Vet suggested it could be the shampoo the groomer used, so we switched to a vet/medicated one, washed her and she did seem a lot better. At the time, we treated her with Advantix also, since it was high tick season.

I began to wonder if it was mites or similar, since the timing was the same.

More recently, she began getting itchy again, not long after being at the groomer again - we now supply her own shampoo, and I guess it's possible she forgot and used her own shampoo. I trust the groomer to be clean and vigilant (and I understand scabies don't last off an animal for long) but it all makes me wonder.

I actually used the last dose of Advantix I had lying around and lo, she seems much better (the only other factor was we went for an extended snowshoe walk two days after treating her and she did a lot of playing and rolling in the snow, which she loves to do.)

What are your thoughts? The only thing we didn't do with the vet was a skin scraping, which I believe is the only way to accurately detect mites.

Is it possible I've cured it with the Advantix? I saw nothing in their literature saying it's effective for mites or scabies, but you'd have to suspect it might work since it works for fleas and ticks. I kind of hate to ask the groomer since it sounds like I'm implying she's not keeping the place clean.

I'll probably book the dog in for a grooming appointment in February, so I guess we'll see what happens.

Having groomed dogs for more than 30 years (in the past) I can tell you what I know. Many dogs will react to shampoos and rinses that groomers use although I suspect it is unlikely that this is the case. She is probably reacting to dry skin and the Advantix. She could have contact alergies and after the grooming, both the clippers and the bath have irritated her skin. I suggest that you have her groomed more frequently or do her yourself (keep her brushed out) so that her skin can breathe and add olive oil to her diet. Do not bath her unless she is smelly as bathing only washes out the natural oils she produces to protect her skin. It is often just a problem of dry skin in the winter and many concerned owners just want relief for their pups so they resort to emergency measures. If you do not see any obvious critters on her, and many you cannot see, and are not scratching yourself, chances are it is her skin. Many dogs also react to the clipping itself (much like yourself after shaving.....parts)and a good rub with a nongreasy conditioner diluted with water in a spray bottle is all it takes to offer her some relief. If you must bath her, try a mild shower gel, oatmeal slurry or buttermilk. It is very soothing. :)

This is not to say that she doesn't have a skin mite but unless you are itching yourself, I see no sense in wasting your money until you have tried some of these other suggestions. :)

I hope this helps. :)

Ginny

Scabies mites tend to cause a lot of sores, rashes, usually around the head and elbows. They are hard to find with a skin scraping, but they are fortunately very easy to get rid of (though Advantix will not do the job- has nothing in it that kills mites).

Sounds more like as others have suggested, it is related to the bath. I see this very commonly in pet dogs that have just been to the groomers. All shampoos dry out skin (some less than others) and many dogs react differently to some of these products than most dogs would. So being itchy after a bath is certainly not unusual. For dogs that need to be groomed and tend to itch afterwards, I do recommend changing shampoos to those with products that are either soap free, hypoallergenic or at least have no flea products in them... and follow every bath with some soothing, moisturing, anti-itch, leave-on conditioner. Or, groom these dogs less often. This will not guarantee no itch, but it will probably help at least.

There's no question of overdosing with Advantix, first instance we just applied it as directed, when it was due (after the grooming, since its effectiveness is lessened if the dog's bathed too soon afterwards.

This time around, the groomer supposedly used our shampoo, so as an experiment, I used our last remaining dose of Advantix - she hasn't had any applied since August or so, since it's a cold climate here and there are no fleas around (we use it mostly for ticks, which are bad around here during the season)

WIthin a day or so of applying the Advantix this time around, the itching seemed to disappear - quite dramatically. She has had some small scabs on her head, and 'front armpits.'

The only other possibility was her playing in the snow - she was rolling and burrowing in it (she loves to play) which could have 'rinsed' her perhaps or was just soothing. Sounds far-fetched to me.

She's an "American Labradoodle" ie a Standard Poodle/Lab hybrid, first generation. We've never given her Olive oil (interesting idea) but she gets fish oil (salmon oil and cod liver oil) every day, and we have noticed in the past she scratches more if we run out (although she's never had scratching issues like the problem I've posted here, the other instances were minor.)

The leave-on conditioner's an interesting idea - I'll see what's available.

I have to admit we could brush her more often. As for the winter suggestion, the first instance of itchiness happened in spring - May - so that shouldn't have been an issue, although we live in a very dry climate.