Basset Hounds Forum banner

Stop itching

21K views 29 replies 12 participants last post by  Herzo 
#1 ·
I love my two yr old basset hound virgil but Im running out of options on what to do to make him a happier dog and me a happier owner. I can't afford these weekly vet visits, that cost anywhere from $100-$300 week. For the past yr he has had many of issues but the major one that I need help on is his skin problem.
We finally found out two weeks ago that he has thyroid disease so I thought we were on a uphill road, but not so much. I was told thyroid disease causes skin problems so I thought the pills he has to take twice a day would help, so far they haven't. But I'm still hopeful. He has many other issues described as symptoms of T.D. Such as overweight (74poinds at two yrs) etc. So I was almost relieved to find treatment answer for him.
But so far I'm still concerned about his constant itching of mostly his belly. To the point he has itched all of his hair off and skin is raw, beat red, little bumps, and sometimes little scabs, almost like he gets inverted nipples. The skin also under his armpits, near his peter, etc. look like black little dirt or scabs but is where he itches the most. Its not dirt though it's an irritation.
He has learned to army crawl and his belly on the carpet to itch his belly (which was cut at first) but if hes not eating or sleeping he's itching and trying to eat his paws off cuz he's soooo itchy. He cant even play like he use to anymore and barely listens to me as he just sits there and itches and stares at me.
As of last night I put a t shirt on him and it has helped him from not itching for now, makes me think it's more of a contact allergy to our carpet because When I took it off he started in again and even was sneezing constantly (which is new he didn't have that symptom the last yr with the itch)
We also just switched his food to the most expensive $80bag hyperalleginic food couple days ago to see if that would work. To soon to tell.
Lthrough out the last yr we have had him on diff strengths of steroid and other pills to help with the inflammation on belly etc. the last pills he was on was atopica which is $200 mth and didn't work either. The steroid helped him to not itch at first but eventually gave him aggressive side effects and crazy behavior and horrible hunger attitutdes. He would eat everything in my back yard, even tried eating the bark off the trees, ate all my hosta plants, etc.
So we are still dealing with him having the nasty gas ever. That hasn't got better for last couple mths he just constantly smells like a fart even after bathing him. Every time he moves he is farting. My fiancé can't even be in the same room as him anymore because he claims he will throw up due to the smell. Which he follows me everywhere, so my fiancé is a bit annoyed and to be honest I'm stressed. I don't know what to do. Keep him in a t shirt the rest of his life?
Has anyone else had issues like this?
 
See less See more
#27 ·
I will give the fish oil a try for sure. I think I just over fed him when on the grain free. I did not reduce the portions enough I think. When I picked him up from day camp this evening, I noticed they had Garlic Bagel bites on the shelf for dogs. They sell all sorts of dog treats and food etc, but I could not imagine doggy garlic breath... Lol. It would not mesh with his diet anyway. I will keep you posted on the fish oil.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App
 
#28 ·
Yes keep use posted how it works for you and if it makes any difference. I'll tell you I learned the hard way not to let them get over weight with my first basset. It's hard once they get fat to get them down.

I'm very careful now and monitor them all the time. A little less this day a little more that day.
 
#29 ·
So I wanted to update everyone on Virgils itching. We finally spent the money on allergy test. He is allergic to a few things. Storage mold, what's found I his dog food bags or food containers. So I've been keeping his food in the freezer in sealed ziplocks or containers to help manage this. Also allergic to cat dander, we don't have cat but prior owners of house did. Dust nights, so wrapping his dog bed in garbage bags under the bed pillow case, changing frequently in addition to washing bedding in hot water everyothervday. Also trying to avoid him from sleeping with us as we have dry skin tht causes dust nights. Also llergic to a fantasy word that means soil. That us basically unpreventabe. After ground thaws we may rip out allof our pretty hosta plants that he likes to play in. But the allergy accuse we got is pricey but wrth it it. I think it was$400 for 5mths supply, which I was spending bout $400 mth in meds n vet visits prior. (right before allergy testing h developed staff from itching so much too). Signs of improvement were supposed to start at 3mth in but I already see a good change, still itchy at night but not nearly a bad. Only put the shirt on him maybe 1to 2 times week as needed when he flares up. Been trying to exercise him more and wear him down so he's not itching due to bored ism too. But he has way more energy than me lol. That's a challenge during winter weather. Ie been bathing him weekly with the oatmeal vet prescribed shampoo. He isnrt gays anymore but does have frito/dirty sock smell worst the ever! His armpits still sweat a lot. Still on allergen free z to d dog food.
 
#30 ·
I'm so glad you came back with an update, there are far to many people that leave use hanging.

I'm glad he seems to be doing better but like me you have a way to go. I am dealing with Turtles ears once again, long story. I have started giving her apple cider vinegar with the mother in it. We'll see how that goes. She was put on a pill koto something would have to look it up and it took all her pink belly and arm pits away. I have to get a picture but her ears are still bad. I have to take her to the vet and see just what I am dealing with.

I hate to be such a bore but you are going to need to get him off the hill's diet food there is no way that stuff is good long term. Maybe try California lamb and rice or something. I didn't reread this thread so I don't know if this was mentioned but what do you use to clean with? this can also be a problem so I am starting to use vinegar and baking soda and such for cleaning.

The soil is a tough one is it something in the soil or just the soil itself? I don't know if Turtle is allergic to anything environment or not, that would be very hard.

And here's another if it were my dog and I know there are some going to come down hard on me but I would not be giving any more shots at all. I caved and did a rabies on Turtle because she had not had one for 5 years while I was dealing with her ears so when I got them cleared the first time I gave her one. I will not be doing it again ever.

The more I study on this the more I believe it contributes to their allergy's.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top