Skin!!!!

cgmayeaux · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: Skin!!!!

My Bailey has what have been called skin allergies. It has been bad this summer here in Louisiana, he has bumps, scabs, and missing hair. We have done one round of oral steroid which cleared him up quickly, but the problems quickly came back. I am leary about using the steroids and would like some advice. Anyone with the same issues? Confused

kjnewk · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

What do you feed him? Is it possible he is allergic to a component of his food?

I agree, I would avoid prolonged steroid use.

cgmayeaux · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject:

Well, he has eaten the same food since he was about 1year old. It seems that it only comes in the summer.

weimdogmom · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

You might talk to your vet about antihistamines. Benadryl is a common one used for dogs.

How are his ears? Itchy or do they seem OK?

Occasional bathing helps, too, for allergies to grasses, pollens, etc. And rinsing off feet, bellies and armpits after he has been outside may help alot. Cool compresses on itchy spots provide some relief, too.

A good diet -- what food is he eating? -- whether it's raw, cooked, kibble or canned helps with skin and coat health. As do diets with fewer ingredients. Adding fish oil and yogurt also is good for skin and coat. These all can help lessen itching.

Itchy, allergic dogs tend to have more of a reaction year after year. If he's really having a problem this year, and antihistamines, bathing and possible diet changes don't help, you may want to consider testing to see what he is allergic to.

Wrench · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

Food will be a major factor to consider.
As well as what he is allergic to exatly...your laundry det you washed his bed in...grass, etc.

Being on a good flea prevention .

Keeping a clean yard as we bagn doing big time...we always pick up his poo's to control flies and we spray the yard down with insect control daily which in Texas has been great...we still have them but not as much and we put out cedar shavings too. Misquitos, flies, fleas ( which we dont' have and have never yet seen but still) and other buggers here in Texas can be really annoying.

The right kind of shampoo and bath regimen.

These all make a huge impact on a weims coat and skin...

On top of that you may still have some issues...Wrench went through losing his baby coat at the same time of losing a ton of hair due to allergies so he looekd a mangy mess for a good 2 months....after we began major yard pest control ( safe for the dog and environment) he began to improve. We had also added yorgurt to his meal at that time for his ears but not sure if it helped his coat .

Our vet gave us a different emdicated shampoo which really helped and we use benedryl but VERY rarely and only in a real bad breakout of hives that bother him...sometimes if he's not even itchy we let it go of we are home to watch him.

Then he also just got past the spring and is now fine...he has some dandruf and at tiems gets some bumps and hives after a walk in long grass or rolling in it mostly but we rinse or wipe him off and maybe give a benedryl and he's good.

We didn't change his food at that time though we should have but we just did this weekend so we will see if that takes care of his dandruff problems.

Pinchc44 · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

Our girl also has really bad skin allergies. We finally had her allergy tested at a dog dermatologist and have her getting allergy shots every two weeks that we give to her. She ended up being allergic to so many types of trees, grass, mold spores, etc... I mean the list goes on and on. We have also changed her food (even though she is not allergic to any foods) to a food with no grain or corn and have added probiotics to her diet. Allergies should be treated like an autoimmune disease. We bath her with Malaseb Shampoo that you can either purchase on-line or from your local vet. Also something to consider is could it be a thyroid problem? The only way to find that out would be by having a vet do a complete thyroid panel on your pup.

I would personally try shampooing your pup at least once a week with that medicated shampoo. Add in some probiotics and maybe some fish oil and try wiping your dog down after he/she comes in from outside. I have also heard of people using apple cider vinegar (natural) diluted in water to rinse your dog with after a bath. We also give our girl a tablespoon of local honey every day.

Hope some of this helps you. I know it's really frustrating and that you don't want to us the steroids but sometimes that is the only thing along with antibiotics that helps. If I can be of any other help please let me know. I understand where you are coming from. We go through it every spring/summer with our girl Sade.

Christie

cgmayeaux · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

Ok, se we went back to the vet. Bailey has allergies, which we already knew, but infection of his boo boo's seems to be the current problem. We went for a breakout of bumps amd crazy itching. We are on another round of Temoral P and Simplicef for a month. I am very uneasy about starting prednisone, but I don't want him to be miserable either. For those that have done allergy testing, is it worth it? Has anyone had success with Atopica?

weimdogmom · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

jers330 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:56 am Post subject:

atopica works wonders but its very expensive. is he on claritin? he could take 2 of those a day..generic name is loratidine (much cheaper). it really helped with my girl's allergies. (she used to be covered in bumps that itched like crazy)

scrbear11 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

Again- what food is he eating? Try switching him over to something with only fish in it and adding fish oil to his diet. See if that helps. He could be allergic to something in his food (usually it's the harder proteins- beef, pork, chicken, but could be grains, soy, wheat, etc.) and the summer time is when it acts up the most because of the heat. Zehen has been plagued with skin infections all his life, I switched him to Taste of the Wild Pacific Formula (it only has salmon and fish in it) and I add fish oil to his dinner every night and it has done wonders for his skin. No infections for two weeks now, and it seems like before every other week he was on a different steroid or antibiotic.

GailB · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:32 am Post subject:

jers330 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

yes it was recommended by her vet. i believe the dose is 20 mg per 80 lbs, so for bailey who weighs 75# the 20 mg dose is probably more appropriate than 1 pill (10mg).

as always, (disclaimer Wink

), every vet is different so i would definitely run any medication by your vet before giving it, but we did see a lot of improvement with jersey.

also (*VERY IMPORTANT*)...be sure you use Claritin and not Claritin-D which contains pseudoephedrine and can be very toxic to dogs.

CherrystoneWeims · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

Hmmm sounds like your dog may have a Staph infection caused by flea bites and the heat. It is quite common in Weims at this time of year. Flea bites dog, dirt and staph get into break in skin from bite = Staph infection in the skin.

I would use Malaseb shampoo (available at either the vet's office or online at revival pet supply) in addition to the oral antibiotics. Do NOT use steroids as it will exacerbate the problem many times.

Many vets will only treat the issue systemically and not topically. Treatment must be twofold in order to combat Staph infection. A fellow club member did laboratory research on the treatment of Staph in dogs and found that treatment must be done with both oral antibiotics AND topical shampoo. The shampoo must be used so that the infection in the skin layers is also taken care of.

cgmayeaux · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:38 am Post subject: Frustrated

So we are on the second found of oral antibiotics and Temoral p. He was doing so well...now on half dose temoral p. I had to leave to go work in New Orleans for Gustav and left him with my parents. When I got back he had welps and red bumps all over his hind legs and belly. I am so frustrated. Does anyone think that nervousness is making this problem worse? I am at a breaking point. Wouls like to try and stay out of the vet and treat him myself for awhile and see if that makes any difference. Suggestions please.

anne · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

Home treatment, I would follow Cherrystone and pnch44's advice and while you are doing that work on his overall health, ie, change his food. I am not saying it's necessarily a "food allergy" but you'd be amazed what good food can "cure." And yes I think nerves can make it worse. Stress is very bad for the immune system.