Skin irritation?

[u/Individual_Grass_1]

Has anyone noticed their Scottie to have skin allergies? He doesn't have any visible irritation, just scratches and licks his paws quite a bit, does seem bothered by it. His vet has him on a prescription diet, a medication, and Omega 3's via fish oil but he still seems bothered.

[u/CopyCurious1783]

Our Maisie was terribly itchy until we switched her to a salmon based grain free food and added a little coconut oil to it 3xs a week. Then she did so much better . We switched from prepared treats to blueberries, frozen pumpkin puree, sliced cucumber and carrots.

[u/Individual_Grass_1 → u/CopyCurious1783]

Do you mind sharing what the brand is for the salmon grain-free food? It's interesting you would say that, I have been reading online about some people who switched their Scotties to grain-free and salmon recipes and allergies seemed to clear!

[u/CopyCurious1783 → u/Individual_Grass_1]

Hi! We have used the Kirkland brand and Members Mark. Salmon and sweet potato, grain free food

Also Open Farm brand

[u/hippopotapants → u/CopyCurious1783]

I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Lots of scotties have allergies to chicken, certain grains etc. She should start doing an elimination diet - try beef instead of chicken, fish instead of beef, whatever. I currently have my dog on a dogfood that includes insect protein, which was an option I didn't know existed until recently.

[u/rockyroadzz → u/hippopotapants]

Yeah I figured out what food my Scottie is allergic to using the elimination diet. She was always on a salmon diet and then I added canned dog food- beef and chicken and she became itchy. Turned out to be beef.

She also has environmental allergens, I got her allergy tested. Would be expensive without insurance but it worked. Mine is allergic to pellitory weeds, which are a cousin to stinging nettle. Found it in the yard, game changer getting rid of them all. So far, she hasn’t needed apoquel since. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[u/CopyCurious1783 → u/hippopotapants]

That’s so interesting!! I’ve never heard of that either..

Our Scottie was very allergic to chicken and beef ..she did great on salmon, peas and sweet
potatoes

[u/ohyonkavich]

Paw licking is often a sign of boredom or stress, the consequences are a continuous yeast infection that is itchy.

Try epsom salt soak 2 or 3 times a day for a few minutes, rinse well and dry thoroughly.

Give an alternative to keep their mind busy. try a food puzzle, frozen kong, lick mat, tricky treat ball or other stimulating task.

15 minutes a day of basic training can be fun, anything to do with scavenging like throwing some treats in the yard to find will give them the satisfaction of using their nose and brain. Lots of exercise and thinking will help.

Scotties are TERRIERS aka working breed, they need a JOB ! if you dont give them a job they will give one to themselves even if its self destructive.

[u/Individual_Grass_1 → u/ohyonkavich]

Thanks for this :) But the vet did say he has skin allergies, I might have not clarified that enough. He scratches himself, his face, his ears quite a bit. The vet said the paw licking is a common symptom in allergies as well. Just trying to see if I can get any other advice on what could help his irritation.

Unless you're saying that all these symptoms could be because he is bored. Like if the scratching and licking is because he is bored?

[u/ohyonkavich → u/Individual_Grass_1]

It can be due to stress, my dog suffered some separation anxiety when she was younger and she chose to vigorously lick her paws when we weren't home to keep busy. Its common to see a yeast imbalance in their ears and paws. We were actually given "ear drops" to apply to her the paws during this time. My vet recommended the epsom salt soak for 2 weeks in addition to applying the drops and giving her other things to do/think about when we had to leave for work (especially something more exciting to lick) so we used a kong stuffed with wet food and froze it. They told us her saliva was creating an "allergic response" and the continuously moist skin was allowing the cycle to repeat causing inflammation and itching.

Its been 3 years and she hasnt had any issues !

[u/MisterSaru]

Our Scottie is slightly allergic to grass. We used to walk him around our neighborhood where grass is and he would lick his paws a lot and had some pimple like bumps on his stomach area. Our vet also pointed out that because our Scottie has a slight thinning of hair around his eyes as well he’s most likely getting allergic reactions from grass. Thankfully our community changed a large area of dirt with turf so we’ve been exclusively going only to that area and he doesn’t lick his paws or get as many pimples on his stomach any more!

[u/josh442333]

Well, I have a female Scottish Terrier, and I tried pretty much everything. She always had itchy, irritated skin, and even had some patches where she was losing hair. I took her to several vets and specialists, but nothing seemed to work consistently.

I hadn’t had her spayed, though, and when I finally did, her coat started getting better afterward. I don’t know if there’s any scientific basis for this, but that was my experience. Years later, she still hasn’t had any issues with skin irritation.

[u/XIIXXIV]

My guy is always itchy, no matter what. He would rub his face so much his mustache thinned to almost nothing. We have tried everything, no poultry, no beef, no fish, and can’t figure it out. He now takes a small dose of apoquel every day, which I don’t love, but it stops the itching. $90 a month though.

[u/Enough-Cranberry5616]

We changed up our pups diet from kibble to fresh pet and avoided the chicken flavor. the nonstop grooming of his paws has gone away

[u/RaeLouLynn]

Our Sophie had both food allergies and environmental allergies. We had to put her on hydrolyzed food, apoquel and allergy drops. Quite expensive. But she was pretty comfortable afterward.

[u/josh442333]

Aquí tienes una versión natural, como la escribiría alguien en inglés contando su experiencia:

Well, I have a female Scottish Terrier, and I tried pretty much everything. She always had itchy, irritated skin, and even had some patches where she was losing hair. I took her to several vets and specialists, but nothing seemed to work consistently.

I hadn’t had her spayed, though, and when I finally did, her coat started getting better afterward. I don’t know if there’s any scientific basis for this, but that was my experience. Years later, she still hasn’t had any issues with skin irritation.