Donna
Russellville, AR

I suspect your dog has both a skin infection (with bacteria and possibly yeast) and allergies.

Itchy skin is the hallmark of allergies in dogs. Malodorous skin is often a sign of a skin infection.

Dogs can be allergic to many things. Fleas are the number one cause of allergies in canine companions. If your dog isn’t already on a good flea preventative I would recommend that you start one regardless of whether she has a visible flea infestation.

Food allergies also can cause skin problems in pets. Duck and potato diets are hypoallergenic, but your dog may be a rare reactor to a protein in her food. You therefore could consider switching to a different hypoallergenic diet.

Finally, environmental allergens can cause symptoms like you describe. Dogs can be allergic to pollen, mold spores, dust mites, cockroaches, chemicals, detergents, cats, and even humans. Preventing exposure to these allergens can be difficult. Allergy testing is required to identify these allergies.

Once the skin is weakened by allergies, bacteria and yeast can proliferate exuberantly, leading to a skin infection with an unpleasant odor. Skin infections exacerbate itching and baldness.

Bacterial infections respond to antibiotics. Yeast infections can be diagnosed with a non-invasive test called skin cytology, and can be treated with anti-fungal agents. You should talk to your vet about an antibiotic trial and skin cytology.

Finally, although your dog’s problems truly sound like a combination of allergies and skin infection, remember that other things could be going on. Certain parasitic infestations and auto-immune diseases may cause similar symptoms.

Click the links in this article for more information on any of the highlighted subjects.

My 3-year-old Rottie/Shepherd mix seems to be very touch sensitive. He quivers when he’s touched on his flanks and back. It seems to be in surprise rather than pain, as if he’s not expecting to be touched, though he doesn’t react similarly to touch elsewhere and he doesn’t object to it – it just seems to surprise him. He doesn’t whine or otherwise vocalize. He sees his vet regularly and is in good health.

Margaret
South Austin, TX

Trembling and quivering are very common in pets. Almost anything that can make a human tremble or quiver can make a pet do so as well. There are some exceptions. For instance, I have yet to see a dog or cat tremble upon hearing his favorite piece of music.

Certain medical conditions and metabolic irregularities can lead to trembling, quivering, or increased sensitivity to touch. But based upon your description I doubt that your dog has a medical problem.

Every person has experienced a chill go down the spine when his or her skin was touched in just the right way. That is what I suspect is happening in your dog.

The most sensitive area on many pets is along the back, especially near the tail. This area appears to have highly sensitized nerve endings. Many cats especially are prone to twitching their skin when this area is stroked. Some cats are so sensitive in this area that they engage in compulsive grooming behavior when scratched near the base of the tail.

Flea allergies sometimes exacerbate the sensitivity of the skin and may cause increased twitching when pets are handled. But I am guessing that fleas aren’t playing a role in your dog’s behavior. As long as your dog doesn’t seem distressed when you pet him, I see nothing to worry about.

Photo: there are no reports of excessive skin sensitivity in Sophie.

Casey
Bloomington, IL

There are a number of syndromes that can cause solitary skin nodules, lesions, or “bumps” in dogs less than two year old. The vast majority of them are harmless.

Dogs less than two generally do not have fully mature immune systems. This leads to susceptibility to a number of dermatologic problems.

The situation is roughly equivalent to acne in humans. Teenagers do not have fully mature immune systems. This, in part, makes them susceptible to pimples.

Although Georgia’s lesion is not truly a pimple, it may have a lot in common with one. It is likely to be a cosmetic concern rather than a medical problem. And, significantly, it is likely to clear up on its own.

I’d recommend that you monitor the site closely. If the lesion grows or causes pain, or if new lesions begin to develop, take Georgia to the vet.

About the photo: Ty the Redbone Coonhound has no visible skin lesions.

Belinda
Melbourne, Australia

The skin of all mammals (including cats, dogs and people) grows from a base of replicating cells. The top layer of skin, called the epidermis, continuously flakes off and is replaced by new material from the base of replicating cells.

Most of the time the flakes are small and are not produced excessively. However, some individuals prolifically produce large flakes of skin–dandruff. In extreme cases, animals’ hair may be completely covered in flakes. This syndrome is called seborrhea.

Dandruff is most noticeable in dark-haired individuals. However, it can occur in any mammal.

Certain diseases and syndromes, such as thyroid problems and diabetes, predispose animals to dandruff. However, most cases of dandruff are not related to a major systemic disease process.

If you haven’t already done so, talk to your vet about your cat’s dandruff. He or she should be able to determine whether a medical problem is contributing to the flaky skin. For the record, I have not noticed a correlation between feline asthma and dandruff. I have observed that overweight cats appear to develop dandruff more often than their svelte counterparts.

Some pets with dandruff will respond to special shampoos available through veterinarians. However, if your cat’s skin isn’t itchy or irritated you should not feel obliged to do anything about her dandruff. In most cases, dandruff is strictly a cosmetic problem. And, since cats generally do not derive much of their self esteem from their physical appearance, the situation is probably harmless.

Note about image: do not use human dandruff shampoos on pets.

Cheryl
Troup, TX

Cats are diligent groomers. Any ointment or treatment that is placed on a cat’s skin has the potential to end up in its mouth. I rarely recommend topical medicines to help scabs heal in cats.

If the scabs are surrounded by red, irritated skin then oral antibiotics may help with healing. If they are not, it generally is best to let the scabs heal naturally.

