At my wits end with my dogs itchy skin!!

[everafterfarm]

This had probably been asked a million times, but I’m ready to pull my hair out over my dog’s skin issues!! Any new ideas welcome!!!

9yr Dobe who has been battling yeasty skin and ears for several years now. Tried several different foods. He is currently on a 5star rated food (via petadvisor). Have done antibiotics, steroids, shampoos, skin ointments. These will clear it up for short periods, but nothing that lasts longer than say a month. He is now on a thyroid med which has kept it at bay for the longest, about 3 months, but he’s starting to get itchy again and are dealing with yet another ear infection.(my dobe has natural ears). He also gets yogurt daily. We tried coconut oil and it makes him stop eating and feeling crappy no matter how slowly we introduce him to it. Have also tried apple cider vinegar, betadine foot soaks(which do help for a while).

I was thinking of trying something like Vitahound or Dinovite, although I’m hearing a lot of bad things about Dinovite so I’m leaning toward ruling it out. So, anyone have any other ideas?

[khall]

I just read a short article about adding coconut oil to dogs food for skin,yeast issues. I have an allergic dog in summertime and he is very itchy, just got some yesterday to see if I can get his skin in better condition.

The other thing you might try is cooking for your dog (or raw), lots of info out there on whole food diets and dogs.

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

Yeah been there done that too, but you did say he has thyroid problems and the medication helped for 3 months, maybe it’s time to get his thyroid levels checked again. He might need an adjustment in his meds.

[chancellor2]

When I got Scarlett as a foster, they told us she had to be on Wellness because it was the only thing that kept her from being too itchy. Mind you she was VERY itchy still on Wellness. At the time, I worked in dermatology with a dermatologic surgeon. With her guidance, I did a biopsy of Scarlett’s skin and we determined she had plain old eczema.
The treatment? Well, we used Neutorgena T-Gel shampoo (human shampoo). Lathered her up let it sit on her skin for 5 minutes, washed it off and then put her out in the sunshine. The UV from the sun helps to activate the tar more to help with the itch. Voila. No more itchy dog. Turns out it is okay to use this treatment minus the biopsy on dogs with no ill effects.
You don’t HAVE to put them in the sun (if it is cold in your area now) but it certainly helps. Scarlett’s fur grew back in and she hasn’t looked back. I haven’t had to give her a bath with it for a long time now (years) but in the beginning I gave it once a month.

[callmegold]

Have you used the coconut oil topically or just put it in his food? Have you seen a specialist or dermatologist? It might help to see someone who looks for zebras when they hear hoofbeats.

[everafterfarm]

We did have his thyroid levels checked 5 weeks after we put him on it, but it doesn’t cost much to do it and I’ll try anything at this point!

I’ll also be heading to the store for some of that T-Gel shampoo. Can’t hurt to try it! I’m in FL so it won’t be a problem to put him in the sun for a bit.

I don’t remember if we ever did a skin biopsy on him now that I think of it. I’ll check into that as well.

[VFT]

Antibiotics and steroids will make yeast worse, even if it temporarily makes it appear better. I second having his thyroid re-checked. Getting rid of yeast is a big undertaking and the only diet I have found that works for keeping it at bay in my guy is one that I make myself. Boiled chicken breast with steamed green veggies that have then been run through the food processor plus supplements ( a whole food multivitamin/mineral, probiotics, bovine colostrum, coconut oil, aloe vera juice, + the nzymes supplements from the website below)

These sites contain info on systemic yeast in dogs.

http://www.nzymes.com/store/pc/Yeast-Candida-and-Leaky-gut-in-pets_Information-and-help

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/systemic_yeast_mini_course.htm

Good luck!

[TBROCKS]

Dinovite was a waste of money for me with my dog’s issues, but YMMV. I just clipped mine down, and have been washing him every other day in chlorhexadine shampoo prescribed by the vet. His skin, for whatever reason, is looking remarkably better at this point. However, we’ve had remissions before which didn’t last, so the next flare he’s going to the dermatologist.

[whitney159]

Regarding the T-gel shampoo–Happy Jack makes an anti-itch shampoo with the same active Tar ingredient. I bought it for my itchy guy. It was the first anti-itch shampoo that seemed to actually work for him!

[alto]

@everafterfarm;7851365

9yr Dobe who has been battling yeasty skin and ears for several years now. Tried several different foods. He is currently on a 5star rated food (via petadvisor). Have done antibiotics, steroids, shampoos, skin ointments. These will clear it up for short periods, but nothing that lasts longer than say a month. He is now on a thyroid med which has kept it at bay for the longest, about 3 months, but he’s starting to get itchy again and are dealing with yet another ear infection.(my dobe has natural ears). He also gets yogurt daily. We tried coconut oil and it makes him stop eating and feeling crappy no matter how slowly we introduce him to it. Have also tried apple cider vinegar, betadine foot soaks(which do help for a while).

