By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Vets often ask owners to point to where their dog scratches, licks or chews the most. It is not small talk. The pattern of irritation across the body is one of the most useful diagnostic clues we have, because different causes favour different areas. Fleas, for example, cluster around the lower back, while environmental allergies love the paws and face. Use this guide to read your dog's pattern before your vet visit.
Key takeaways
- The location of skin irritation often points to the cause.
- Rump, tail base and back legs suggest flea allergy.
- Paws, face, ears, armpits and belly suggest environmental or food allergy.
- Ear edges, elbows and hocks with intense itch suggest sarcoptic mange.
- Persistent, spreading or painful irritation needs a vet, and so does any irritation with hair loss in a young dog.
Signs of skin irritation
- Scratching, licking, chewing or rubbing on furniture and carpet
- Redness, bumps, scabs or flaky skin
- Hair loss or broken hairs
- Rusty-brown staining of the fur from saliva, often on the paws
- Odour, greasy skin or discharge
- Head shaking or ear scratching
A body map of skin irritation
Paws
Chewing and licking the feet, with red skin between the toes and saliva staining, is a classic sign of environmental allergy (atopic dermatitis) or food allergy. Other causes include yeast infections, grass seeds lodged between toes, interdigital cysts, contact irritants and, in one paw only, injury or a foreign body. Licking one paw suddenly is more likely to be a grass seed, splinter or sore nail.
Ears
Scratching, head shaking, redness and odour often mean an ear infection, which in dogs is frequently driven by underlying allergy. Ear mites are more common in puppies and in households with cats. Crusting on the ear edges with intense itch is a classic sign of sarcoptic mange.
Face and muzzle
Rubbing the face on the carpet, red skin around the eyes and lips, and chin pimples can be caused by environmental or food allergy, contact with plastic bowls, or bacterial infection. Patchy hair loss around the eyes in a young dog can indicate demodectic mange. Crusting on the nose can occasionally signal autoimmune disease.
Armpits and belly
Thin skin and contact with the ground make these areas prone to allergy, contact dermatitis, heat irritation and bacterial infection. Our guide to belly rashes covers this area in detail.
Rump, tail base and back of the thighs
Biting at the lower back and tail base, often with thinning fur and scabs, is the classic pattern of flea allergy dermatitis. Anal gland problems also cause licking and scooting around the tail base. Hot spots frequently form here.
Elbows and hocks
Intense itching here, often with the ear edges also affected, suggests sarcoptic mange. Calluses on elbows in large dogs are pressure points and are not usually itchy.
Flanks and back
Symmetrical hair loss on the flanks without much itch can point to hormonal disease such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. Itch over the back may be fleas, Cheyletiella mites or dry skin.
Skin folds
Wrinkly breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Shar Peis can develop red, moist, smelly skin in facial, lip, tail and body folds, known as skin fold dermatitis.
All over
Generalised itch can come from severe allergies, sarcoptic mange, widespread infection or, less often, other illnesses. Generalised redness after a bath can mean a reaction to a shampoo.
When to see a vet
Same day: severe itching that stops your dog sleeping, raw or bleeding skin, facial swelling or hives, a rapidly spreading wet patch, or irritation with lethargy or fever.
Within a few days: irritation that lasts more than a week, hair loss, odour, discharge, ear problems, or irritation in a young puppy.
What you can do while you wait
- Take photos of affected areas and note when the itch is worst.
- Check for fleas and flea dirt, and confirm flea control is current for every pet in the house.
- Check paws for grass seeds after walks.
- Prevent licking and scratching with a cone or a soft T-shirt.
- Do not use human creams, tea tree oil or other essential oils.
How vets narrow down the cause
Your vet will combine the location pattern with your dog's age, breed, season and history. Tests often include skin scrapings for mites, cytology for bacteria and yeast, ear swabs, and sometimes ringworm testing or blood tests. If allergy is suspected, your vet will usually recommend strict flea control first, then a diet trial, then a plan for environmental allergy. Our article on allergy testing in dogs explains how that process works.
FAQ
Why does my dog lick their paws at night?
Paw licking that is worse at rest is often allergy. Boredom can contribute, but medical causes should be ruled out first.
My dog only itches the base of the tail. Is it fleas?
Fleas are the most likely cause, even if you cannot see any. Anal gland problems are the next consideration.
Is skin irritation in dogs contagious?
Most causes are not. Sarcoptic mange and ringworm are exceptions.
Can dry skin cause irritation?
Yes, but dry, flaky skin is often a symptom of something else, such as allergy, parasites or hormonal disease.
Talk with a vet
A Dial A Vet veterinarian can review photos of where your dog is itching, help interpret the pattern, and suggest what your local vet may need to check. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Hensel P, Santoro D, Favrot C, Hill P, Griffin C. Canine atopic dermatitis: detailed guidelines for diagnosis and allergen identification. BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:196.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs and cats.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Mange in dogs and cats
- Favrot C, Steffan J, Seewald W, Picco F. A prospective study on the clinical features of chronic canine atopic dermatitis and its diagnosis. Veterinary Dermatology. 2010;21(1):23-31.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.