spot and nothing but antibiotics and steriods will clear it up. It will continue to get worse without correct treatment.

Hot spots are staph infections of the skin, due to a problem causing itchy skin. The dog digs at it, breaks the skin and staph gets into the blood stream creating a hot spot.

You need to find out why the dog has itchy skin. If you are sure there are no fleas, ticks, and you've had skin scraping done to eliminate the diagnosis of both of the skin manges, then you dog evidently either has a low immune system due to food allergies or Hypothyroidism.

Check the dog food bag. If it contains any corn, wheat, soy, by-products or chicken, find akibble that doesn't and see it that helps prevent a re-occurance . In the meantime you better get in to the vet and get this one cleared up and then you can work on finding a cause.

Here is more information about hot spots;

http://wwwdogandhorsecare.com/staph-infection

Answer 4

I would go to a vet - an Elizabethan collar (the cone collar) will help and a vet would assist you with that.