I don’t see an allergist listed

Have skin scrapings ruled out demodectic mange?

From your information, it sounds as if you keep treating symptoms but aren’t investigating underlying cause … or is this just the result of brevity in your post?

[jetsmom]

I swear by Microtek Anti itch shampoo. Shampoo every 4 days for 2 weeks, then weekly for 2 weeks then monthly. It is also antifungal.

I’d make sure you are on a grain free, alternative protein food (no chicken, beef, lamb), since common proteins are the most common reason for food allergies, and grains are the 2nd most common reason. Make sure treats don’t contain grains or common proteins. Use fish, Bison or venison as your meat base.

[JBD]

One on our fosters had some skin issues that the shelter attributed to seborrhea. Fleas had made it worse but at the time of her adoption, flea treatment and a medicated bath had helped the bald spots grow in. She was adopted out and returned after 9 months as the family couldn’t or wouldn’t do what it took. They had tried a few things but I believe they weren’t consistent.

That poor dogs skin was so inflamed it was painful to her. We took her for a medicated bath and haircut first and the groomers were appalled. The vet was the next stop for antibiotics, steroids and allergy meds, hypo allergenic food. The redness was gone in days. A month later, we are no longer on the antibiotics or steroids. We did refill the allergy meds as she was starting to itch. I am going to try the t-gel shampoo.

Happy ending - we adopted Toto last week.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=everafterfarm;7851502]
We did have his thyroid levels checked 5 weeks after we put him on it, but it doesn’t cost much to do it and I’ll try anything at this point! [/QUOTE]

Which test? T4? Anything else?

[QUOTE=alto;7851653]I don’t see an allergist listed

Have skin scrapings ruled out demodectic mange?[/QUOTE]

I think this is seen somewhat regularly in Dobes. In a mid-Atlantic Dobe rescue, it was “Oh that’s ok. We can fix that.”

[Chief2]

We had this problem with a collie. A breeder suggested Pervinal Excel chewable vitamins. It was the product she used with her bitches after breeding them. The dog loved them and they worked great! Instead of dry, flaky skin that opened up he had supple skin and a bright, clean shiny coat. Additionally, the blood test the vet did annually to check his nutrient blood levels showed good improvement over the tests that had been run before starting with the Pervinal. We kept the dog on it until he passed at the age of 12. The product also comes in a pump liquid that you can add to the food, instead.

[Sunsets]

Royal Canin Skin Support SS worked wonders for my yeast-infection-prone GSD. I swear by the stuff.

That said, check the thyroid levels first and then work from there.

[alto]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7851824]

I think this is seen somewhat regularly in Dobes. In a mid-Atlantic Dobe rescue, it was “Oh that’s ok. We can fix that.”[/QUOTE]

They’ve been fortunate in their cases :yes:
(most respond well to treatment)

From the OP, it seems that this dog is short on diagnostics & long on let’s try this
(which is how some vets operate, so nothing against the OP)

[everafterfarm]

We are on our second vet for the skin issues. I’m not against trying another. Mange was ruled out a long time ago. We are sure he has yeast issues as well, which is why I was so hopeful the thyroid meds would be the end of it.

Whether or not there is also something else going on like a food allergy, we don’t know. He is on a grain free food, but it is chicken based. I guess we all thought it would be “over” once we realized he needed the thyroid help.

The current vet I’m using said if the thyroid meds didn’t work his recommendation would be to take him to Auburn University(it’s the closest vet school to me).

I guess first order is to recheck his thyroid levels and do a skin biopsy even if one was done in the past. As for doing allergy tests, both of the vets I have used so far say it’s crazy expensive and often inconclusive.

My dog certainly feels much much better since he’s started the thyroid meds, and his coat came back shiny and beautiful, but it’s just now starting to be itchy again, and I can see a little bald patch in each armpit from the scratching. His past hairloss was his armpits and belly/genital areas. Also he stunk and you could see yeasty build up in the armpits. I don’t want him to get like that again!

[jetsmom]

Try removing chicken…it’s one of the most common allergens. And allergies can develop to something, even if they were fine for years eating it…

[Nezzy]

tell your vet you want to try him on Temeril P or Prednisone. we have had a JRT who was on pred for 12 yrs b/c nothing else helped him, and now i have a small dog on Temeril P.

[RA12]

I agree with coconut oil. Maybe try adding Spirulina. I would say try capsules.

My dog had itchy RED paws for the longest time. I started her on Spirulina and it has helped tremendously. I forgot to give it to her for a weekend and she was back to biting her paws.