Why your dog keeps scratching itself

Q: My Manchester Terrier cross is constantly nibbling and scratching herself, mainly on her lower back. The vet cleaned the glands near her tail, but this hasn’t helped. What can you suggest?

A: Many dogs’ skin irritations are due to pollen, but there could be medical causes, such as pain, or behavioural reasons, such as stress. Skin problems are notoriously difficult to deal with, but your first port of call has to be back to the vet.

Have you been vigilant with your flea treatment? Even one bite can cause some dogs a lot of irritation.

Keep a diary of when and how often your terrier is nibbling. Giving your vet as much information as possible will mean they’re more likely to determine whether the problem is medical or potentially behavioural.