by Mark & Tasha

A couple of days ago my 3 year old female started scratching a lot. I noticed a red inflamed area on her chest. It has now covered her chest and front under arms and is red around her nipples. She seems to be licking her front pads as well and trying to scratch her face around her whiskers.

She is on Trifexis for fleas and heartworms. I have since been giving her Benedryl 2 times every 6 hours and rubbing coconut oil on her. It has not calmed down.

I have given her some probiotics today in case it started to develop into a yeast infection. I am trying to keep her from scratching and licking.

I have 3 other dogs and 2 cats who are all not showing symptoms.

Thanks in advance!

Comments for Itchy Face, Paw Licking & Red Inflamed Dog Rash on Chest, Around Nipples, Under Arms

Aug 05, 2013My Online Vet Response for: Itchy Face, Paw Licking & Red Inflamed Dog Rash on Chest, Around Nipples, Under Arms
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Mark,

An acute onset of itching that starts on the chest, extends under the front legs and around the nipples, and includes the bottoms of the feet, I suspect is a contact allergy. She has been laying on or in something that has caused an allergic reaction. And it is something to which the other dogs (and cats) are not allergic.

She will need to avoid whatever it was– any poison oak, or poison ivy in the area? A new wool or synthetic rug or piece of furniture? A new dog bed? New laundry detergent?

Give her a shampoo with baby shampoo or oatmeal shampoo, and use COOL water. Rinse well and Repeat. Do this every other day for one week, then as needed 1-2 times per week.

Put a soft white cotton T-shirt on her to try to prevent further self-trauma OR make her wear a Comfy Cone Pet E-Collar.

Benadryl may make her drowsy, so that she will not lick or scratch as much. The dose for a dog is 1 mg per pound TWO to THREE times daily. (children’s liquid Benadryl is 12.5mg/tsp and Adult Benadryl is 25 mg per tablet)

From your photos I am not sure how big she is or what she weighs.

Homeopathic remedies that may be helpful are:
1. Sulphur 6C or 12C
2. Belladonna 6C or 12C
3. Apis 6C or 12C
4. Rhus tox 6C or 12C

Use ONE remedy at a time.

Can be given by dry pellet directly into the mouth, or put one pellet into a 1oz glass dropper bottle, and mix with Spring Water. (Do NOT touch pellets with your fingers).

Give one pellet, or 1/2 dropperful by mouth, every 1-2 hours for 3 doses. If NO response to first remedy, then switch to one of the other remedies, same dosage.

Coconut oil is useful for DRY skin, with dandruff, not usually helpful for red, inflamed itchy skin. You may need to use DAWN DISH DETERGENT to shampoo her to remove all the greasy coconut oil first, rinse well, followed by the Baby Shampoo or oatmeal shampoo.

Make up Rescue Remedy (use the ‘human’ drops that are preserved in Brandy NOT the ‘animal’ drops that contain glycerin): 20 drops added to a 4-6 oz pump spray bottle and fill with Spring Water. Keep refrigerated. Spray her underside, bottoms of feet, anywhere she is licking or itching. It will cool her down, and calm her skin, and calm her down if she licks it.

If there is NO response, or she is WORSE, in the next 24-48 hours, I suggest you seek the help of a holistic veterinarian who can do a thorough physical exam!

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
Dog Skin Conditions,
Dog Itchy Skin,
Dog Skin Rash,
Dog Skin Allergies,
Dog Symptom Checker – Photo, Question & Answer Library for Thousands of Dog Symptoms


Feb 09, 2015Could It Be An Allergy To The Flea Medication?
by: Anonymous

My 6-year-old miniature schnauzer was having the exact same symptoms and had to be taken in to the vet a couple of times for skin cultures and given anti-yeast medications and steroid treatments. I thought that it was a flea allergy, but she’d been on K9 Advantix every month for the past couple of years since relocating to our current home where fleas are prevalent. The vet recommended a limited ingredient food diet to see if she was allergic to something she was ingesting, which we tried for two months with no better results. Other than that, all the vet could do was speculate that maybe she was reacting to some type of plant or something else in her environment. Nothing was giving us any answers or giving her any long term relief … So expensive and frustrating!

Finally it dawned on me … Is she reacting to the flea medication? It’s nasty stuff that has warning labels all over it for humans to wash their hands immediately after applying it to their pet and to not touch that pet in the area where the medication was applied. Hello! TOXIC! As soon as I had that revelation, I discontinued it’s use on both of my dogs and found a more holistic flea treatment (i.e. two capfuls of raw undistilled apple cider vinegar in their water twice per day). They’ve been off of K9 Advantix for 3-1/2 months now … They’re both doing incredibly well and my little girl, who had suffered so much for so long, is virtually itch free with no more rash or hot spots at all. I’m a firm believer that any product with the word “WARNING” all over it’s packaging should be avoided at all cost by humans and pets alike.


Feb 25, 2015Itchy Face, Paw Licking & Red Inflamed Dog Rash on Chest, Around Nipples, Under Arms
by: Anonymous

We have two dogs with the exact same trouble and they are not on flea medicine and no new furniture or allergens we can think of. We are in the Maine.


Do you believe in holistic pet care?  If so, please tell your friends about us. Thank you for supporting our efforts!


Also see…

Share This