Miserable and Itchy. Please Help us.
 

Mickie is a 7-year-old, male Yorkie. Within this past year he has been so miserable and itchy, yet I can't seem to find anyone to explain why. I've searched every forum and have gone to about 5 different vets. He used to be outgoing, but now he just sleeps and chases whatever part of himself that seems to be itching that day. Mostly his backside. He used to have long, thick, beautiful hair, but now it's stringy and greasy from his neck to the middle of his back. The hair around his butt and legs looks brittle and frizzy. Most of his life he had a light blueish gray tint to the fur on his back. Now his backside is more white, and the top half of his back is dark gray. His hair used to be so thick that you couldn't see his skin anywhere, but now he is completely bald underneath his tail and all the way to the middle of his stomach. His hair has also thinned out significantly on his back and legs.

I'll point out his symptoms the best I can.

-He constantly runs in circles chasing his butt without regard to anything else, falling off couches and beds. This also makes him out of breath and unable to enjoy playing like he used to do. In the middle of most activities he'll instantly start biting himself, or chasing his butt, as if something starts biting him out of nowhere.

-He'll bite, lick, and scratch his sides, butt, and feet to the point that he almost bleeds, which may be part of his hair loss.

-His skin looks a little red and irritated, and all over his stomach there are these light brown smudge looking spots that almost look like dirt, but they don't come off and they are not raised from the skin.

-It's as if he's gone crazy in a way. He'll start biting at himself and won't know what do to, but he knows he shouldn't be biting, so he'll jump off his chair, then instantly jump back onto it, over and over again. I'll take him for a walk, and he'll rush up someone else's stairs, as if he's in to much pain to even go for a walk. He'd rather go into a strangers house to lay down and bite at himself than he would use the bathroom.

-Sometimes it seems that it hurts for him to poop. I know he has to, and he'll even fart and run from it like it's going to attack him. I'll sit him down, but he'll sprint right back up our steps to avoid the pain of pooping or something. But once we're back in the house, he'll give me the signal that he needs to go out. It's very confusing.

Those are the symptoms. He has his anal glands drained on a regular basis. I've changed his food a couple of times to try and fix the problem, now using the best I could find, but that didn't seem to help, although he likes it better.

All the vets don't seem to have an answer. They've given him steroids to try and help, but didn't. They gave him allergy medicine, or told me to use over the counter allergy medicine, but neither of them helped.

I've bought several different shampoos, conditioners, and all kinds of other stuff to try and soothe him, but none of those helped.

I've literally tried everything possible. You may think he has fleas, but that's not the case. You may think I over bathe him, but that's not the case. Keep in mind, I've been being smart about this and trying the different shampoos and other stuff in the right increments for about a year now, but he is still suffering. There are very few days that he seems fine. But those days come maybe once a week, and most of those good days only seem to last half a day.

It seems he's allergic to something, but what? And if so, why doesn't any allergy medicine seem to help? I'm beginning to think it's something more serious, but no vet has been able to give me an answer. I've finally picked a vet and stuck with her, but she doesn't seem to be helping much or able to give me a solution. Everyone just says, "Oh, he's just getting old." or "It's just allergies." Do allergies last year round? He's not that old. This all just seemed to happen all of the sudden, but I can't come up with the reason that caused it.

Just writing this is making me cry because his misery has been stressing me out so much and making me miserable. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thank you.

oh i am so sorry your poor little guy is going thru this.
it sounds like you are trying so hard to help him.
i know you have taken him to several vets .
what about a specialist that deals with pet allergies.
i know there is a test that can be done called varl .
it tests for different alleges then makes a special serum for your dog.

.http://www.varlallergy.com/

Find the nearest vet school and make an appointment with the dermatologist. They will be your best bet on finding the source of the itchiness and easing his suffering.

My girl has terrible environmental allergies. I know how you feel.

Is he on Heartworm preventative? Have you tried Revolution? My little guy had mites, all his hair broke off within about 3 days he was scratching so badly. He couldn't sleep for waking up to scratch. One dose of Revolution stopped the itching. Nothing showed on skin scrapings either.

What are you feeding him? Changing foods may not mean much if both foods could be affecting the itching?? Some ppl even say when they use the same brand and the Manufacture changes the recipe they become itchy.

I only started trying new foods because of the itching. He's eating a fish based Blue Buffalo now. Before I got him this food, he'd pick through all the others, only eating the bits he liked, or wouldn't eat at all. He's a little spoiled like that.

That's for the site. I'll look into it. I have been wanting to get him allergy tested, but just didn't have the money the vet wanted to charge.

Thanks for the site. I'll look into it. I have been wanting to get him allergy tested, but just didn't have the money the vet wanted to charge. He has never had any problems like this his entire life. Nothing has changed and it seemed to come out of no where, that's why I'm so confused.

Foods and shampoos have only been changed because of the itching. He's eating a Lamb based Blue Buffalo now and seems to like it the most out of everything I've tried to give him.

I'm also wondering if it could be a form of anxiety. I've read about pets chewing and scratching because of stress or anxiety. I'm not sure why he'd be stressed or anxious, or if a vet can even determine that. I'm sure they'd have to rule out everything first, before making that diagnosis.

I cant find rhe thread but a mod her named Wyliesmom posted about an allergy goo there were several others.

We used antiallergen until we found out Princess just had a severe flea alleegie.
At one point a vet suggested she be PTS we moved forward until we foubd the issue...it literally only takes one flea on her and she chews herself into being a naked mole rat covered in a rash.

It sucks, but we get through it.

you didnt mention if you were giving any type of allergy medication. Charlie takes 1/2 of a childs allergy medication daily, it helps a great deal, he has very itchy skin.