No matter what, I recommend that you do some more investigation into the cause of the scabs. When cats bite each other around the neck, abscesses (areas of infection filled with pus) may develop. Hair may be pulled out. But cat bites almost never lead scabs.

In other words, I doubt that the biting cat is causing the scabs.

Scabs on the necks of cats most often are caused by allergies. Although there are millions (literally) of potential allergens in the environment, fleas are the prime offenders. Allergies to fleas cause a syndrome called miliary dermatitis. Miliary dermatitis is characterized by scabs on the neck. Most cats with miliary dermatitis will not have visible flea infestations.

I recommend that you tackle this problem with a high quality flea preventative. If that doesn’t do the trick, a trip to the vet is in order.

Wendy
Warren, PA

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds help with a number of problems, including dry, itchy skin. Special veterinary omega-3 preparations are available, and they generally work better than over-the-counter fish oils.

Omega-3 supplements are natural and generally safe (although they rarely cause upset stomach and weight gain). Unfortunately, they are not especially potent. I recommend them for my itchy patients. But they rarely work out as a sole treatment for itching. Unfortunately, in my experience omega-3s are the most effective natural anti-itch dietary supplement.

Itching in pets is usually caused by allergies. The most common allergies are to fleas, environmental agents (pollen, mold spores, detergents, and many others), and food. Of these, fleas are the number one offender by a long shot.

If your Shiba is not on a high-quality flea preventative, I would recommend that as the next step–even if he doesn’t have fleas. If the itching is severe and causing reduced quality of life, then a trip to the vet is in order.

Jen
San Francisco / East Bay, CA

I have known plenty of dogs (and a few cats) who thumped their hind legs when they were scratched in the right place. There is no doubt that they enjoy being scratched in these places. Animals instinctively try to escape from unpleasant stimuli. I have never seen a pet try to get away from someone who was scratching the right spot. I suspect that they enjoy this activity in the same way that we enjoy having unreachable areas of our backs scratched.

I do not know the neurological mechanism that causes pets to thump their hind legs when they are scratched. However, I do know that in most cases it is harmless.

Unfortunately, there are exceptions. Animals suffering from skin conditions that cause itching may suddenly develop “tickle spots” in troubled areas. For instance, flea allergies often cause sensitization of the skin near the tail. Dogs with flea allergies are more likely to thump their hind legs when scratched at the base of the tail. Cats may lick the air or gnaw on their front legs or chest (although plenty of perfectly healthy cats do this too).

If your pet suddenly develops a sensitive area, I’d recommend a checkup. If he does not seem excessively itchy, and if his “tickle spots” have been consistent over time, I’ll bet nothing’s wrong.

Marty
Huron, Ohio

Hot spots are areas of inflamed skin that develop very rapidly. They are common on the face, trunk, and limbs of dogs.

Many hot spots develop as a result of skin irritation that leads to licking or scratching. The mild self trauma that occurs when a dog works on an itchy site can cause the area to itch more. This leads to a cycle of further scratching and licking. The affected area of skin may be moist and red. Hair loss may occur.

Hot spots develop most often in long haired breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Chow Chows. However, they can occur in any type of dog. True hot spots are rare in cats.

Hot spots are painful and should be treated. Mild hot spots can be treated effectively with topical medications containing antibiotics and cortisone. Larger hot spots generally require veterinary intervention. Very severe hot spots can be life threatening.

Fleas are the leading cause of skin irritation that leads to hot spots. Allergies to food, pollen, detergents or other environmental agents also may contribute to the problem.

Ringworm, mange, a syndrome called acral lick dermatitis and several other conditions may cause skin lesions that look like hot spots. A vet checkup is a good idea for any pet suffering from skin problems.

Frances
Rochester NY

There is a chance that your cat’s problem is related to food. However, there is a greater chance that fleas are causing the problem.

Many different issues can cause cats to develop scabs on their bodies. Allergic reactions, skin infections with bacteria or fungus, skin parasites and immune system diseases may all cause problems such as the ones you describe.

Of the possible causes, allergic reactions are most common. And flea allergy is the most likely culprit. Cats that are allergic to fleas often develop a syndrome called miliary dermatitis. These cats develop small scabs all over their bodies. There may be an especially heavy distribution of scabs near the tail and around the neck.

Therefore, the first step I would recommend is high-quality flea control.

What if your cat doesn’t have fleas? Flea control should still be the first step. A pet does not require a visible flea infestation to suffer from flea allergies. Nor does she need to go outdoors or come into contact with other pets.

I do not recommend applying ointments to the affected areas of skin. I also don’t recommend removing the scabs. Both of these actions may make the problem worse.

Although it may be difficult to orchestrate, a trip to the vet is the best option for your cat. And if flea control doesn’t help with the problem, a veterinary checkup is really your only option.

Erika
Mebane, NC

Tagamet, also known as cimetidine, is a medicine that is prescribed for gastrointestinal problems in cats and dogs.

Cimetidine is very popular among veterinarians in part due to its exceptionally low rate of side effects. It is among the safest medicines ever invented.

But it is a medicine. And any medicine can cause side effects. Red, irritated, or inflamed skin is not listed in literature as a side effect of cimetidine. However, a general rule of pharmacology is that skin problems can be a side effect of any medicine.

In my opinion it is not very likely that the cimetidine is playing a role in your dog’s skin problem. But it is not entirely impossible either.

An allergic reaction to pollen, food, fleas or an environmental agent is the most likely cause of your dog’s issues. Nonetheless, I’d recommend that you discontinue the cimetidine if the gastrointestinal problems for which it was prescribed have resolved.