My west highland white terrier has been incessantly itching, biting, and scratching himself for a few months now. He usually has seasonal allergies but they haven't gone away. I've tried a flea and tick pill but it hasn't made a difference. Neither does Benadryl. What else could it be?
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Your dog may have a skin infection, most likely caused by his allergies or fleas. The allergies can be from a protein in his food or to something in the environment, like grasses, pollens, dust, etc. The allergies cause a breakdown in the skin barrier and make the dog very itchy. The excessive itching and licking cause the skin infection. I would recommend taking Leo in to see the vet so he can be started on some antibiotics to help clear up the skin. You may also ask about a medicated shampoo, these can help clear up the skin more quickly. I would also recommend discussing with your vet some options for medication to help control the allergy symptoms year round like Atopica, Apoquel, or Cytopoint. Good luck!
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Westies are definitely predisposed to allergies. It's possible that his have progressed from seasonal to year round. Antihistamines may not be helpful at this point, so I would talk to your veterinarian about other options including steroids, apoquel, or a new injection called cytopoint. Allergy testing may be a good option as well.
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