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Itchy skin...

4K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  mydawgz 
#1 ·
My lovely puppy betsy who is 10 months old, is scratching all the time, at her ears, her nose, front legs, biting her back legs, the full works really. We have had her at the vets and he prescribed her some antibiotics, it didn't stop the scratching so we went on steroids.. Brilliant stopped scratching when she finished the course betsy was back to scratching again so he prescribed more antibiotics and Piriton as because of he age he didn't want to do anther course of steroids She has finished her anti biotics and prition today and hasn't stopped really the whole way through the course we have been given malaseb shampoo and advised to bath her every 3 days if this doesn't work the vet wants us to see a dermatologist. We don't have a problem with this but we are already seeing a animal behaviourist because she is a very timid dog so if anyone has advice or can recommend anything would be very much appreciated. Thankyou


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#2 ·
Betsy may have allergies. A co-worker's pup (not a basset) has big allergies with both fleas and grass (Grass! really sucks for a dog). she is managing it with both diet and meds. Callie (her dog) generally is coping well with these adjustments.

She did not take her dog to the dermo for all the testing, just kinda' figured it out thru elimination. If you want more details, I will ask her what exactly she is doing to help Callie.
 
#4 ·
The antibiotics would have been given to help her sores heal, without picking up infection. It would not stop or prevent itching. The steroids, antiinflammatories would have been to help the irritation. And although there is a long-lasting injection (usually holds for 4 months, if you are lucky) this isn't something I'd necessarily recommend for a puppy much as she's now older. Piraton, obviously, is good for an allergic reaction such as a wasp or bee sting - we keep some in the house always.

If you are in the UK, there are some lines (strangely more often in the bicolours than the tricolours, but that may still be down to genetics - those lines run within bicoloured hounds) which are more prone to skin problems than others. However, as good skin and coat comes from within, and with allergies, you should always look at the diet, I'd do just that. Cut out anything with cereals in it, at least starting with cereals as the first, main incredient. And there has in the past been some suggestion of overheating the blood via too much protein - the protein level in a dog approaching adulthood, would probably only need to be 26% maximum.

Malaseb, used to control malassezia, I've found, can do more harm than good, especially unless used quite diluted. Mine reacted with more red skin than before! There is aother produce called DermOpt, cheaper and off prescription, which seems to be milder.

Anyhow, by all means find a vet who specialises in skin conditions, but I'd also consider switching her onto a different food - suggest fish and potato. I use Arden Grange (UK) Sensitive. It's costly, but is gentle on the system (helped no end with my boy who had Giardia with lasting after-effects) and contains no cereal. You could make up a home-made fish and potato diet, using coley and mashed potato. AG Sensitive, which uses Hadock and potato, does contain all the supplements a dog needs, especially on that's still growing.

I hope you can sort this out because an itchy dog must be so miserable, to say nothing of it being irritating to live with one who is continually scratching :)
 
#5 ·
Owning an older dog with skin issues which we've battled against over the years, I would really recommend getting (if possible) to the cause of it now by seeing a specialist - it may not be cheap, is anything - but you should get some idea rather than topicaly treating it in the years to come.

Uncomfortable for the dog & on your pocket. Not a fan of Malaseb either, strips coat of any oil & left our dogs very very red, have also seen somewhere that it should be used with gloves :eek:.
 
#6 ·
We feel for Betsy and you! Like VV our youngest Margot (7yo) has had skin problems since she was Betsy's age. Unfortunately she is one of those that FM mentioned - bum litter from a v. good breeder (it has been bred out).
Definitely start with diet. I get the feeling you are in the UK and if you're feeding kibble just switch to a good quality wet food like Nature's Menu or Arden Grange they do a decent enough wet food. Kibble just doesn't agree with some dogs...
Also omega 3 can help. We've done well with Yumega Plus. It has a good mix of Omega 3 and 6 along with vit E
Bathing is a big part of it! Malaseb is so harsh even diluted especially with flared skin. We've done well with organic tea tree oil shamapoo and Netrogena T (tar) shampo). Be sure to shampoo all the wrinkly bits and in between the toes and rinse super well. After a good rinse of half water and half white vinegar helps to get rid of all the residue.
It's great your vet knows his limitations and suggested a specialist (unfortunately many don't!). I'd definitely see a dermatologist if it doesn't clear up. I hope Betsy gets better and please let us know how she's doing :)
 
#7 ·
It has taken me 10 years and 3 hounds to discover Vetalog. Riley was itching and biting himself day and night. He does it every year beginning in sept and it is non stop through November. I tried everything... Benadryl ...aloe..medicated shampoo.switching foods.... I took him to the vet and I was expecting an expensive bottle of pills that make him pee everywhere. To my surprise, she gave him a shot of Vetalog. She said it would gradually improve within 48 hours. I noticed a big difference within 6 hours or so. It's been 48 hours and its totally gone. No side effects at all. He was covered with hot spots and his belly was red and raw looking. Is this a new drug for dermatitis? Has anyone else had any experience with it? I can't believe the difference. The vet visit and the shot came to 54.00.


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#8 ·
We have tried yumega but it didn't agree with her and made her sick so that's not worked. We have changed her food 3 times now we are on wainwright a which is potato and salmon but but thy doesn't seem to be helping, and she's gone off her food all together( not ill because she is still desperate for human food) which we don't give her anymore as we are trying to cut out to see if that helps. I wil try the tea tree shampoo from now and see how we to with that. She is bi coloured as well. Oh my poor betsy. She just about to go for a nice long walk in the fields so she will be happy whilst she's there ❤ Thankyou for all your advice x


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#10 ·
Hi Franksmum...I have never heard of Yumega either. I am not sure if the Vetalog is available in the UK as I had never heard of it here in the States until they gave it to Riley. He didnt have any side effects and the relief was almost immediate. I took him on Thursday and by last night, he didn't even have the smallest trace of anything red on his belly. He was totally inflamed when I took him Thursday. Bright red spots in the armpits and chewing constantly. If I had to compare it to something on a human, I would say it looked like the worst case of diaper rash I had ever seen. The vet asked me if I wanted him to take pills or get the shot. I selected the shot because I wanted him to have relief as fast as I could get it for him. I have spent so much money for years on trial and error and months of watching him miserable. I am sure everyone's hounds may react different, but for now this has been a gift from above for Riley.


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