dog skin problems

[DeathGrip]

Hey Biggs,My Moms family is out of Hunnington. The "Riggs" left there maybe some 60 years ago. My Dad is Fl. Born as I am. He was just telling me that his best buds also married W.V.Girls. I married a Barvarian Beauty.

 

[biggs357]

i started out at birth here in Huntington,WV but we moved south to Tenn where i then moved even further south to Phenix City AL.I then moved back to help my family.After moving back met a Penn girl and married her.3 kids later I'm still here.

 

[badguybuster]

I used to work for a vet and they DO have allergy injections for dogs and they work pretty well. (Expensive though). Do not be to disenchanted though, small doses of Prednisolone (depending on weight) can be VERY efficient at handling allergies. I have a German Shepherd (110lbs) who has an auto-immune disorder and he takes 2-20mg tabs daily. The only thing you have to watch is their water intake and their appetite. It increases both. In low doses, it is very safe, even long term. I know of at least 3 dogs that have been on Pred for 6-7 years with no ill effects. It is funny, you take them off of it for a week and you can actually see them pee off the weight.

 

[badguybuster]

Oh, as a side note. Animals can become addicted to self mutilation. They get an endorphene release from the pain and it is as addictive as any drug. Keep that in mind.

 

[Lionhound]

Ask your vet to refer you to a veterinary dermatologist who specializes in animal allergies. They can put Diesel on antigen injections that will keep his allergies under control. I have a Lab mix that I give an injection to twice weekly of 3 antigens. She is also on oral meds. She has been getting the shots and meds for nearly 8 years and this regimen keep her in good shape.

 

[DeathGrip]

hello newfyman, this is Mrs D.G and the pinesole really kind of scares me. It is all cemicals, otherwise your floor would not be clean. right? but , if you use it on your newfoundlanders, I guess it is O.K. I wash diesel and try it and let you know.

by the way I love newfoundlanders, they are beautiful.

 

[DeathGrip]

Newfyman,I'm gonna watch TSHTF when this happens. Briggs,I've never been there,but would like to some day. I've driven through but had no time to stop and know what its about.

 

[DeathGrip]

Oops I hit the "R" button,My appoligy Biggs.

 

[mwtdvm]

Ask your vet to refer you to a veterinary dermatologist who specializes in animal allergies

I have several friends who have pursued this specialty training. They are all excellent. Certified Veterinary Dermatologists will usually have ACVD after their DVM/VMD. That means they have taken and passed the examination to be in the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.

On the down side, referred skin problems are all chronic and will not get better overnight or inexpensively. Their treatments are based on valid scientific research and clinical studies and may take months or years to finally cure/control the problem.

One of the "sayings" in medicine is that dermatologist do not have "patients",they have annunities..

 

[RDak]

FWIW, I started feedinig my dogs mainly raw meat and bones many years ago and their skin problems and allergies disappeared. The current dogs have done fine on that diet also and have no skin problems to speak of.

You might consider feeding your dogs more raw meat and bones. Their digestion systems can digest raw bones very well. Cooked bones are bad but not raw bones.

There is alot of info. available for this type of diet. Do a search on the internet.

Raw tripe is one of the best foods for alleviating this type of systemic problem IMHO.

 

[Smithfan]

Nearlky 20 yers ago now, we had a German Shepherd with a flea allergy. The only thing that seemed to help her was steroids. And continued use of steroids also shortened her life.

This was before the advent of Frontline products, which seem to really do the job these days for our dog and our cats.

Bill

 

[Revolver-time]

I have a good ole black lab I call "da boy". He is 12 now and just as spry as always. I keep his coat cut at 1/2" but as of late he has developed spots on his skin that are very dry and scaly. The vet says he doesn't have fleas and I wash him with a shampoo recommended by the vet. I put fish oil in his food but nothing is improving his skin condition. Does anyone use Olive oil or something different?

 

[m1gunner]

Does he spend a lot of time outdoors? In Savannah, he could be suffering from No-Seeums.

 

[Revolver-time]

You may be right about the no-seeums. They sure leave welts on me.

 

[Swissman]

Good afternoon Mrs. Deathgrips

Our terrier got the same problem. First we did anything with the food but it doesn't work long.
If your dog mostly lives and sleeps in the house its a very big possibility that the carpets or better what lives in the carpets (no offense) is the dogs problem. We throw out the wool-carpets and the problem was only 20% of what it was before.

Another solution is a dogshouse made from wood outside of the house. To warm envoirement is poison for every dog.

Washing the dogs skin is necessary but only once a week or better all 10 days. The skin must have the time to build up the own natural protection-shield (bacterias, sweat, talcum etc.)If you wash the dog to often you will gain the problem.

My dad got great dog-knowledges. I'll ask him this sunday for more hints.

Greetings from Switzerland

Swissman

 

[DeathGrip]

Good evening swissman,did we mention we live in south florida. I am originally from bavaria, would it be easier to write in german for you? may I ask you, if I can write you my schweitzer experience? I can send it to your regular e-mail , if that is in ordnung. MRS. D.G.

 

[Swissman]

Mrs. D.G.

Das ist sogar absolut in Ordnung.

I can scan some pages of his books and send to you.

Swissman

 

[Beaver]

Please ask your vet to do a thyroid screen. I went through the same issue with a Labrador Retriever and we did a thyroid test, and it came back very low. At that time I believe the test was a Total T4. Now days for humans we screen for TSH and free T4. It may be a dead end or it may be the answer. Later.