Chronic skin itching, paw biting, loss of hair

[Lolita2012]

Happy New Year to all!!!

So, my Lolita has been dealing with chronic skin itch that comes and goes for a few years now, but lately it’s gotten worse. We keep her with a shirt or pajamas on all the time, otherwise she would hurt herself chewing and scratching and pulling her hair out.
We’ve taken her to the vet, and they gave her injections of cytopoint which help at first but later stop working. We’ve tried changing her diet, but nothing has helped her. In the last couple of weeks, she started chewing and biting her paws and they have turned black/blue (see photos). We have also put her on Zesty Paws Probiotics for Dogs, but it doesn’t seem to help much.
Lolita will be turning 11 this March, she eats well and lover her walks. Her energy level has dropped in the last couple of years, but we assume it’s her age. She doesn’t have any other issues except for the skin itch and now her paws.
Does anyone here have any experience with this? Any advice it appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[kjc]

My vet has prescribed Nexgard for Chloe’s flea allergy, and the off label use to treat demodectic mange. He also prescribed Apoquel. I get the higher dose tablets and cut them into 8 doses to make it more affordable. We also tried the injectable with good results for 1-2 weeks, so back to the Apoquel.

Chloe still has weepy ears and anal gland issues common to dogs with allergies. Last month during her yearly health check, I asked the vet about using Goodwinol ointment (old school tx for mange) and other shampoo RenuPlex I found on Amazon (great reviews but I haven’t tried it). The Goodwinol is helping immensely, seeing hair regrowth and less itching, ears are looking normal and worked with one application. I will bathe her today and post results. Wish us luck!

[Lovetodream88]

The cytopoint shot has to be given every 4-6 weeks it's not like a one and done deal. You really need to get her back to the vet and to a dermatologist. Has she been checked for other things that can cause skin issues like hypothyroidism?

[ladyjane]

Poor baby girl. That is dreadful looking!

I have two allergy pups, one is a foster and one is mine. I FINALLY found an answer for both of them. Dermoscent but you must apply it weekly and it takes about 6 weeks to improve. I also use the Dermoscent Atop 7 shampoo. They both must be bathed weekly! You have to time the topical and the baths. The difference in both of these pups is amazing! She also may benefit from applying Duoxo mousse to her feet daily.. Your vet should guide you on that. Here is the Dermoscent spot treatment: https://www.chewy.com/dermoscent-ess...ent=Dermoscent

Forget the diet thing.....very rare for skin infections like this to be due to food.

At this point, your pup needs to see a vet ASAP and they will need to do skin scrapings to see if she has yeast or bacterial infection. She needs to be treated and needs Cytapoint again although she may need a steroid injection since it has gotten so bad. Please, please get her in, she must be miserable.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Poor baby girl. That is dreadful looking!

I have two allergy pups, one is a foster and one is mine. I FINALLY found an answer for both of them. Dermoscent but you must apply it weekly and it takes about 6 weeks to improve. I also use the Dermoscent Atop 7 shampoo. They both must be bathed weekly! You have to time the topical and the baths. The difference in both of these pups is amazing! She also may benefit from applying Duoxo mousse to her feet daily.. Your vet should guide you on that. Here is the Dermoscent spot treatment: https://www.chewy.com/dermoscent-ess...ent=Dermoscent

Forget the diet thing.....very rare for skin infections like this to be due to food.

At this point, your pup needs to see a vet ASAP and they will need to do skin scrapings to see if she has yeast or bacterial infection. She needs to be treated and needs Cytapoint again although she may need a steroid injection since it has gotten so bad. Please, please get her in, she must be miserable.

The Dermoscent topical has many of the same ingredients as the RenuPlex shampoo! This makes me very optimistic about this shampoo.

[kjc]

Chloe did great! The RenuPlex smells wonderful, very minty. Chloe tolerated it well, as mint can make the skin feel tingley. It left her coat super shiny. She was still a bit itchy last night, so I gave her a dose of Apoquel to get her through the night.
She also wears a t shirt all the time, and she sleeps in our bed, under the covers, snuggled next to one of her humans. I have noticed she is less itchy when she is warm, like under a blanket or on someone’s lap.
I have to buy her some more onsies, I couldn’t find one in the house without holes scratched in it.

This morning, her skin looks improved, (not as red, irritated, no blood) and she is scratching a lot less, hardly at all. They recommend 3 baths weekly for the first two weeks, then once a week or as needed. Praying this continues to work!

[kjc]

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[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by kjc

Chloe did great! The RenuPlex smells wonderful, very minty. Chloe tolerated it well, as mint can make the skin feel tingley. It left her coat super shiny. She was still a bit itchy last night, so I gave her a dose of Apoquel to get her through the night.
She also wears a t shirt all the time, and she sleeps in our bed, under the covers, snuggled next to one of her humans. I have noticed she is less itchy when she is warm, like under a blanket or on someone’s lap.
I have to buy her some more onsies, I couldn’t find one in the house without holes scratched in it.

This morning, her skin looks improved, (not as red, irritated, no blood) and she is scratching a lot less, hardly at all. They recommend 3 baths weekly for the first two weeks, then once a week or as needed. Praying this continues to work!

I had missed your post. I HIGHLY recommend the spot treatment by Dermoscent. You have to be patient with it as it takes time to work. I tried once and didn't do it long enough....then, went back to it and hung in and it is amazing!

Glad the shampoo helped. If it does not continue, I would try the Atop7 by Dermoscent. It is amazing, too.

If I were you, I would try not to cover her so much. I had a pup that ended up getting worse from wearing shirts all the time.