I have a five-year-old male German Shepherd Dog. He is suffering from some skin infection since last one year. I have taken him to many vets including government hospitals. They say that it is a form of scabies. He has undergone various treatments including dips and baths, but his scratching does not subside. Please help me resolve his issue.

Any chronic skin problem with itching in pets requires appropriate investigations to find out the underlying cause. Allergies like atopy are some of the most common causes of chronic problem in dogs. Certain factors that can predispose to this chronic condition include parasites or infections, etc. Some German Shepherds also develop unique skin diseases termed as German Shepherd Pyoderma whose underlying causes have not been established. You are suggested to consult vet who can run skin scrape, cytology, culture and biopsy if required to find out the cause. Dogs with atopy may not be cured, but can be successfully managed with available medications in India.

Question by – –Naresh Woolvara, Mumbai