My dogs ears and mouth feel warm and he’s been itching a lot and has a rash on belly. Blk lab, 3 and his name is chance. (2025)

Hello! I'm Dr. ******, and I'm here to assist you with your question about ****. I appreciate you sending the photos; they are very helpful. Poor guy! Is **** currently on any medication or heartworm preventative?

Customer

No, he isn't on anything right now. I applied coconut oil to his rash because I thought it might help, but he had seen a vet before for a rash that wasn't too severe, and they gave me some soap to use during baths.

Thank you for sharing that. Often, these reactions can be due to allergies, and we're seeing many cases of itching lately. Do you have an idea of ****'s weight?

Customer

Yes, he weighs about seventy-five pounds.

Great! I recommend a medicated mousse rather than shampoo since it's easier to apply and doesn't require as much contact time with the skin. You can use it two to three times daily on his problem areas to help calm the skin. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which are essential because allergies often lead to itching, scratching, and imbalances in the skin's normal bacteria and fungi. We usually start with topical treatments before considering oral antibiotics. Additionally, I suggest starting him on an antihistamine like Benadryl or Zyrtec. Do you have either of those at home?

Customer

I'm not sure if I have them.

Benadryl is given twice a day and can cause drowsiness, while Zyrtec is taken once daily and is less sedating. If you want him to be calmer, Benadryl might be a good choice, but if he's already relaxed, Zyrtec could work better. I'll text you the dosing information for both options. For Benadryl, it's one milligram per pound, so for ****, that would be 75 milligrams, or three tablets every 12 hours. Zyrtec will likely be around 10 to 15 milligrams once daily. We'll try the topical treatment and antihistamines for a few days and see how he responds. If the rash spreads or doesn't improve, we may need to consider oral antibiotics and prescription allergy medications. It's also crucial to keep him on strict flea control to rule out fleas as a contributing factor. I personally use ****, which lasts for three months and is very effective. Have you taken him to his family vet in the past year?

Customer

Yes, he has been to the vet recently.

If your vet doesn't carry ****, you can order it through ****, and they'll handle the authorization with your vet. I'll send you links for that as well. So, to summarize, we'll focus on strict flea control, antihistamines, and topical treatments for now. If that doesn't work, we can look into prescription options.

Customer

How can I find out what he's allergic to? I suspect it might be related to the cat since I noticed him eating cat food, and that's when the issues started.

Identifying the exact cause of allergies can be challenging. There is a blood test available for environmental allergens, which can help us narrow down potential triggers. Food allergies are trickier to diagnose; we typically conduct a trial with a novel protein diet or a prescription hydrolyzed protein diet. Limited ingredient diets can also help minimize reactions. If **** has a chicken allergy, for example, we would avoid all chicken products. Trying a new protein source, like venison or alligator, for four to six weeks can help determine if that alleviates his symptoms. However, we should first focus on treating his current skin issues and itching before diving deeper into allergy testing.

Customer

That makes sense. I did switch him to a higher protein food, thinking it might help.

That's a good step. Just remember that sometimes the protein source itself can be the issue. If he has a reaction to a specific protein, we need to try something he hasn't had before. Once we get his skin condition under control, we can explore allergy testing further. Environmental allergens are often easier to manage, especially if his symptoms aren't consistent throughout the year. If he seems to be reacting to something seasonal, we can address that once his skin is healed.

Customer

We're currently dealing with a hurricane, so I can't go out to get any antihistamines right now.

I understand. In the meantime, you can continue using coconut oil or sesame oil, which has similar antibacterial and antifungal properties. It's easier to apply since it's liquid at room temperature. If you don't have sesame oil, coconut oil will work just fine.

Customer

Okay, that sounds good.

Once the storm passes and you're able to get out, make sure to choose plain antihistamines without any cold or cough additives. Generic versions are perfectly fine. I'll text you all this information shortly, along with additional details about allergy testing. Our text chat will remain open for about a week, so feel free to reach out if you have more questions.

Customer

Thank you so much! This really eases my worries about ****. I was concerned because his ears and mouth felt warm, and I thought he might have a fever.

It's possible he has a low-grade fever, which can occur due to irritation from itching. Is he still eating and drinking normally?

Customer

Yes, he is eating and drinking fine.

That's reassuring. Labs usually love their food, so if his appetite is normal, that's a good sign. A fever can affect their appetite, so if he's still eating well, I wouldn't worry too much about the warmth you're feeling. You can check his temperature at home using a digital thermometer. Normal temperatures range from 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and a true fever is over 103 degrees. If he does have a fever, we may need to consider stronger treatments. However, it sounds like the warmth is likely due to local inflammation from his skin issues.

Customer

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you for all your help!

You're very welcome! Stay safe during the storm, and I hope everything goes smoothly for you. If you need anything else for ****, just let me know.

Customer

Thank you! I appreciate it.

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