Why Does My Dog Scratch & Chew?

A dog that scratches and chews at its body constantly, suffers from pruritus, or inflamed, itchy skin. This condition has a variety of causes and, without treatment, can lead to infected skin lesions that affect the quality of your dog's life. Get your dog's skin condition under control to provide it with relief and prevent it from excessive scratching and biting of its skin.

  1. Skin Allergies

    • Most dogs who constantly scratch and chew their skin usually suffer from flea allergy dermatitis, usually at the base of the tail, hind legs, stomach and back, according to the Pet Place website. Dogs with atopy, a skin reaction to airborne allergens, scratch at their ears and face, and chew on their feet. You will see similar symptoms in a dog that suffers from food allergies. Insects other than fleas can cause an allergic reaction of the skin in dogs hypersensitive to the bites, usually on the face. If the dog has a contact allergy, it will develop itchy skin in the area that the offending allergen touches.

    Skin Parasites

    • In addition to fleas, different types of mites and lice cause a variety of itchy skin conditions in dogs that cause the dog to scratch and chew at its skin. The sarcoptic mange mite, demodex mite, and cheyletiella mite all can cause an itchy skin condition called mange. Sarcoptic mange affects the ears, elbows and ankles. Cheyletiellosis, also called walking dandruff due to the white appearance of the mites, affects the dog's back. Demodectic mange leads to pyoderma, a secondary bacterial infection of the skin, according to the Pet Place website.

    Prevention

    • Dogs that develop "hot spots," also called acute moist dermatitis, usually scratch at their head, chest and hip areas, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website. Allergies, skin parasites and psychological problems can all lead to this bacterial skin infection. Dogs that suffer from boredom scratch and chew at their skin, exhibiting a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that leads to a secondary infection, according to the WebMD website. Prevent boredom by giving your dog treat balls filled with its favorite foods and exercising the dog daily. Keep your dog on a flea-prevention program of topical or oral medications as recommended by your veterinarian to prevent skin parasites. Groom your dog regularly, brushing its coat daily to prevent matting and bathing it at least once per month.

    Treatment

    • Bring your dog to a veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis behind the cause of its scratching and biting of its skin. Your veterinarian may recommend you put an E-collar, a cone-shaped medical collar, on your dog to prevent it from disturbing the lesions on its skin. This allows the lesions to heal during the treatment for the underlying cause. He may give you topical or oral medications to eliminate parasites and anti-fungal or antibiotics to treat skin infections. Your dog may also need a hypoallergenic diet or steroidal medications to reduce itching.