Does my new rescue boy have back & skin issues?

[Menna]

I just adopted a Yorkie a few days ago. It took about one day to tell this dog was special! He's the best behaved, sweetest dog I've ever owned. I learn some new everyday. He can sit, shake, play dead. He actually charmed my Chihuahua into being his friend in two day! A feat most dogs never achieve!
I can't understand why anyone would abandon a dog, especially this one. Now, I'm wondering if it may have been for health issues. He has very bad skin allergies. I read Back problems in Yorkies are common. He's about 8 lbs. and doesn't like jumping up on the ottoman. He should be able to easily. At first I thought he was trained to stay off the furniture. Now IDK. Next, when he sits he doesn't like it. I thought he was being stubborn, now I wonder. He also wants to sleep in my lap, but sometimes he sits in my lap and fall asleep. I don't know his behaviors yet to know what's normal. On the other had he likes to walk briskly, run, and tumble with my Chi. Àre these behaviors signs of back trouble?
On a side note his skin alergies are so bad he's chewed the hair off his lower front legs and the hot spot on his back is a scaby flakey mess. Also, many other irritated spots on him I can't get into the vet for a few days. For now I'm bathing him with oatmeal shampoo. I read how to make a paste and let it sit for 10 minutes. IT TOOK FOREVER to get it out of his hair! I eventually had to shampoo him twice and spray him with detangler which I rinsed off after I combed him out. What did I do wrong?

[cindersellie]

Have you had him to the vet yet? They can help with skin issues, suggest other treatments for him. I don't know about back problems. If he's wrestling with your Chi, and being ok with that, maybe he's just trying to figure out what's expected of him? I don't know, he seems like he's trying to be a good boy though, and he's getting along with your other dog. I'd take him to the vet for the skin issues, for sure!

[cindersellie]

I saw your going to the vet... Sorry! I'll bump this again so others can see your post and suggest something for you to do until you get into the vet.

[sandy simpson]

Diet plays a big role in yorkie health. Whis is he eating. My derm doc said to feed a venison base food. No corn wheat. Dog skin got so much better. Try this or go straight to the derm doc. Reg. Vets do steroids do not keep doing that.

[dottiesyrky]

Welcome to you and your little adopted baby. So sorry he has the skin issues but you are doing all you can to relieve his distress. But as others say, only a vet can definitively diagnose and treat him and you will be doing that soon.
I wasn't aware that back problems were that common Yorkie problems, but bad knees are fairly common. Could his legs or knees be giving him pain when sitting or jumping?
Usually a new pet takes some time to settle in and I hope he will soon be well and be a happy new member of your family. Please keep us updated on how he is doing. Get well soon little one.

[Iluvalldogs]

Bless you for adopting your special little one.

My Yorkies have always been rescues as well, and they are quite different than Yorkies you get from reputable breeders.

Because you don't know their history - if they've been abused, what they've witnessed, what they've had to face on a daily basis - it can sometimes take a long time for them to understand what having a loving home is all about. Even the small things like coming across the threshold of a door can be scary for them.

Both my rescue girls love sleeping. They had never done anything but sleep, they were used for breeding only, kept in wire cages and never felt the loving hand of a person. So for them, sleeping a lot was something they have always done.

Neither of our girls ever learned to jump up and down off of furniture - they've never been on a sofa or in a bed, so jumping up and down from anything is something they never do. Our Chihuahuas on the other hand, LOVE jumping around like Mexican jumping beans. LOL! Our rescue girls also have difficult determining perception, what's dangerous, etc. They also do not like using grass - they prefer our driveway or sidewalk.

Our rescue babies also can't walk up and down stairs. Rescues are precious babies but they have been faced with so much and sometimes they never act like a little one raised in a loving home from a pup.

As for his skin, I always like to work from the inside out - so making sure our girls had the best food was first for us. No wheat, soy, gluten, grain, artifical colors/preservatives, etc. if you want to be on the safe side. There is also natural remedies that have worked wonders for us. First is fish oil - you can give it in a dropper or put some on their food. I got a large bottle from our vet and give it to all our babies. Makes their fur extra soft and soothes their skin. Also good for the heart.

I've also used a liquid called "Skin Aid" (Moist Dermatitis)- you can purchase this from most family pharmacies or natural herb stores. You can give up to 15 drops in their water or 4 drops by mouth daily. This really helped our Yorkie who had very serious dry flaky skin - she continuously itched and scratched herself and would chew her feet. A few days of the skin aid and it really helped her heal up.

As with anything I guess consistency is key in getting our rescue babies up to par health-wise. And its always great doing a complete checkup, bloodwork, etc. at your vet just to find out if there are any underlying health issues - just another thing that can be questionable with a rescue since we don't know their entire history.

