Itchly, oily skin with terrible smell after going outside!!!

[texaszoe]

I am new to Yorkie Talk and decided to seek out people who care. I need help and the vet just prescribes steroids and I know where that is going!!!
Zoe is about 9 years old and has always had itchy skin. I have tried everything I have read on the internet, Dinovite, green bean diet, shampooing with Selsum Blue Shampoo, feeding her yogurt and probiotics. She is the worst this summer I have seen. Her hair is rubbed off her back from scrating, her skin is rough and oily and she smells terrible after being outdoors for a second. Has anyone has this problem and solved it? She is miserable and it makes me so sad. Thanks, Zoe in Texas (she is Zoe)

[MyMolly]

Hello! I have been having hair issues with Molly and have been given wonderful advise from the YT family I have within the last week changed Molly's diet to Natural Balance Venison & Sweet potato and also changed her shampoo to Tropiclean hypoallergenic. My problem with Molly is that she has shorter hair(looks like it has been shaved) on her hind legs than the rest of her body & had some shedding. After researching many days & hours I found the best solution was to change the diet & shampoo and see how things go from there. My vet also gave me a Allerg-3 (omega 3) tab to put in her food daily. I poke a hole in the pill and squeeze the liquid onto her food in the morning. I hope that some of this helps b/c I have been so frustrated these last few weeks trying to find a solution to our problem.

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by texaszoe

I am new to Yorkie Talk and decided to seek out people who care. I need help and the vet just prescribes steroids and I know where that is going!!!
Zoe is about 9 years old and has always had itchy skin. I have tried everything I have read on the internet, Dinovite, green bean diet, shampooing with Selsum Blue Shampoo, feeding her yogurt and probiotics. She is the worst this summer I have seen. Her hair is rubbed off her back from scrating, her skin is rough and oily and she smells terrible after being outdoors for a second. Has anyone has this problem and solved it? She is miserable and it makes me so sad. Thanks, Zoe in Texas (she is Zoe)

Did a vet tell you to use the Selsun blue? I was under the impression that you should never use people shampoo on a dog because their skin's pH balance is different than ours. Selsun blue has selinium disulfide, which is used to treat fungal infections. Unless she has that kind of infection, you could be perpetuating the dry skin/oily coat cycle by stripping the skin's acid mantel.

[stingraylady]

I have same problem with my cat. She licks her belly almost raw, so she is on prednisone. Tough decision because of side effects, but I can't let her self mutilate. Sometimes it's very hard to narrow down what is causing the problem.

[Wylie's Mom]

So she has seasonal allergies, I'm kinda assuming?

Have you tried Atopica yet? It can be just great for many dogs w/ allergies.

[stingraylady]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

So she has seasonal allergies, I'm kinda assuming?

Have you tried Atopica yet? It can be just great for many dogs w/ allergies.

I tried Atopica for my cat, and she developed tremors, which is one of the side effects. Apparently it is a rare side effect, but just worth mentioning.

[texaszoe]

Originally Posted by MyMolly

Hello! I have been having hair issues with Molly and have been given wonderful advise from the YT family I have within the last week changed Molly's diet to Natural Balance Venison & Sweet potato and also changed her shampoo to Tropiclean hypoallergenic. My problem with Molly is that she has shorter hair(looks like it has been shaved) on her hind legs than the rest of her body & had some shedding. After researching many days & hours I found the best solution was to change the diet & shampoo and see how things go from there. My vet also gave me a Allerg-3 (omega 3) tab to put in her food daily. I poke a hole in the pill and squeeze the liquid onto her food in the morning. I hope that some of this helps b/c I have been so frustrated these last few weeks trying to find a solution to our problem.

Thanks, for all your kind input. I appreciate it so much!!! Our yorkies may have different conditions. Zoe is not losing any hair, she scratches on a piece of furniture until the hair is gone. I have been told to do the Omega 3 by my Vet and will start that up again. I will try the dog food, also because what I am doing now certainly is not helping. The reason I tried the Selsum Blue was because someone told me it would kill yeast, if this was a yeast infection. I will try one thing at a time, tp see what happens. Omega 3 starts again tomorrow. Thanks, Zoe's MOM

[texaszoe]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Did a vet tell you to use the Selsun blue? I was under the impression that you should never use people shampoo on a dog because their skin's pH balance is different than ours. Selsun blue has selinium disulfide, which is used to treat fungal infections. Unless she has that kind of infection, you could be perpetuating the dry skin/oily coat cycle by stripping the skin's acid mantel.

I read it on a internet site dealing with Dog Yeast infections of the skin. I have stopped it since it is not helping and gone back to a soothing type shampoo, all natural. It has never seemed to make a differnce with anything topical, it has to be systemic. I will try some of my new friends suggestions and see what happens. Thanks so much!!!

[texaszoe]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

So she has seasonal allergies, I'm kinda assuming?

Have you tried Atopica yet? It can be just great for many dogs w/ allergies.

No, I have never heard of this. If it is a pharmaceutical, I would rather try other things first. but I am grateful to have another option. I will write it down and ask my vet when we go in next. I appreciate ther suggestion!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by texaszoe

No, I have never heard of this. If it is a pharmaceutical, I would rather try other things first. but I am grateful to have another option. I will write it down and ask my vet when we go in next. I appreciate ther suggestion!

No problem - I hope you find something that works, allergies are so miserable for these babies. My Marcel was having such bad pollen allergies too - he would wake up at 1am to chew/lick his paws -- we went to a Vet Dermatologist, put him in on Atopica and it's just made a world of difference! He only takes it 3x a week now. Some dogs only need it 2x week, but I feel Marcel has more breakthrough symptoms at that dose.