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My dog scratches his face raw... any ideas?

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Participants in this thread:	moonstar_67 equinox oconnick genjen54 smitte21 Bacon Bits samwhitaker1985 Discover with Dagwood
moonstar_67 Lansing, MI 12 posts	My 2 year old mini schnauzer has scratched the sides of his face raw on several different occasions. My vet has been unable to figure out what the cause is. She has tested my mini for round worm, mites, etc. with no positive results. Does anyone have any ideas what this may be from?
equinox 2 posts	It very easily could be a food allergy…put her on a kibble that is totally grain free…same with treats.
oconnick 2 posts	I have a pitbull mix that has airborne and food allergies that rubs her chin and scratches her face and eyes. There’s a 6-fish food from Orijen that’s done wonders for my dog as there are no grains or common allergens in the food. http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/orijen/
oconnick 2 posts	p.s. I had her tested for allergies first which can make all the difference in the world when selecting food. The level of service between vets can differ greatly depending on the labs they use. They should be able to test against a large variety of skin and food allergies in one shot. If not, shop around!
genjen54 4 posts	Other grain-free brands include Evo, California Natural and Wellness. Wellness makes a Fish and Sweet Potato food that is often recommended for dogs with food or grain sensitivities. I’ve known a few dogs who have gone on the Fish & Sweet Potato food with great success. These specialty foods, however, are usually not found in the large, big-box retail pet stores. They also can cost a bit more than some commercial brands. You might call some of your local Feed & Seed or pet specialty stores to find out what brands they may carry. You can also do an internet search to research some of the brands mentioned. A word of note: I don’t know about Champion specifically, but most of these specialty brands (at least the ones I mentioned) were not included in the pet food recall, since many are locally manufactured.
smitte21 45 posts	I also have an itchy dog. She is a basset with a mostly black coat and since she is a show dog the dry itchy skin gets worse in winter and if she needs to be groomed often for shows. She has been much better since we switched her to American Natural Premium which is high in fatty acids. We also started her on an extra Omega 3 supplement for winter and her coat looks fantastic and she is much less itchy. Most food bourne allergies in dogs are related to Corn and Wheat so if you look specifically to remove those from their diets you may take care of the problem but make sure you are checking the treats you give them as well. You could also check into switching your laudry detergent as some dogs have been known to have bad reactions to certain detergents from their bedding being washed in it. If you switch to washing their bedding in a hypoallergenic detergent such as one of the ones with no dies or perfumes that would help. I think there is one by Tide called Free and clear or something of that effect. Hope it helps I know how aggravating it can be for them to constantly be itching. Their poor skin just gets so raw.
Bacon Bits 20 posts	The most common causes for skin irritations are allergies, flea and tick bites etc. Seems all the emphasis in this forum is on the dog food. Please check out these conditions and how to keep their skin healthy. http://dogtime.com/skin.html
samwhitaker1985 50 posts	Hi, It sounds like dog allergies. Check out this page for more information. http://dogtime.com/allergies-dog.html Hope this helps. Regards.
Discover wit... League City, TX 63 posts	Sounds like fleas. Click here to learn how to fight and prevent flea infestations.http://dogtime.com/flea-control-tips-aaha.html
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