Rescues take lots of work, love, patience but they love so much more in return.

Sorry for the long post! I didn't realize how long it was until I was finished.

I am so glad your new boy has a wonderful caring home, bless you for opening your heart and home to him. Thank you! I know your new boy will have the best love and care possible.

[crazydoglade]

We have a little llasha in our rescue group, Benson. We got him at an expofrom a local shelter. They had ask us to take him or he would be put down because of skin conditions. The ends of his ears, the lower half of his tail and multple areas of his back and sides were a scaley, dry mess. No hair would grow. I kept him for the first 2-3 weeks and started a bathing routine that seemed to work. The first week I bathed him daily with the lemon grass medicated shampoo from pet smart. The brand is top paw. Then I used an oatmeal conditioner. The shampoo has aloe vera which seems to be soothing and chlorohexidine which is effective against bacteria, yeast and fungus. When you're through rinsing rinse again. The next week I switched to every other day and then every 3-4 days. Now I pick him up from his present foster home and bath him once a week. He loves it. He'll follow me to the tub and lay down until the water is ready. I assume it feels good. His hair has grown back completely and his coat is beautiful. I' ve fostered a lot of puppy mill dogs and most of them have some type of fungal or bacterial skin conditions. I also agree with a healthy diet. Good quality food with no wheat, corn or soy.

[ladyjane]

The first place to go is a vet! Then, take things from there.

Good luck and welcome to YT.

[bjh]

Welcome to YT. Hopefully your boy will improve with a lot of TLC. Hopefully getting regular baths will help him. Also got easy on the vaccinations at his age. Over vaccinating can cause skin problems too. You might want to try an olive oil, coconut oil or emu oil shampoo on him.

As for the jumping on the furniture, just give him a little time. It is possible his former owners did not allow him on furniture. He sounds like a real sweetie.

Hopefully you can share pictures soon. Best of luck with your new boy.

[ladyjane]

Always, always go to a vet first thing when you have a new pup; especially an owner surrender. I have learned from experience that MOST people surrendering pup are not totally honest. Now that does not mean something is wrong, but the best way to evaluate is to go to the vet.....get baseline blood work done so that you have something to go by.
Did the previous owner give you any vet records..records of shots and all? If so, take them to your vet and put a copy on the records.

[ladyjane]

I might also add that he needs to be seen based upon symptoms. We cannot assume he is acting different because he is new to your home. If you suspect he has some discomfort only a thorough exam by a vet and possibly xrays will tell you if there is an issue going on. Could be hips, could be knees...could be back....could be no problem at all. Best to let the vet determine that.

As for allergies, usually the first thing I would think of is fleas...did he have any when you got him? Then next thing to look at is environmental. The blood test for environmenatl allergies is reliable. The one for food allergies is not. That would require a food elimination diet. Most pups have environmental allergies and that is easy to find out...but the test is a bit costly. There are meds that can be given for allergies, but personally, I would want to know first what it is.

Bottom line: Make a vet appointment !

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by bjh

Welcome to YT. Hopefully your boy will improve with a lot of TLC. Hopefully getting regular baths will help him. Also got easy on the vaccinations at his age. Over vaccinating can cause skin problems too. You might want to try an olive oil, coconut oil or emu oil shampoo on him.

As for the jumping on the furniture, just give him a little time. It is possible his former owners did not allow him on furniture. He sounds like a real sweetie.

Hopefully you can share pictures soon. Best of luck with your new boy.

What age? I missed his age. ?? The thing that I would want to know here is whether or not he has had any at all. I hope the OP has vet records.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

What age? I missed his age. ?? The thing that I would want to know here is whether or not he has had any at all. I hope the OP has vet records.

You are right she never said his age, just that he is 8 lbs. I would like to know his age too.

[Menna]

Sorry left that out! He is 2-3 years according to the vet. He was found as a stray so no records. He does not have fleas now but did. He is on Frontline Plus from the rescue. His worst spots are lower back large scabby flaky patch and small one inside one ear. No hair just above both front lower legs where he chews. A few small spots in various places on his body. They feel like worts but are little scabs. Oatmeal shampoo seems to help. I am transitioning him to Duck Sweet Potato Fromm dog food.

[ladyjane]

Oatmeal shampoo is not something I would use. I think it is over rated. If his skin is that irritated, he probably should be bathed in a medicated shampoo that you can get at the vet.
All of this could have started from the fleas. Only time will tell you about that.
The vet did not think that a skin infection is possible? He might need antibiotics.
I am saddened that the rescue adopted him out like this...it's a shame they did not vet him thoroughly and take care of his medical issues first.