If that was my pup I'd wash her every day for a few days in a mild shampoo for pups. Rinse super well, super well. I'd remove her collar when she is in the house.
What is her bed? I'd have her in a crate with a cotton towel washed in a detergent with no perfume, something like Ivory Snow or Dreft.
IME at this age itchy skin is usually bugs of some sort, gnats in the grass, fleas, mosquitos, flies on ears, etc. Mange has been ruled out IMO by the ivermectin products. Demodex is possible but usually not itchy.
I might try some Benadryl at a low dose to see if it helps. Her skin looks very irritated --- hard to know the cause, you'll have to try a few things to get to the bottom of it.

Huh. Looks a lot like flea hypersensitivity, and I'm returning to my first post on the thread. Doesn't look like what I was picturing from the text at all.

I didn't think of gnats, as mentioned by Dr. Betty, but yup, gnat bites look similar to flea-bite dermatitis and are in the running for me too.

I will say that I have had better experience with Hydroxyzine than with Benadryl, but of course that doesn't much matter to the dog who happens to benefit from Benadryl over Hydroxyzine. I would 10-day trial each, and also Chlorpheniramine.

I would call fish oil and E asap items, and I would follow the bath suggestion of Dr. Betty's. Remember that no shampoo for humans (even babies) is OK for a dog.

 Quote: betty landercasp

Rinse super well, super well.

Also, a plain good rinse can be almost as good as a bath, and better if the alternative is a shampoo for humans.

Did you catch the flea hypersensitivity info about one exposure's ability to trigger an all-over reaction? That is, the lack of flea dirt and a bunch of fleas hopping around visibly isn't at all definitive.

Betty, what do you think about a topical? I'm thinking that "Relief" spray after the careful rinsing and patting dry is worth a shot.

Also, Betty, would Betagen spray be a good idea? I know it's an antibacterial, but it also appears to give immediate relief to my flea-hypersensitive guy when his armpits get irritated. (I found that out when it happened to be the only topical I wasn't out of; now I keep it on hand.)

 Quote: Megan McBratney

.... 20lbs ..... no she's not on fish oil, how much would you suggest?

IMO, about 2000 mg (2 grams) a day of fish oil and 100 to 200 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha with mixed tocopherols, if possible; dl-alpha is bottom choice).

Yes she's in a crate with towels washed in odor-free, natural detergent currently. I have this all-natural puppy shampoo that I've been using for baths.

Gnats could be a huge possibility, she's constantly on the grass and gnats seem to be more common here than fleas or mosquitos.

I can try benedryl again even though it was unsuccessful the first time. Any idea on the dosages for any of the previously mentioned allergy treatments?

If it's an insect allergy, would this possibly disappear as she gets older? Also, is there any way to prevent flea bites (even from one flea?). She's on Revolution (and before that Frontline), which may or may not be helping control insects.

 Quote: megan mcbratney

I can try benedryl again even though it was unsuccessful the first time. Any idea on the dosages for any of the previously mentioned allergy treatments?

If it's an insect allergy, would this possibly disappear as she gets older? Also, is there any way to prevent flea bites (even from one flea?). She's on Revolution (and before that Frontline), which may or may not be helping control insects.

The vet can prescribe small protocols to trial (IME, not expensive). They aren't "allergy treatments," exactly -- simply antihistamines. They block the chemical effects of histamine, which bind to histamine receptors (in us, mostly in mucus membranes; in dogs, mostly in skin). They coat the receptors, blocking that binding. So they don't treat an allergy in any real sense; they block the mechanics of one of the symptoms. Taking them in advance is more effective than taking them after the reaction is in swing.

You might want to discuss other flea med possibilities with the vet. http://www.placervillevet.com/flea_control.htm

I would get the fish oil and E, start the frequent rinsing and bathing, and trial the antihistamines along with a vet appointment to re-check the pruritic skin.

I'd probably also try a topical (maybe "Relief" spray).

I didn't see bleeding skin. Where is it? In folds?

Ok I'll start with the oil/E/bathing sequence and schedule a vet appt. asap.

Connie, it's hard to see from the pictures, but the cuts were under the elbows. They were scratch cuts. I've been trying some insect anti-itch spray that helps with itching about 30% but lasts only about 1.5 hours before i have to douse her with it again.

I'll post again here in the future once this is figured out. Thanks for your input everyone!

Connie, I don't know the names of the products that you mentioned so I can't comment on their efficacy -- haven't practiced for 15years! We used a topical spray cortizone product that was great, but not for the whole dog.

The thing to remember is that it's usually fleas,mites--your pup's skin looks like
mites in straw, a common problem in a farm dog--creepy crawlies of some sort in a little pup. An yes, a pups skin does get tougher over time, but allergic reactions get more problematic as well.

If the skin doesn't quiet down a visit to a specialist might be in order. Wish you the best of luck!

Hi everyone I just wanted to update on my puppy's condition.

The OTC drug didn't seem to make that much of a difference (benadryl), neither did hydroxyzine.

After going to a different vet, she was found positive for giardia and round worm. Not sure if that causes itching, but after being treated (3 days panacur) she definitely seemed to slow down on her constant itching. It still may have been fleas, but now she seems much better without any problems flaring up again.

It's still hard for me to distingish between normal puppy itching vs. problem itching, but it seems that it may just be "normal" itching now.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Really glad she's better, and that the giardia and roundworms were found and treated.