Why Does My Chihuahua Puppy Always Scratch?

Chihuahuas are fairly high-strung dogs, so when they are uncomfortable they can do serious damage to themselves. If a Chihuahua is constantly itching, he can tear his skin and allow bacteria and mold to enter the skin, causing a disease called seborrhea. The best way to determine the cause of your Chihuahua's discomfort is to take him to the vet. Before you do, there are a few things to consider: Have you changed his food lately? Where on his body is he scratching? Has he been playing around new dogs or a new environment? Has he been playing in tall grass?

  1. Fleas or Ticks

    • Fleas and ticks, though tiny, are visible to the human eye. Fleas appear as small dark granules and ticks are reddish brown and oval-shaped. They attach to the dog by the head and become larger as they feed on the dog's blood.

    Staphylococci

    • Staphylococci, or staph bacteria, can cause itchy, reddened or ulcerated skin on your dog. This is common on dogs' torsos and chins, and young puppies are mostly affected on the abdomen.

    Ringworm

    • This is a fungal infection on dogs commonly seen in puppies. A round patch will appear and may result in some hair loss on your dog. This is most commonly found on the head and legs, although ringworm can be found elsewhere.

    Food Hypersensitivity

    • The most common food allergies in dogs are beef, pork, fish, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, wheat, preservatives and dyes. This is most likely to start in dogs over a few months old.

    Inhalant Atopy

    • Canine inhalant atopy is a common allergy in dogs, with about 9 percent of dogs affected by it. Atopic skin disease will cause a dog to scratch and can be caused by flea saliva, tree pollen, grass pollen, shrub pollen, house dust, mold, dust mites or feathers. This is most likely to start in dogs 10 months to 4 years old.

    Mange

    • This is a skin disease caused by mites, commonly diagnosed by loss of hair and crusting of the skin or reddened and scaly skin.