Worried and doesn't know what to do
So, for the past couple of months, Murphy has had some problems with
his skin being itchy and we've been taking him to the vet at least once
a month for the past couple and his yearly check up is in April. Nothing really seems to be working. It's
like once we think its getting better, he starts scratching again. We
can't afford to keep taking him to the vet to have them keep trying to
find a medicine that works when all they can tell us is that it is
something in the environment that he's allergic to. They don't know
anything else. I just want him to feel relief. I am even more worried
now because he has been biting his nub a lot lately. I took a look at
it today and his skin is pink and he has little swollen bumps and I saw
that it was bleeding. I'm just out of ideas and I don't know what to
do. I tried taking a picture of it, but it didn't turn out so great. It
was tough to see it with all of his fur. I can see it much better in
person. I wonder if there is a home remedy that might work since taking him to see the vet is out of the question until April. Please, any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
his skin being itchy and we've been taking him to the vet at least once
a month for the past couple and his yearly check up is in April. Nothing really seems to be working. It's
like once we think its getting better, he starts scratching again. We
can't afford to keep taking him to the vet to have them keep trying to
find a medicine that works when all they can tell us is that it is
something in the environment that he's allergic to. They don't know
anything else. I just want him to feel relief. I am even more worried
now because he has been biting his nub a lot lately. I took a look at
it today and his skin is pink and he has little swollen bumps and I saw
that it was bleeding. I'm just out of ideas and I don't know what to
do. I tried taking a picture of it, but it didn't turn out so great. It
was tough to see it with all of his fur. I can see it much better in
person. I wonder if there is a home remedy that might work since taking him to see the vet is out of the question until April. Please, any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sky and Lyla on
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My Aussie had the same issue over 18 months and 3 vets. Has he been tested for mange? There is a strong possibilty that might be it, talk to your vet. The issue is that depending on the type and severity it may or may not show up in a skin scrape. That happened in Sky's case, but my vet and I decided to treat anyway. He got one tube of Advantage Multi every 2 weeks for 6 weeks (3 applications). It cleared his lifelong itch right up!
I will say the reason I think he was able to get a type of mange that you usually only see in puppies and immune compromised dogs is due to overvaccination and being on antibiotics 4 times in 6 months as a pup. He is now on a very high quality, grain free kibble (Orijen) and antioxidant and probiotic supplements to keep his immune system strong. He has been itch free for several months now and healthy as he's ever been.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Our 1st corgi, Sirius, chewed open sores in her skin near her nub. I wasn't paying attention then -- she was my wife's dog, not mine -- but Lori says this disappeared after when switched to a raw meat diet, some allergen in the food, possibly corn or another grain, being a suspected culprit.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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I recently switched from salmon food to chicken...after about 2 weeks my dogs were itching and we're now back to salmon. Even if you added an oil might help but this was a definite reaction to their food I believe. I also feed corn free food.
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Permalink Reply by Renee Kovacs on
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Switching food is obviously the unanimous advice - having gone through this myself a number of times with different dogs & cats, I can share some further details that I 'paid' for with dollars & tears & many, many failed efforts.
Switch to a canned or home-made raw (from a RECIPE) for the immediate time. Kibble, even the BEST kibble, is still kibble and 'wet' food is far superior, raw being 1st choice. You absolutely want completely grain-free, and I am currently using Nature's Variety Prairie (per a holistic vet's recommendation). After a couple weeks, you can cut the cost if you must, by adding a grain-free, high-quality kibble (I use NV's Prairie kibble, also). Do NOT mix wet with kibble - and never add water or gravies to any kibble (complicated reasons, google that - but it poses issues with 'rehydrating' certain bacteria). Feed one in the morning, the other in the evening.
Do NOT use oatmeal-based shampoos - oatmeal is a GRAIN. Grain allergies can be responsive to allergens both internally & externally. I've had excellent success with both Ark's Naturals Neem shampoo, and Castile liquid soap (do not get this in the eyes!). DO wash the dog & keep the dandruff in control, as a body full of dandruff can feed a lot secondary issues (bacterial infections, yeast, etc). Just as you'd keep your own head clean/free of dandruff - feels the same to your dog, and helps just as much to make them feel better.
Obviously, what your vet is doing is NOT WORKING. Google - the prednisone so often used for this is not a cure, it merely subdues the reaction, while causing a whole other set of reactions. Antihistimines - mask the symptoms, do nothing to the cause.
You can find a lot of good, FREE advice from Dr. Becker - at www.mercola.com - under "Healthy Pets".
The little red 'pimples' can be indicative of a secondary skin infection, the allergy reaction itself, or possibly parasites - but my dog did get them as a secondary infection from the flakey skin, and needed to be bathed about every 5 days for a few weeks before the diet change took full effect.
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The Prairie is not actually a grain free. The Instinct by the same company is.
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You're correct! I got it wrong - it's the Instinct that I use, thanks for pointing this out. =)
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Permalink Reply by Alyssa & Chris W. on
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We're going to go buy a different food tonight for him to try. Something without grain and we'll look into salmon. Anything to help our little guy out. Thanks so much for all of your advice and let's keep our fingers crossed that this works! :o)
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Permalink Reply by Milo Love on
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Our little guy Milo has the same issue for at least 2 years now. I would agree with the others that you need to switch dog foods that is low allergen. Most of these dog foods are by prescription only or available at the vet's office. Milo is on the Royal Canin Potato & Venison. Keep him on one carbohydrate and one protein at most. Fish oil will help also. That has helped Milo. He also had temperil and antiobiotics before. If you see your dog scratch or gnaw at himself, tell him NO immediately. Put a cone on him if you need to.
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