By the Pethocyn editorial team. Published October 31, 2026. Updated November 1, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the article.

Now and then, a problem in a dog’s nerves or spinal cord looks like a skin problem. The dog scratches, licks, chews or even wounds itself, but the trigger is in the nervous system, not the skin [1][2][4].

If your dog has hurt its own skin, or keeps scratching with no skin cause found, see your vet promptly.

Signs

The signs owners notice most are scratching, pain and wounds a dog makes on itself [1][2][3][4].

  • Air scratching: some dogs with syringomyelia make scratching movements near the neck without the paw ever touching the skin. Vets call this phantom scratching, and it is a sign of abnormal feeling rather than true itch [1].
  • Self-injury: when a dog loses feeling in its paws or toes, it may bite and lick them hard enough to injure them [2][3].
  • Pain: pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine can cause pain during normal activity, along with weakness in the back legs or tail [5].

For the many skin causes of itching, see why is my dog so itchy?.

Which nerve problems can do this

  • Inherited loss of feeling (sensory neuropathy): young puppies of some breeds, including English Pointers, can have paws that feel little or no pain, and some injure their own feet [2][3]. A related form, with loss of feeling but usually without self-injury, has been described in Long-haired Dachshunds [3].
  • Cauda equina syndrome: pressure on the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine, for example from a disc [5].
  • Pseudorabies: a virus that dogs can catch from pigs or wild boar, for example by eating raw meat or on a hunt. It attacks the nervous system and causes intense itching, often of the head, and dogs that catch it usually die quickly [4].
  • Syringomyelia with Chiari-like malformation: fluid-filled spaces in the spinal cord linked to the shape of the skull. It is seen most often in toy breeds, especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniels [1].

Growths can also start in the nerves themselves; see nerve sheath tumors in dogs and cats.

Treatment

Your vet will advise on treatment for your dog. Because the cause sits in the nervous system, the vet looks for that cause, sometimes with a neurological exam, nerve tests or scans [1][3][5]. Treating only the skin is unlikely to be enough.

At home, as directed by a vet:

  • take any wound your dog has made on itself to your vet promptly;
  • note when the scratching happens and where, so you can tell your vet;
  • go back for every recheck.

Outlook

The outlook depends on the cause. In one dog with long-standing pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine, the authors noted that earlier diagnosis and treatment might have limited lasting nerve damage [5]. Pseudorabies is usually fatal [4].

These are statements about groups of dogs or single cases. They cannot predict how one dog will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your dog.

When to see your vet

See your vet promptly if your dog has:

  • a wound it has made on its own skin [2][3];
  • scratching at the air near its body [1];
  • itching and scratching that keeps going, especially with odd behavior after contact with pigs or wild boar [4];
  • signs of pain [1][5].

The bottom line

Now and then, a nerve or spinal cord problem shows up as a skin problem in dogs. Air scratching, pain and self-injury are the signs to watch for. Only a vet can find the cause, and your vet will advise on treatment.

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your dog has hurt its own skin, see your vet.

Sources

  1. Baka RD, Savvas I, Sarpekidou E, Kazakos G, Polizopoulou Z. Epidemiological Data, Clinical Signs, Therapy and Outcome Evaluation in Dogs with Syringomyelia of Different Etiology. Veterinary Sciences, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12031033/
  2. Cocostîrc V, Paștiu AI, Pusta DL. An Overview of Canine Inherited Neurological Disorders with Known Causal Variants. Animals, 2023 (CC BY 4.0). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10668755/
  3. Buffagni V, Gasparinetti N, Furiani N, et al. Suspected hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies: clinical signs and electrodiagnostic findings in eleven dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2026 (CC BY-NC 4.0). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13520930/
  4. Ferrara G, Pagnini U, Parisi A, et al. A pseudorabies outbreak in hunting dogs in Campania region (Italy): a case presentation and epidemiological survey. BMC Veterinary Research, 2024 (CC BY 4.0). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11256590/
  5. Epstein E, Mooney A. Marked Cauda Equina Compression Secondary to Intervertebral Disc Protrusion Resulting in Severe Chronic Neuritis and Neural Fibrosis in a Dog. Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine, 2026 (CC BY 4.0). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13269645/