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07-09-2012, 04:03 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 354
| Vet Visit today Note-Jaeger isn't "sick" so I didn't put it in the sick forum-he's got really dry skin, is very itchy, and has started developing big scaly itchy bumps. We went to the vet last month who decided he had "dry skin" and told me to "stop bathing him so much!" (twice the month before, once before the neuter, once two weeks after) and to "condition his coat" (i've been spraying him with leave in spray conditioner every day. She also gave us fish oil and did NOT want us to switch his food. She was convinced it was 'just dry skin' even though when we switched food before it did seem to help him some. The last time we went in, she suggested if he isn't better this time to put him on allergy pills, which I am NOT going to do right away. He's 7 months old. If we don't figure out what is bothering him, the pills will eventually stop working, and I don't want him on allergy pills the rest of his life if it's something easily avoidable. It doesn't seem to be environment related-we switched detergents and he didn't go outside for two weeks and he still was very itchy. I'm going to recommend a switch to Acana or Fromm (any other good grain free options would be helpful, those seem kind of expensive compared to what we are used to.) and possibly to Yorkie Splash and shine. I'm really hoping we won't have to switch vets over this. |
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07-09-2012, 05:18 AM | #2 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 4,514
| Quote:
hope the vet can find a solution. acana (grain free) and fromm (grain free) are both excellent foods. cost wise i think the fromm is a less expensive. i hear a lot of people that have allergic dogs have good luck with a frozen raw diet such natures variety instinct, (which now comes in small bites).. good luck at your vet visit . hope jaeger feels better | |
07-09-2012, 05:30 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Garner, NC
Posts: 1,485
| I agree with the raw diet too. As far as grain-free kibbles go, Fromm definitely has one of the best prices that I've been able to find in my area. But I think it'd be worth it to spend a little extra just to see if it helped with your baby's skin dryness. Has the fish oil helped any? I've been giving Toki coconut oil in her A.M. meal and her coat is very soft and shiny and her skin doesn't have any flakes (this had been a small issue in the winter). You can also apply coconut oil to the skin topically over problem areas and it works wonders. She also has been getting Nature's Variety raw medallions for breakfast. Between all of these factors, I've noticed such an improvement in how her skin and coat looks. |
07-09-2012, 05:54 AM | #4 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 354
| I haven't really noticed much of an improvement in his coat/skin over the last month, but we'll see what the vet has has to say about it. I'm concerned that he's developed bumps in the last month. I'll keep you all posted. |
07-09-2012, 09:42 AM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Woodlands, TX USA
Posts: 155
| Dry skin Our Graysee had a dry skin condition a couple years ago, so we switched her food to Blue Buffalo, temporarily got her some fish oil treats, and stopped using shampoos with detergents. We now use Performance brand oatmeal shampoo and conditioner. She doesn't need the fish oil anymore, except when we travel to Arizona to visit my daughters; the relative humidity is so much lower than here in SE Texas, she gets dried out a bit out there in the hot sun and wind. I usually spray her a little with some good de-tangler every time I brush her (which is usually every day!), and that has some conditioner in it, as well. |
07-09-2012, 09:48 AM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Van Alstyne, TX
Posts: 842
| Don't know what food you are feeding, but a food change may help. It's worth a try. You might be able to get trial packs at a pet food store so you can try out a new food before buying it.
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07-09-2012, 10:33 AM | #7 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA
Posts: 4,895
| Could the heat be making the dry skin worse? It surprises me your vet would suggest allergy meds before performing any skin scapings. Sking scapings are important to rule out any possible bacteria or staph infections. My shih tzu had a bacteria infection and was so itchy, and began losing hair, and biting her tail, the bottom of her tail was all red and sore, that really is the only way to rule out things like that, it could be micoscpic mites, only can see those under a telescope. I would suggest that be done before constantly switching his food. because it is not going to help if it is something like that.
__________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich." |
07-09-2012, 01:40 PM | #8 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 354
| She said the bumps were from scratching and his skin was now infected, so she gave him cortisone cortisone conditioner and antibiotics and if this doesn't help she wants to scrape skin and give him steroids then start him on allergy pills. I'm not happy about it, I feel like she is only reading the symptoms and not his problem. I mentioned switching to grain free and she didn't seem too enthused, but said we could try it. she did say it sounds like he does have allergies. I'm not going to switch his food a zillion times, just once to a grain free food without pork or beef. If that didn't help, we can switch him back and see what the vet wants. |
07-09-2012, 01:51 PM | #9 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 4,514
| Quote:
i know natures variety instinct kibble makes a L.I.D kibble as does blue buffalo probably several others... | |
07-09-2012, 02:15 PM | #10 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 354
| I don't know for sure its a food allergy, but we use Tide free and clear and he still was itchy when we kept him inside for two weeks. In addition, he was SUPER itchy when we got him, and he had never been outside before then. Im a little hesitant to try BB because some say it can cause gastro issues, but we might try a limited ingredient diet. I know he is fine with chicken, rice, and fish. |
07-09-2012, 02:24 PM | #11 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Garner, NC
Posts: 1,485
| Quote:
Also the Acana singles line with the single protein single grain (lamb/apple/oat, duck/pear/oat) might be good to try. Or even home cooking might be an option for you. Btw, all three of my family's dogs have done well on Blue Buffalo. It's going to vary for each dog though. Hope you find something that works! | |
07-09-2012, 02:34 PM | #12 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,865
| I always recommend using Revolution for itching pups ... it's a heartworm preventative but also kills mites... skin scrappings don't always show mites, as the scrapping has to be taken where the mites are, they're not always all over the dog. If it is mites, you'll see results in less than 24 hours...
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07-09-2012, 02:38 PM | #13 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario
Posts: 273
| I feel for you...I've been on a 8 year journey with my Schnauzer due to skin issues. Just a reminder, when you switch foods (and I like the idea of a limited ingredient diet), that you have to stick with it for at least 6 weeks, because it can take that long for his system to detox from the allergen in the previous diet...and has difficult as it is (and boy is it difficult!) only change 1 thing at a time...or else you will never really know what made it "work or worse". Best of luck, hoping you find a solution quickly. |
07-09-2012, 02:52 PM | #14 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 354
| Well, if we switch from grain to grain free or LID at least we know those things work for him and that some grains are the culprit. Thanks for the info about 6 weeks-I wasn't aware. |
07-09-2012, 04:00 PM | #15 | |
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