Have a pitbull lab mix that is constantly licking and scratching. I have given him oatmeal baths as well as Purina One Skin and Coat food. I have tried Pet Lab Co chews; nothing works, and the smell is terrible. Any ideas?
Go to the vet. He probably has allergies that need medical treatment.
This. I have a pittie mix with similar problems. Sadly, pitties usually are affected by skin issues due to allergies. Mine requires medicated shampoo and baths once a month to maintain skin health. A definite pain, but I love the little goober. There’s also Cytopoint (not sure of the spelling) shot for allergies.
If he’s chewing his paws and getting gunk in his ears, it’s definitely allergies. The two most common allergies for dogs are food allergies, with chicken being the most common followed by beef. Your vet will probably recommend a diet based on alternative protein sources (fish, lamb, bison, venison).
Does he eat chicken? It can be a huge allergen for bully breeds. Mine now eats salmon and beef recipes and seems much less itchy. Not saying it’s a cure-all, but worth thinking about.
My pit/lab mix has awful paws from allergies. I can’t get rid of them. They are always red, raw, and itchy, and that’s after Benadryl, Apoquel, and special shampoo I have to put on her feet. Every few months, I have to put her on an antibiotic to help clear them up. It’s been a battle, that’s for sure.
Pits are extremely prone to allergies due to bad genetics. Take him to the vet; they can do an injectable that can help a lot.
I agree with the many here; take him to the vet as soon as possible. Could be a dry skin condition, food allergies, or allergies to your laundry detergent.
I have a Shiba and an American Eskimo; they both are allergic to kibble with chicken in it. I switched them to chicken-free kibble—they love Blue Buffalo beef/all-meat kibble. It’s a little pricey, about $85 for a 1.5-month supply. They get Cytopoint allergy shots every 3 months, and that’s worked miracles. My vet charges $80/shot per dog. Ever since making these changes, they stopped nibbling and itching their bodies.
Second going to the vet. I took one of my itchy boys, and it turned out that fleas hopping onto him triggered brutal allergies. He did not actually have fleas. We started doing the drops, and he had his best sleep ever. No more reactions and hot spots.
Pit bulls are often prone to skin allergies. You need to see a vet! It could be something easily treated. Does he eat a lot of chicken? A lot of dogs are allergic to it.
This could be one of the types of allergies (to fleas, environmental, or food allergies), or a skin infection. It’s important to identify the cause of the itching in order to prescribe the right treatment. Be sure to consult your veterinarian.
Go to the vet. Could be allergies that need to be ruled out.
Definitely check in with the vet. Could be food allergies or seasonal allergies. They have special shampoo you can try, or he might need allergy meds. The licking by itself could be OCD/anxiety, but combined with scratching, it’s most likely something else.