# Helping a dog with itchiness....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helping-a-dog-with-itchiness/464700>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 22, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helping-a-dog-with-itchiness/464700 "2008-09-22T17:03:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helping-a-dog-with-itchiness/464700/1 "2008-09-22T17:03:12Z")

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My dog (4 year old terrier mix) has had several bug bites the past few days that seem to itch ‘alot’ -

we’ve given the baths, updated the flea protection (Bio Spot), but the itchiness continues - some of these bites are probably not fleas, (they are a little raised like a mosquito bite would be).

The bathwater has shown very few fleas, and I dont see any flea dirt in the areas she actively scratches.

What I’m asking for here - outside of taking her to the vet - what over the counter things can I use to help calm down the itchiness?

Thanks in advance!

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**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helping-a-dog-with-itchiness/464700/2 "2008-09-22T17:16:28Z")

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missed the edit window -

I’m also wondering about things that promote healing - as a human (in case you were wondering), I use topical anitbiotics all the time for scratches and bug bites - is there a similar item for pet usage?

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**Author:** ![cordylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@cordylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cordylus)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helping-a-dog-with-itchiness/464700/3 "2008-09-22T18:28:59Z")

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For a really miserable dog you can use benadryl. The dosage I’ve seen recommended is 1mg/lb every 8 hours. My dog had terrible food allergies and the benedryl helped a lot. It will also have a sedative effect so don’t be alarmed if your dog seems a little drowsy.

I wouldn’t use a topical treatment unless you start to see raw or visibly infected spots. A topical treatment tends to make the dog want to lick the area and that can lead to hot spots. Most pet stores will have hot spot treatments many with a mild anaesthetic. I’ve had good look with Biogroom Lido-Med. It has lidocaine which soothes and helps deter licking and chewing. You can use it with a little triple antibiotic ointment as an antiseptic.