Itchy Dog for 6 Months - All tests NEGATIVE - HELP!

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

It sounds like his quality of life isn't very good right now. It sounds like the vet has been trying to do the right things, but I think they are declaring him okay way too early. So I'd get a second opinion. Actually, probably best to just go straight to a dermatologist since it's so bad.

What was done to rule out allergies and systemic yeast issues?
Did the vet offer to go ahead and give steroids to try and stop the itch cycle for a bit?

They drew blood, did cultures, tested skin samples, had him on steroid pills (after doing an injection first) - no change. We have two vets - a woman and a man - both unaffiliated - both ran shot-gun work-ups (for the first 8 weeks we had him we had a visit with each per week - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$) - they don't know what else to do as we've seemed to rule everything out in terms of allergies...

[kjc]

Did they do a Bile Acid Test to check his liver function?

Sounds systemic... maybe oral meds will help... definitely time to see a derm specialist...

Many shampoos for sensitive skin contain oatmeal... and some pups are allergic to it... Maybe try coconut oil based shampoo as it is good for the skin and coat.

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by kjc

Have you tried a chicken and rice diet (homecooked) for a few days?

Chicken (in dog food) is at the top of the list of allergens in Yorkies.

When you used the Revolution, did you repeat the dose in 2-3 weeks? Did you see any improvement at all for a few days?

Do you use any plug in air freshners? Have new carpeting?

Does he itch in all parts of the house and outside... or is it worse in a particular room or outside?

Are you feeding him out of plastic food and water dishes?

Are you using oatmeal based shampoo on him? Do you use a conditioner?

Revolution had 3 doses - did the first and wrote down each administration; hence we did each of the 3 doses with 14 days to the dot between doses... 0 change.

He doesn't go outside. As I said, he was the "itchy one" of the pups when I was at the breeders house but papers stated he was healthy. Itching continued through treatments at my parents house (where we lived until moving an hour upstate to an apartment 4 weeks later - but continued to drive down back 1x a week to see the vet). We moved to a new apartment - he still itches....

...in every room...

As I stated above - we went as far as to try 3 different types of bowls and 3 different foods (eukanuba puppy hard, caesar puppy wet food, and in the beginning mighty dog until I read about the ingredients) - the bowls were 2 and one ceramic....

no air fresheners (we have asthma) - no perfume on me or my husband - and we've changed our sheets as well as are on a new bed now that we've moved and no change - also changed deodorant...

I've also tried oatmeal based lavender puppy wipes for sensitive skin, and tea-tree skin calm for dogs spray for itchy skin...no dice...

He doesn't itch to the point of pulling hair (like when itching his paws) - but still...

OH and they have us dosing his ears daily with ZYMOX OTIV 1.02OZ W/HYDROCOTISONE for apx 2 months...

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by kjc

Did they do a Bile Acid Test to check his liver function?

Sounds systemic... maybe oral meds will help... definitely time to see a derm specialist...

Many shampoos for sensitive skin contain oatmeal... and some pups are allergic to it... Maybe try coconut oil based shampoo as it is good for the skin and coat.

Done both. No change. Oral steroids have been administered until weened off for a month...no change.

I don't know about the liver...

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by kjc

Has he taken any oral meds for his yeast infection? (I'm assuming it's prednisone he had taken before)

Does he feel oily or gooey to touch and smell weird?

Yeast (Malassezia) Infections in Dogs

He's dry - dry coat, cottony - which is why the first thing we ruled out dandruff/dry scalp/flesh by first using the vets' prescription shampoo/conditioner for dry, itchy skin and he smells fine - the vet also is perplexed and smells him up and down (like lifts fur all over and pushes his own face into Rock Stars' coat and takes huge wiffs) and doesn't smell the yeast - in fact, the yeast that they did find was after found after a week-long culture to one of the skin scrapes...

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by 107barney

The dog needs to see a board certified veterinary dermatologist as soon as possible for an opinion. My dog was eating herself raw and the dermatologist got right to the issues since that is their specialty. Good luck.

He doesn't tear hair out (like when he is itching his paws) - he has no exposed 'legions' or scaled flesh or scabs...

[Wylie's Mom]

Have you tried Atopica yet? My Marcel has allergies - and his symptoms are always about the paws...he used to wake at 1am to bite his paws . We put him on Atopica and within a week, he was feeling so much better...it was amazing.

We did allergy testing in October, and started allergy shots. Going very well!

I can't recommend a Vet Derm highly enough.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh also, try Duoxo Chlor-Hex shampoo...worth a try...our vet derm prescribed it.

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Oh also, try Duoxo Chlor-Hex shampoo...worth a try...our vet derm prescribed it.

That's what we're using and have been since our first vet visit when we first got him..

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Rocky-Baby

He doesn't tear hair out (like when he is itching his paws) - he has no exposed 'legions' or scaled flesh or scabs...

My dog didn't either but she was very uncomfortable. We saw a vet dermatologist who treated her yeast and put her on Atopica and for the past several years she hasn't itched. Good luck.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Sounds like your vet should have referred you to a dermatologist long ago. It is a shame this poor baby has had months of this. I'll bet there are other YT'ers in your area that could recommend one if he won't. Good luck and your baby is in my prayers as itching can be almost as bad as pain due to the misery and stress of no relief. Keep us posted, please.

