My year old golden retriever has been scratching at his left side like mad for days - the only thing we can see is that a nipple high up his rib cage (it's definately a nipple -there's a matching one on the other side!) looks a bit scabby but not sore. He also has a patch of weepy skin on the top of his head which doesn't seem to bother him at all.  Could these be related? Could the head problem be due to using Frontline do you think?  Any advice welcome before I go to the vets & spend a fortune (what's new!).

I'd get him checked out at the vets as it could be something like excema (spelling)!  Or it may be an allergy.

The itchiness could be a number of things but if you have recently treated him with frontline then I guess you could rule fleas out.  But the itchiness could be a reaction from the frontline.

I give my golden a clove of garlic each day which protects against fleas, as I don't want to bombard him with chemicals as I used to my last dog. It might be worth trying if your golden is sensitive to certain things.

Hmm, I've had a similar problem myself and gained immense relief from Eurax cream for a few days until the problem cleared.  Reading the box leaflet, it looks pretty harmless stuff so might be worth a try ??  It certainly does what it says on the tin and stops itching!

The wet patch sounds very much like wet excema, I would clip the area surrounding it so as it doesn't spread further and bathe it, I use hibiscrub 3 x daily, this works for my old golden who tends to get it on his chest sporadically when the weather gets warmer. I would take him to the vet just to be on the safe side also.

An adverse reaction to the Frontline would most likely occur at the site of application, though I believe that this is very rare.  The only adverse reaction to Frontline I have heard about took the form of hypersalivation.

I'd be looking elsewhere for an explanation and as the skin is weeping, I'd consult a vet.

I agree with Floradora, Hibiscrub is wonderful stuff and can have wondrous results.

As hot spots can be due to fungal or bacterial infection (or both) hibiscrub works well.  I always apply wound powder t the area after and have found this takes up the wetness and saves more of the coat, which is an issue in a coated breed that is shown as it might make the dog unshowable until the next moult.

Thanks everyone. I'm taking him to the vets tomorrow as he seems to be itching alot more on his sides so we'll see what he says. I like the garlic idea as I don't like chemicals either & he's a very sensitive thing -won't he stink though!! He's only a year old & he's already hjad giardia, upset tummies galore, a broken rib (fel off the sofa when he was il with a tummy bug!). I've gone over him with afine tooth comb & I can't see any eveidence of mites,worms, or any form of parasite. I'm wondering if the itching on his body is a reaction to gras as he's been outside with us alot in the nice weather & had layed on the grass alot - I think the scaby head may be unrelated as that's been around for a bit but hopefully the vet will know.

Hope he gets on ok at the vets Helen, a friend of mine who has an itchy dog gives him piriton, might be worth a try if it's the pollen that is causing it, maybe ask the vet if that would be ok for him :)

Chlorpheniramine maleate is a "chemical" of course, with a long list of possible side effects.

You should most certainly check with a vet before giving it to your dog, as it is contra-indicated in the presence of certain other conditions (eg epilepsy) or in combination with certain other drugs which may be prescribed for his skin.

If it is the spray then it would be applied all over.  All mien went scratching and one chewed herself up after using a bottle of frontline, even though they had always been fine with it.  I didn't use it for a while after but risked it the following summer and they have been fine with it.

An adverse reaction to the Frontline would most likely occur at the site of application, though I believe that this is very rare.  The only adverse reaction to Frontline I have heard about took the form of hypersalivation.

Not entirely Lillith, my last dog had an adverse reaction after using Frontline (not hypersalivation).  There can be a wide range of adverse reactions depending on the individual.

Yes, a range of suspected adverse reactions have been reported, which is why I said "most likely".  :-)