Ozzie is Scratching (and licking) his loins

[Ozzie]

I hesitated using the "loins" terminology, but in looking at a Boxer anatomy drawing, that's what I guess the area is called...

He's only scratching every now and then, but sometimes he also whips around real fast and licks in that area. It's an area of his body that I would formerly have referred to as his "waist," but I guess it's called his loins. There's no hair loss, but he does seem to be doing it a little more the last couple of days..

Anybody have any similar problems with anything like this? It's relatively obvious one can go nuts watching your dog do this; it also appears one can go nuts just looking at all the scratching/itching/allergy posts on this website...

Any advice would be appreciated. Ozzie has been on a BARF diet now for a couple of weeks, but I really don't think raw food is causing this.

Bob.

 

[Margarita]

If it's not mites, fleas or mange it most likely is allergies. As we all know allergy season is here now and a hec of a lot of us are dealing with them with our boxers, as well as ourselves!!!
Hope it's nothing worse then that and good luck!!!

 

[Capone's Mama]

Capone is doing the samething I was thinking it was fleas but have looked him over and seen no fleas. I am keeping a close eye on him. He is also on barf.
He has no hair lost or rash. Just something bother him .
kathy & Capone

 

[Ozzie]

Hey Folks:

I just thought I might try to "resurrect" this thread that I posted several days ago...

.....Ozzie is BARFing now, but the scratching/licking the loins isn't getting any better. I realize it's most likely allergy-related (?) but I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has had any problems with their dogs licking/scratching this area or heard of anything that may cause it.

Yesterday, I noticed that when I pet Ozzie in that area his skin wriggles a little like it bothers him when I pet him there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob.

 

[Jan]

Are you sure that he doesn't have fleas? When ever my dogs whip around and bite at themselves it means that they have picked up some fleas. :(

 

[Ozzie]

I haven't seen any, Jan. I know what you mean, though, as one day I hunted for them after I saw him going in for the kill. I suppose I could administer some Frontline tonight just in case...

I've read numerous articles on various sites today about allergies. I was surprised to find that so little of them are food related. I think the highest percentage was 10%; other websites stated as low as 1%.

I'm just trying to convince myself that chicken is not the problem here. I guess I'm saying that because 1) Ozzie just started the BARF diet 1 month ago, and 2) My freezer is full of chicken mixes from Oma's.

Bob.

 

[Capone's Mama]

Capone licking was fleas now that he is no frontline it has stop Bob it could be detox that is making him itch I know capone itch with the detox I also found out that he has allergies to carrots. by leaving him on chicken until the itching stoped than added in one thing at a time and that is how I found out he was itching from carrots.
kathy & capone

 

[Ozzie]

Kathy:

Thank you for replying. Your advice is very similar to that given to me my BooBoo and Riley. I did that for a few days, but then I drifted back to blending in a little veggies with Oma's meat and veggie mix.

I'm curious as to just how you determined the problem with Capone to have been related to carrots? I mean, how long was it after you re-introduced the carrots to him that you noticed him scratching again. It seems like it can be really, really, difficult to pinpoint the "smoking gun" here......and like you say (and I've also heard from others) that this scratching could still be part of the detox????

I was reluctant to leave out the vegetables for fear of not supplying Ozzie with all the necessary nutrients. Aren't we supposed to get them veggies as required? I would have gone a little longer with just a chicken neck/bone ground mix but I feared I should get him some veggies(??).....and I also heard they can become constipated if given just meat/bones?? He's also been getting tripe mixed in with some of his meals.....there's nothing better than tripe, right?

Sorry for all the questions (along with the admitted venting). I'm just a little frustrated with this transition that I would think should have been completed by now........................

Bob.

 

[Jan]

Bob, a lot of people feel the veggies are not necessary for dogs and that they don't need them. It certainly wouldn't hurt for Ozzie not the have any veggies for a few weeks. Flax seed often seems to cause allergy problems, so you might want to check your mixes and see if if they contain flax seeds in any form.

I hope you figure out what is causing the problem.

 

[Ozzie]

Thanks once again, Jan. I guess I'll make an effort to stay away from the veggies for while. As for the carrots, Kathy, I checked the Oma's package and there aren't any in the poultry mixes, so carrots aren't the problem. But there is broccoli, and I recall hearing that broccoli and/or cauliflower may cause some problems.

My head is spinning. I'll stay away from the veggies for a while.

Thanks for the responses to this post. Jan, you've been very helpful to me. I hope I find out what the problem is, too. Maybe this is all still just detoxing?

Bob.