Q. My Dog Has Itchy Skin, Red Bumps and Scabs. What Does This Mean?

Posted by
Mia Carter
Nov 25, 2008

On November 23, 2008, I received the following question on my article titled Causes of Itchy, Flaky Skin in Dogs: "My Lab recently started to have terrible itchy skin. She can not stop scratching and I have spotted red scabs and bumps. I tried making her stop but the irritation is far to great for her to resist. I believe it is this new shampoo I got her but I am not certain. The question is how can I calm her itch and are the scabs and red bumps something to be alert about?"

Parasites and skin allergies are two problems that come to mind.

Causes of Dog Skin Allergies

It's very possible that a shampoo could trigger this, so I would try bathing her in a special shampoo that's designed for sensitive skin. I recommend VIRBAC Allergroom Shampoo or VIRBAC Episoothe Shampoo, available at many veterinary clinics or online. The Allergroom dog shampoo is designed for sensitive skin and its hypoallergenic, meaning it won't irritate her skin further, while Episoothe contains oat meal and soothes the skin. If it was a shampoo that caused this, it's likely there is still residue present on her skin, causing the itching, redness and scabbing.

It's also possible that she's experiencing a food allergy or some form of contact dermatitis. If the condition does not improve with a bath, then this is a strong possibility. If this is the case, she will need to visit the veterinarian to be diagnosed. Here area a few links to learn a bit more about skin allergies and food allergies in dogs:

Parasites and Dog Skin Problems

Now, the red bumps and scabs may be the result of her scratching. The nails can tear the skin, leaving small wounds that get infected, causing redness and scabbing. But it's also possible that your dog's red bumps and scabs are due to parasites. I think this is a very strong possibility. I'd first look on her belly and inside her inner rear thighs - if the bumps and scabs are present here (where the dog cannot scratch), it's likely this is due to parasites. And many parasites like Demodectic Mange mites live inside the hair follicles, therefore medicated dog shampoos will not kill these skin parasites, which are invisible to the naked eye. If you suspect parasites, I'd strongly recommend a visit to the veterinarian for a special anti-parasite medication Ivermectin, which can be given orally or by injection.

Here are a few articles that I've written on flea control and signs and symptoms of skin parasites in dogs:

Treatment for a Dog With Itchy Skin, Red Bumps and Scabbing

This is a case where I would bathe her with a medicated shampoo as mentioned above and I'd also try her on some Benadryl, as this will help to calm her skin and the itching if the problem is due to an allergic reaction. The dose is 1 mg. per each 1 pound of body weight, so a 30 pound dog would get 30 mgs. The dog should get a dose every 12 hours (twice a day.) Drowsiness is the most common side effect of giving Benadryl to a dog.

Always check with your veterinarian before giving medications to your pet, as over-the-counter medications can interact with other medications that the dog may be taking and certain medications cannot be given to a dogs who is suffering from certain medical conditions.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com. Also check out The Sick Dog Blog for pet care tips and pet health information!

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.