I am not an expert but I have had a few problems with my dogs in the past. I had a Australian Sheppard years ago that chased her tail and chewed her back all the time. Her hair was a mess. I took her to so many vets it's not funny. I took her to be groomed one time and the lady asked about the hair issue and I told her about it and she said that dogs have the same gland as a skunk inside the anus and that if it inflames it has to be expelled. She did it when she groomed my dog and that problem was solved. Never happened again. I would see if that is what's wrong with your dog.

Also I have become an advocate for the Prey Model Diet. It is not expensive and is the best way to insure what y0or dog is eating. I have found that diet can be the MAIN cause of many problem are pooches are having. You can find the prey model diet online. If you have any questions about it I will be happy to answer for you.

Best of luck.

Time for a specialist if your not getting any answers from vegular vets.

A book I have on the Yorkies said a lot are allergic to corn, wheat, glutten, etc. Not sure what is in Blue. Also I was told by a friend of mine to stay away from anything but chicken or lamb. I hope you find relief for your poor baby. Allergies are the pits.

Reply to your questions, and thank you!
 

My vet also gave Mickie Steroid shots a couple of times, which didn't help. She put him on an allergy medication, which didn't work. I've also tried OTC stuff like Benadryl, but that also didn't help.

I have to put a shirt on him when I'm at work so he won't scratch all day long, but sometimes he'll just find another spot that isn't covered to gnaw at. He's starting to look more like a Chihuahua, and less like a Yorkie the more hair he rips out.

I have him on a Lamb and fish diet because I read that Yorkies could be allergic to Chicken. The vet said that he could be allergic to fleas, but I haven't found a flea on him for months now, and he's still miserable. I still try brewer's yeast, fish oil, oatmeal baths... you name it, I've tried it. Money wasted.

Yes, I have it anal glands expressed regularly, so that's not it. I'll just have to get an allergy test, but the reason I posted this was to see if there is anything out there it could be besides allergies. Could it be some sort of disease or other insect infection that the naked eye can't see? The reason I ask is, he 7 and has never scratched or lost hair. Now, every time I brush him, clumps of hair fall out. The doctor wasn't any help, so I thought I'd let you guys chime in. I have my suspicions about doctors just wanting me to come back over and over again to get my money, and really don't care, or try to help my poor baby.

I know that's wrong to say, but I'm at a loss.

Yes.

This is why a scratch test is imperative.

I also recommend a vet dermatologist. Heck, when Piccolo was having skin problems a few years ago, I did not even know there was such a thing as a dermatologist specialist for animals. Smartest move I ever made, once I figured it out.

The first visit is pricey with all the tests, but you will get answers. And after the first visit, things are reasonable. We spent so much money going to the regular vet for months, when Piccolo had a problem, that it probably would have been less expensive to go to the dermatologist right away.

Sorry your pup has been miserable for so long and glad to hear you want to get this resolved. Good luck and hope all turns out well for Mickie. Please let us know.

I hate fleas.
 

So sorry you and Mickie are going through this, Hope you find a solution soon. He must be very miserable.I know the fleas and knats are bad in Pa. this year.Knats have my leggs all bit up. We have the black wood fleas this year every time I take them out they come in with some on them, Don't know how to get rid of them. We even had our yard treated for fleas. I just keep bathing and treating for them. Hope you have better news to report on Mickie.:animal-pa
Anne/Luci

Is he on Heartworm preventative? Have you tried Revolution? My little guy had mites, all his hair broke off within about 3 days he was scratching so badly. He couldn't sleep for waking up to scratch. One dose of Revolution stopped the itching. Nothing showed on skin scrapings either.

GREAT IDEA :thumbup: , IT'S WORTH A TRY ...

Actually it was my vet's suggestion. She said unless you take a skin scraping at the exact spot where a mite happens to be, it's very easy to miss them. She said it's cheaper to just go ahead and try Revolution, if it works, then you know it's mites or a noseeum. One has to protect against heartworms once a month anyway, so why not?

Revolution wont kill a bad case of mites alone. My vet put Chachi on it when he had mites but he also had to have dips like 5 of them. His were prett
y bad though all the hair on his back was gone from it

So sorry your baby is so miserable, mine were all itching/scratching really bad and one had some hair loss, I switched their food to Fromm's now there is no more itching and Laci hair is back..we have tried several different ones from Fromm's but they really like the (salmon/veggies) a lot

I have had this problen before. Vet took my dog off food with corn or corn products........Bought Nutro Natural choice lamb & rice ...little bites.....Also bath in Baby shampoooo...only thing that she doesn't itch with. Then I buy. Vet's Best.........Hot Spot Spray...............all natural not greasy. I get it online from KVvet. This has worked wonders......Hair coming back..no more itching.....Can't hurt to try......Hope your baby gets help soon.Poor thuing........

For now I would get him on a limited ingredient grain free food that uses only grass fed animals with not antibiotics, steroids, or hormones injected into the animals.
It's only a guess but the way you describe the skin it could be some form of fungus you are dealing with. He needs a specialist to pinpoint his problem. Most itching is caused by food allergy if it is not from an external source like fleas, etc.
Most meats on the open market are injected with hormones, antibiotics and steroids through out their lifetime and these things stay in the meat that we are eating. Yuck. Many animals react to these meats but they can also react to certain grains or both. A limited ingredient food would be a starting point until you can get him to a specialist. Many homeopathic vets are good at pinpointing these issues.

I have work with dogs at kennels , grew up on a farm too , we would give small amount of bendlry for skin or food allergy, I mean just a little .

Benadryl can be used in some cases but should only be used short term until the source of the problem is found.