Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/15/2009

Question
i have a 8 year old Labrador that has very bad symptom around his left eye. we think it is an open sore but we have no idea he try's to itch them and scratch them to. i also has a little bit of them on his left hind paw.do you know what it is because we are perplexed. thanks!

Answer
IF this is not an injury, and if the dog is constantly rubbing the eyes, then it may be an allergy.  Ask your vet to give a shot of a steroid to see if that will take the redness and itchiness out.  IF that doesn't help, then have the vet do a skin scraping for mange and a fungus culture.