Diane, Nice
My Lhaso Apso puppy (8 months) licks her privates constantly and this really bothers my husband. He said he has not see another dog do this constant licking. Also, she seems to have a dry skin problem because she is always scratching. My vet and groomer both said she doesn't have fleas. I use an oatmeal anti-itch shampoo (so does my groomer) but it is continuing. What can I do??

Hi Diane,
These are good questions. From what you are describing, it sounds like your young puppy most likely has an allergy issue. Allergies can begin at a young age and can be related to the environment, food, fleas, mites, or a combination of these. Dogs can also develop secondary bacterial or yeast infections from these allergies, making it even worse. The first step is to visit with your veterinarian for an exam, skin scraping to look for external parasites, and possibly a fungal culture if there is any possibility of ringworm. Although there may be no fleas visible on her, it is still possible to get a flea-related dermatitis. Just one bite can cause an allergic reaction and fleas are present in the environment, especially in our climate. It is important to keep her on a good flea and tick preventative once monthly all yearlong. If you are using a topical preventative and have her bathed often, then it is necessary to give the preventative more often because it will become diluted. There are a multitude of products out there, so discuss with your veterinarian the best option for your pet. Another big factor to consider with her is her diet. What brand of dog food is she eating and what type? Dry skin and itchiness in a young dog almost always has a food allergy component. Make sure she is on a high quality food and isn't getting table scraps. She may need to go on a special diet with either a novel protein or hydrolyzed protein to eliminate food as a factor in her itchiness. Skin problems are a big issue and can be frustrating, but once we can get them under control and figure out the cause of her itchiness, we will eliminate her discomfort and be able to manage her more simply in the future. Just be aware that most dogs with allergies have a multiple causes. If you're allergic to one thing, then you're usually allergic to even more things. This is too big of a topic to fully discuss here, but if you make an appointment with your veterinarian for a skin consult, they should be able to expand upon this and give even more useful tips, such as omega fatty acid supplementation and therapeutic shampoos. Hopefully, this was a start though. Also, in regards to licking her private parts, I would be willing to bet it is related to her allergies. She is probably itchy down there too and may have a yeast infection. Another cause could be a urinary tract infection. So, besides looking at her skin, it would be a good idea to also check her urine for any traces of bacteria. Good luck!

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