Anyone have a toy poodle or know alot about them?

[mckinley]

In 2003 we got our daughter a toy poodle for christmas. Still to this day she belives santa brought her this dog. Anyway for the past 8 months or so this dog as licked him self constantly & scratched non-stop. I have searched the interenet for answers, but don't seem to find anything. I know that poodles have dry skin & we have bought some special oatmeal shampoo for him. It doesn't seem to help much. If anyone know any insight as to why he might be doing this i could really use it. He is an inside dog so he sleeps in our beds. When he is in my bed it drives me crazy cause he is always moving around shaking the bed.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I have a toy poodle. Petey is an addictive licker. He'll lick himself senseless and also licks the bed till it's soaked, licks the fuzz off his toys and would lick my face and hands all day if I'd let him. Some dogs are just orally fixated

Now, the scratching, I'd be concerned about. If you are absolutely certain your dog doesn't have fleas then it sounds very like a dry skin condition which your vet can give you a lotion for. Nothing terribly serious but it does need to be looked at.

 

[mckinley]

I was just concerned that the licking might be a sign of something being wrong with him

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Could also signal a food allergy. If he doesn't seem to be in any pain or losing fur or getting sores, I would just bring it up to the vet at his next checkup.

 

[disneyaggie]

What has your vet said? I would like to know the answer to your doggie's behavior, too!

One of my chihuahuas kept scratching (not all the time, but enough for me to call the vet). I always use an oatmeal-based soap so I knew it most likely was not that. The vet said it was due to allergies! He told me to give her children's Benedryl (he broke down how much and how many times a day, the kind of Benedryl, etc.) and it worked!

 

[LindaR]

You need to go to the vet! Dogs don't handle allergies the way humans do. Most times they will lick and chew at different parts of their bodies. It could be something like hayfever or even a food allergy.

 

[DLBDS]

I agree with Shugardrawers. Check to make sure there are no fleas. If the dog is allergic, it would only take ONE flea to send them into fits. It's the flea saliva that they are allergic to. If you can't tell, there ARE signs of a flea infestation. Check the base of the tail, belly area and top of head/face. If you see what looks like black pepper then you have a flea problem. That 'pepper' is actually flea waste. Bathe them in a flea shampoo and let them soak in it. Remember that fleas don't stay on animals all the time. They are only there to feed so you'll have to repeat the bath again in a day or so. Treat the house and yard also or you'll never get rid of them. (Always stay current on flea preventatives such as Advantage, Program, Advantix or Frontline.) Fleas lay their eggs in carpets etc. If no fleas....Next step would be to take the dog to a vet for a skin evaluation. They can prescribe medication and/or a special shampoo. DVM and Virbac both offer exceptional products and can be purchased online (cheaper) or at your local vet (more expensive). Where exactly is he licking? If it's his backside then he may need his anal sacs expressed. You can do this yourself but it can be kinda gross. Ask the vet if you're uncomfortable doing it yourself. If you want to give it a try..WARNING: GRAPHIC..place your thumb and index finger on either side of the rectum. If the anal sacs need to be expressed, you'll feel two peasized 'balls' (for lack of a better word). You need to squeeze (pinch) these together until a really gross liquid squirts out of his butt, expressing the sacs. Do not lean over to watch!! Once you feel what you need to pinch, stand back up straight and then do it. Otherwise you'll have anal sac juice all over your face or in your hair. (Been there. Done that. ) This is all I can offer. If you have more detailed information, post back. Otherwise, I hope this helps!

 

[Shugardrawers]

Yup, it's like popping a zit on your dogs butt and it's REALLY DISGUSTING Your groomer *should* be doing it each time he's groomed.

 

[mckinley]

"Check the base of the tail, belly area and top of head/face. If you see what looks like black pepper then you have a flea problem."

he doesn't have the pepper looking stuff on him. I treat the yard, house & the dog really good to take care of fleas.
We started the oatmeal shampoo about a month ago, & we changed his food. We have changed his food to a kind that didn't have bi-product in it. We was told that food with those items in it caused this problem. I also have had my dogs but squeezed at the vet that is i don't think i would want to do that. He is due for some shots soon so i will just go ahead & do it earlier.
thanks for all the help

 

[ilovepcot]

I've had Toy Poodles since 1971 and guess I know a fair amount about them. One thing I learned with the last one was that poodles who get too much protein in their diet will have problems with their skin....redness and itching that can lead to sores. I now only buy California Natural or Innova and have no problems, but that may not necessarily be the case with your dog. Another thing....new detergents can affect a dog also, especially one who sleeps in the bed on the linens. Really, they're worse than children sometimes!