Also, I am so sorry you are going through so much yourself. It sounds like you truly have had a horrible time and have had about all you can take with your own health! And still, you are trying to get help for your baby. That is a true Yorkie mommie! God bless you and your husband and pup and hopefully YT prayers will help. Hugs from Tibbe and me!

[AGirlWithWheels]

Poor baby! We went through something similar with Holly until we went to the derm. Maybe it's time to take him to one. Our vet did everything too, and gave us several medications, but it wasn't until we went to the derm that we figured out it was mites. Also, have you tried a grain free food? California Natural is a good one, but now that Holly's skin is normal we switched to Innova Small Bites, and she LOVES it! I know diet is important when it comes to allergies as well.

[Rocky-Baby]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Sounds like your vet should have referred you to a dermatologist long ago. It is a shame this poor baby has had months of this. I'll bet there are other YT'ers in your area that could recommend one if he won't. Good luck and your baby is in my prayers as itching can be almost as bad as pain due to the misery and stress of no relief. Keep us posted, please.

Also, I am so sorry you are going through so much yourself. It sounds like you truly have had a horrible time and have had about all you can take with your own health! And still, you are trying to get help for your baby. That is a true Yorkie mommie! God bless you and your husband and pup and hopefully YT prayers will help. Hugs from Tibbe and me!

it's funny and kind of you to mention condolances in terms of my "terminal condition" (MD quote) - I've made multiple mentions of the hell I'm going through (I itch more than the dog because of the vascular legions literally eating holes through my epidermis from head to toe - not even thinking about what this disease is eating UNDER the skin because all surgeons are too hesitant to cut...) yet everyone is kind of over-reacting to his pain...I gotta say in all honesty I'd trade my life for his in a heart beat - because besides itching he has the life... the reason I care so much is because since this brain tumor just *landed* on my pituitary my hormones both rocketed while others plumetted and a week after my honey moon at age 23 doctors were insisting I get a radical hysterectomy (which I didn't do, thank god...but I haven't menstruated since my honeymoon...I'm turning 26 April 11th...) my biggest dream - the only thing that got me through a very, very difficult emotional and physically traumatizing childhood (or lack-there-of...) was that I could CREATE (what my vision of) *UNCONDITIONAL LOVE* by creating a LIFE...and from age 8 until I was diagnosed I'd watch TLC's "A BABY STORY" back-to-back everyday and I couldn't wait to get pregnant...I never thought I'd get anyone to commit to loving me unless I physically gave them birth hence they'd *have to* love me out of gratitude... and then it was all gone ... then we got a yorkie and were bate-and-switched - the dog turned out to have canine epilepsy and after trying to kill us about 50-100 times in a complex partial seizure-like state we finally agreed with the vet that he be euthanized...and it took us over 2 years before we even SPOKE about getting another dog...now it just seems everything I touch turns to sh*t ...

[Teegy]

Could he be allergic to the yeast or dyes in the food you feed him?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Rocky-Baby

it's funny and kind of you to mention condolances in terms of my "terminal condition" (MD quote) - I've made multiple mentions of the hell I'm going through (I itch more than the dog because of the vascular legions literally eating holes through my epidermis from head to toe - not even thinking about what this disease is eating UNDER the skin because all surgeons are too hesitant to cut...) yet everyone is kind of over-reacting to his pain...I gotta say in all honesty I'd trade my life for his in a heart beat - because besides itching he has the life... the reason I care so much is because since this brain tumor just *landed* on my pituitary my hormones both rocketed while others plumetted and a week after my honey moon at age 23 doctors were insisting I get a radical hysterectomy (which I didn't do, thank god...but I haven't menstruated since my honeymoon...I'm turning 26 April 11th...) my biggest dream - the only thing that got me through a very, very difficult emotional and physically traumatizing childhood (or lack-there-of...) was that I could CREATE (what my vision of) *UNCONDITIONAL LOVE* by creating a LIFE...and from age 8 until I was diagnosed I'd watch TLC's "A BABY STORY" back-to-back everyday and I couldn't wait to get pregnant...I never thought I'd get anyone to commit to loving me unless I physically gave them birth hence they'd *have to* love me out of gratitude... and then it was all gone ... then we got a yorkie and were bate-and-switched - the dog turned out to have canine epilepsy and after trying to kill us about 50-100 times in a complex partial seizure-like state we finally agreed with the vet that he be euthanized...and it took us over 2 years before we even SPOKE about getting another dog...now it just seems everything I touch turns to sh*t ...

Oh, it sounds like you have had such a bad life with way to much horror for any single person to handle in a whole lifetime - let alone such a young and loving person! The pain you describe is palpable and no wonder you are feeling so desperate. There are no words I can use to say how sorry I am that such a nice person is having to endure such things as you live through daily and who can blame you for wondering why your life has had such misery. It seems that some of the people in this world who really live the most meaningful lives are those who have known great pain and illness and fought their way through somehow. I will pray that your own medical conditions can be successfully treated and that you will come through these awful times strong and true. I believe in the power of prayer.
Please keep us posted with updates and let us know how things are going.