My GSd is 7mo and has itched since the day he came home,about 12 weeks.I put him on fish oil and a baby dose of antihistimine about 2 weeks after bringing him home. With no real signs of relief I gave up. The weather has been dry lately and noticed he was itching more. I noticed he had three scabs on his neck. He gets brushed semi daly, and the day before I brushed him and I did not notice ? And yes I do his neck etc.I ran my hand along his neck in a different direction and noticed a hard object.
Mind u this is a chore to get thru the layers of fur to see the problem. After finding small scabs at the base of the hair I applied neosporin ointment. The day later the scabs look bigger.This is subjective since it is hard to see without shaving the area.
He must be doing this at night because I keep him from itching manualy during the day. He is not in a crate and sleeps by my bed. This he has earned.
I am thinking of shaving the area and applying ointment and covering at night? Long winded I know. ????
Steve

Itchy since 12 weeks? What pars of the body are itchiest? Be specific: Paws? Base of tail? Folds in groin/belly? Back upper legs?

Any odor in ears or anywhere else?

Any greasy/waxy skin? Red rash?

What was the antihistamine?

Does scratching disturb his sleep?

Inside his ears: Clear or inflamed? Any debris?

Hard object on neck -- you mean a scab or a cyst-type object?

How much fish oil and Vitamin E?

Fleas? Brushed over white sheet to check for flea dirt?

If it looks infected/inflamed yes, usually it'll need to be shaved but I wouldn't do much of anything other than look at it once and awhile. I also wouldn't cover it because that creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Air is your friend/dry scabs are a good thing. Once you shave a spot in a normal coated breed it doesn't usually come back the way it was.

It's possible that you simply scratched him when brushing and he has a couple minor spots of brush burn which is common and do scab up funky. If the scabs continue to expand and get the point of being just weird I'd go to the vet for an opinion.

Scratching in hind quarters, shoulders, neck, rarely tail, never paws and not in the folds.
Brushed over white sheet and no flea dirt, just some small hairs. He has had what looked like dandruff shortly after a bath. Bath roughly 1mo (Gentle puppy shampoo by Groomax)

He had his e-colar on for longer periods of time due to installation of synthetic grass, and training due to this. That is when I noticed the scabs due to the smell. Neck only. I have not smelled anything in the last three days. No collars.

Hard object on neck is a scab not a cyst.

Skin was red and small scabs not waxy the day I smelled something. The next day no smell larger scabs no collars. Next day larger scabs no collars. Scabs are subjective due to difficulty with thick coat. Area around scabs is normal.Scabs size is due in my opinion because of scratching at night when I can not watch him.

Scratching does not disturb sleep.

Benadryl was the antihistamine.

DermCare 600mg
Eicosapentaenoic acid 360 mg
Docasahexaenoic acid 240mg
Vitamin A 400iu Vitamin D3 100iu Vitimin E 4iu

I put ointment on scabs. Should I just leave them alone?

Steve

one more thing he is on advantic for fleas and ticks
Steve

Has the vet done a scraping?

What is the odor like? (Mouse-like, yeasty, sour, sweet ... )

If I can ask, what would a Mouse-like smell mean?

 Quote: Kathy West

If I can ask, what would a Mouse-like smell mean?

Kind of musty.

 Quote: Kathy West

If I can ask, what would a Mouse-like smell mean?

Oh, did you mean what might it indicate? Mange.

I took him to the vet when he came up limp and was estimated as pano and has resolved itself.

At that time we discussed itching etc and was advised of DermCare and Benadryl.

At this time I have not gone to the vet.The smell just stunk? I cleaned the area with proxide and water. The smell was gone after that.

My dog acts as if there is nothing wrong unless I want him to be still so I can look?

Steve