Scratching/Chewing/Redness and Sores!!
 

Hello All ! I have 2 Yorkies, male and female. The male is 1 1/2 yrs. old, and based on what I've read about yorkies, apparently has the "typical" yorkie skin conditions/allergies.:( I believe he's allergic to fleas and grass, so I bathe him (and my female) once a week and brush them alot and use natural products to keep the fleas at bay (neem oil added to shampoo/clove oil spray, etc.). I've ordered some special shampoo and spray for sensitive skin to see if that will help with the red patches that he chews on which in turn, causes sores and hair loss. My question is does anyone know of something internal that yorkies can take (preferably something natural) that may help keep allergies/redness/itching at bay? I know it's not caused by any of the products I am currently using because I've already done the elimination process on those.

As a side note - they do get Vitamin E every day (I break a capsule open and squeeze it on a piece of bread) and also, I'm going to get brewer's yeast and add to their dog food, which I've read helps keep fleas away because fleas don't like the way it tastes. Also, I have started giving him Benadryl to see if that will help with the allergy part of it, but since I just started that, I haven't had a chance to tell if that is helping yet.

Any help you all may be able to offer for this redness/scratching and chewing will be greatly appreciated !!!!:)

Welcome to YT!!!

Poor little guy. If he is getting sores, he truly needs to be seen by a vet to get a diagnosis and prevent this from turning into a staph infection.

For allergies, the options are OTC anti-hists (so so on effectiveness usually), Temaril-P, Atopica, steroids, or allergy testing/shots.

Fish oil is recommended by derms for allergy dogs, as well as prescritption shampoos.

We see a Vet Derm and they are FANTASTIC! :)

Thanks Wylie's Mom ! When you say Fish Oil, do you mean taken internally, or rubbed externally on the skin ? Also, I've never heard of a Vet Derm -- I suppose they are vets who specialize in animal dermatology (?) I'll have to google and see if I have one in my area.

Yes, there are dermatology specialists for animals and I agree this is who your little one needs to see. They can help diagnose and determine exactly what's causing his itching so that he can have relief.

I meant fish oil taken internally. A nice one is Ark Naturals Royal Coat - it has the Omegas, plus it already has the 10 IU Vit E in it too. Fish oils rarely seem to be a cure, but Derms do like allergy dogs on them.

Vet Derms are wonderful! They will cost more - however - what I spent going to the regular vet over and over and over for skin issues, could have been done in 1 or 2 vet derm appt's.

Lily has some similar symptoms. We are getting ready to go see a dermatologist.

What we do for her is bathe often using a mild soap-free shampoo (we use Tropiclean). We also use Clorohexdine (or similar) it's a blue liquid available OTC at the pet store. It helps to reduce the itch (it's topical NOT oral). We sometimes give her Benedryl.

The food she eats makes a huge difference so we switched her to the Honest Kitchen (human grade finished product, minimally processed). Kibble of any kind makes her symptoms worse.

We use fish oil. We have the human gel caps from Wal-Mart. I give her 1/2 each day. I just poke a hole in the capsule and squeeze 1/2 the liquid into her food dish.

If your baby is allergic to fleas, you might want to consider using a real flea control product. It can make a huge difference.