Dear Lab: It seems your pet has an overall itchiness in various places. This could indicate three separate problems with the same symptoms or one overall problem with symptoms in different parts of the body.

According to a Labrador Retriever breeder I spoke with, she said there is about a five to ten percent incidence of itchiness in Labs, which in some cases is a true allergy, and in others it’s not known what’s causing the problem.

Skin irritations could be a food allergy, sensitivity to a chemical in the environment, some overall disease like diabetes or hypothyroidism where skin problems are a symptom, a bacterial infection, a stubborn fungus or even mange. There are many choices. Unfortunately, you will have to go down the list and rule each one out to find the culprit before you can start to treat the cause and not just the symptoms.

History of the Problem

After having your vet check for auto immune diseases, the best approach is to start with a complete history of the problem. Make a journal and write down when things started to happen. Look for clues, such as old vet bills for dates of problems cropping up. Look to your personal calendar to see if any activities or changes might have correlated with the problem. Note any changes in dog food, illness or any factors that were out of the ordinary. 

Allergies – Ruling out allergies would be first on the list since if that’s the cause, removal of the allergen is a simple task with some follow-up to clear up symptoms. Food-related sensitivities, intolerance or improper nutrition can cause skin flare-ups. Owners have reported great results with a dog food called Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato or California Natural. One Lab owner said changing to that food, “cleared a chronic case of yeasty ears up in six weeks.”

You can also try an elimination diet to target food allergies. The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care (Keats Publishing, Inc., 1998) by CJ Puotinen gives great examples of diets to follow for identifying allergens.

Environment – Since the paws and belly are involved with the itchiness and redness, some outside substance like a new carpet cleaner or floor wax might have triggered a reaction and continued exposure keeps the rash from healing completely. Changing cleaning products to a more natural brand with less harsh chemicals might help. 

Yeast – Look into a fungal infection (widespread yeast will cause itching) and it can be a symptom of an allergy. If it’s a yeast overgrowth try adding some acidophilus to her food to build up good bacteria, since she’s been on antibiotics lately, this might be helpful to create a more balanced intestinal flora (good bacteria to combat yeast) for her.

Mange – Always check to see if the dog has fleas or possibly mange as the cause of the itchiness. A good medicated shampoo could take care of the problem if she has an allergy to these parasites and follow-up with a good preventive program to stop re-infestation.

As for the ears, her ear problem may or may not be related to an allergy, but yeast growth, regardless of the cause, gives many floppy-eared breeds, like Labs, Poodles and other sporting breeds chronic ear problems. Those folded-over ears keep the inside moist and dark, a perfect place for bacteria to thrive.  If your dog loves to swim, those ears will trap water. Placing cotton balls in the dog’s ears before swimming to prevent water from entering the ear is a great preventive.  

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her through www.lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.