Hi,

My dog Charlie, a former student, continually scratches the same spot, the back of his elbow (do dogs have elbows???). I have checked that site many times and find nothing, but it is also hard to tell b/c he is 100% black.

Any suggestions?

Charliedog of Glendale, Queens

Charlie & family,

He might have the beginnings of what's called a hotspot, a site he compulsively scratches at until it gets red, loses hair or gets all scaly and raw and open. If you can, while he's really sleepy, check out the spot and separate the hair so you can see the skin underneath. If it's red or there's hairloss, you should take him to your vet to get the area scraped to see if there's a mite or something there.

Some people spray bitter apple or apply bitter apple cream on the site so the dog stays away from it. That has to be done regularly, though. And if the area's already red and sore, the bitter apple will irritate it, so forget that.

Either that, or he's got allergies, but it wouldn't make sense that the allergy would affect him only on
the one spot.

The other possibility is that the dog has an anxious habit and chewing on himself is a way of relieving
that anxiety.

Take your pick!,

Marlene
m@dropthatsock.com

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