Westie dog rubbing himself on carpet sexual or itching ?

[huggy561]

my two year old westie dog "max" constantly rubs himself in an almost sexual way on the carpet.
Is he itching or just trying to enjoy himself ?
I took him to the vet a year ago and he prescribed some antibiotics pills and cream this seemed to help but now its back I have recently bought special skin oil for his food tea tree cream and lotion for his belly but non seem to work and he does seem to be irritated by the itching.
Could it be his food and his love for a small amount of cheese in the mornings should I be keeping to a strict diet?
His coat is soft and he is seeminglt small for a dog
no signs of any dryness or soreness yet but I would like to help him stop if possible
Thanks in advance for any answers or tips
cheers

[raggies1]

If the vets prescribed antibiotics he must have suspected an infection, the fact that the medication helped sugggests it is a medical thing. Id get him back to the vets to find out. Westies are prone to skin problems and some skin probs can be diet related, ask your vet about trying him on a different food. What my vet does is recommend a really obscure flavour of food, Walthams do a caplin and tapioca flavour (the important thing is that its flavours your dog hasnt experienced before) but its a total exclusion diet for about 8 weeks, no treats, no cheese, nothing but this food. If the skin problem then calmed down we knew it was food allergy, if not they were sent for referral to a skin specialist. It may not be allergy at all though, it could just be a mild irritation he picked up. Always best to let the vet take a look.

[huggy561]

thanks I will wait for any other advice and then go back to the vet
cheers

[lankeela]

I certainly don't think it is a sexual thing! Westies as said above are prone to skin conditions and should not be bred from if they have them, as they are hereditary. One thing that worries me is that he has a soft coat - Westies should have a hard harsh coat. Are you bathing him to much? What shampoo do you use? One other thing to consider, do you use anything like 'Shake N Vac' as this can really irritate any dogs skin.

I would drop the cheese and feed something plain like chicken and rice. Some dogs can have a gluten allergy - does he have biscuits?

Having said all this, my money would be on a 'Westie' itch.
Try looking at some Westie websites for help and advice.

[lankeela]

Have a read through this thread on champdogs - you are not alone!

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/86 879.html

[heathfield]

A neighbour has the same problem with her Staffordshire terrier. Turns out the dog gets a belly itch from grasses.

[huggy561]

many thanks to all above

[My Angel Pie]

our 2 jack russel terriors do exactly the same, they flip their back legs out and get into a sort of press up position if that makes sense and then slide back and forth - very funny to watch and once one starts the other joins in. Ours do it on grass and on carpet too!

[huggy561]

took him to the vets he know has matbe a grass seed in his foot but vet unsure looks sore so he has put him on a course of antibiotics to clear it up and a series of other drugs to help with the itchy belly syndrome.
It appears not to be of any sexual nature so thats a relief just that they have sensitive skin so no mor cheese no more biscuits just dry food or chicken and no more sleeping under our bed now stays downstairs as dust under bed might also trigger him off.
Many thanks for all your help fingers crossed that this will cure him