Expert: Kim Wingate - 7/6/2009

Question
Hi Kim.  I have 2 toy poodles who are less than 1 year.  I have a few questions.  First is I was just wondering why the other one has very soft hair, while the other one has dry hair. They are using the same shampoo.  Second is, they keep on scratching and licking their paws and some part of their body although I don't see any fleas.  I noticed though that the one with dry hair is scratching herself more than the other.  Could it be allergy?  Will it be solved by any antihistamine tablet?  Thanks.

Answer
Hello Tin,
You don't say whether they are brothers/sisters or not, but it really wouldn't matter that much (except for finding out what kind of coat the parents had).  First off, Poodles under 1 yr will usually have a softer coat than adult dogs.  Puppy hair is more fine and soft than the curly course coat of an adult.  Also, some Poodles tend to have a softer coat than the more course coat, which is what breeders breed for.
You might look for a special shampoo for dry skin that contains fatty acids and lipids.  The healthy oils will keep the coat conditioned and will help keep it from drying out.  You can also feed her Sardines in Olive Oil.  The fish have Omega 3,and 6 fatty acids which are good for skin and coat.  
I would give her a can (seperated over 2 days or so) every 2 weeks.


As for their itching and scratching, be sure that they do have their flea treatment because you can't see baby fleas, and they could have them if they are outside any or if they come into contact with other dogs or cats.  
It could be allergies though.  Dogs can be allergic to the same kinds of things that people are, so she could be reacting to something in or around the house.  You can try giving them a 1/2 Benedryl Tablet (antihistimine) every evening for a couple of weeks to see if it helps them any.

Try this and see if it helps you some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask me.  

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim