Scratchin problem

Texasbulldogs---yes, everytime a change a food, I give it 3/4 months to give it a try.

Pitlver---He has been to the vet for the problem---twice. Like I said before, I rescue dogs, and I spend a fortune on everything, including vet care.

Forum People In General---Don't make assumptions. Ask questions.

 

Carolinaboy---Good for you for creating an "emergency" fund. That's something alot of people would never think to do.

 

I understand your concern but I would do the same thing. I would come on here to ask questions pertaining to it because the fact is, members on here know more about our breeds health and problems then most vets do. I especilly would come here first on a question such as this regarding nutrition, as most vets only push a product they get paid to sell. And by the way-most vets take food classes sponsored by one company and are told to believe that this product is superior from big-wig fast talkers who give the lectures. Most vets mean well, but the nutrition of a working breed dog varries greatly from that of couch-potato toy breeds. Not trying to bash you as the vet is the first place to go with most any problem, but this does not appear to be life-threatening and it is something he can try to fix at home with help from experienced members on the topic then spending big bucks at a vet who knows less. If nothing works soon however, I also recommend you go to the vet at least for a skin scrape. Again, good luck both of you.

 

Carolinaboy - Without really seeing the pup I'd say from the picture and your discription of it and lack of pus or drainage...Pyoderma (staph infection of the skin) cephalexin and baths should clear it up. I'd feed a better kibble and help build the immune system back up also.

 

Thanks 14rock yeah its not a life threat to her life if it was i would be at the vet in a hurry. And plus alot of people know there stuff on the breed and this is a working breed not a chihuahua.

 

Alright thanks for all the help Tex. But i gave her 2 baths this week and still didnt come off and i will be getting better kibble tommorow. I think ill take her to the vet in 2 weeks if i dont see no signs in improvment. I guess ill get them to do a skin scraping.

 

14rock---You're right again. (Don't you love to hear that). My vet put my female on Prescription Diet for allergies, and her allergies got waaay worse. As far as the rash goes on my male, he has given me a spray, but it doesn't end the problem. That's why I'm asking, RATHER THAN GOING TO THE VET. (Don't you hate when people use all caps. It's so dang aggressive).

But 14rock, thank you, regarding the vet post---right on the money.

 

An allergy isn't something caused by something new in the environment. In fact you have to be exposed to something more than once for an allergy to form. You can be fine with something for years and then develop an allergy to it. It doesn't necessarily have to be food oriented either. It can be something environmental. For instance, a rug cleaner solution, Febreeze, laundry soap, grasses in the yard, plants that are pollinating at the present time, whatever is in their bedding, pretty well anything. What I would do is cut out as many things as you can. Stop using any chemicals on your yard, rug, laundry, whatever you can do. Get a kibble that is single source protien like California Natural. They have a chicken and rice or a lamb and rice. Or some other brand that has duck and potato or venison and whatever. What these foods allow you to do is start the process of ellimination. For instance, if they do well on the chicken and rice... obviously they aren't allergic to chicken and rice. Single ingredient foods aren't really healthy for long term feeding but they allow you to determine what exactly your dog is reacting too. The other option is to get the vet to do allergy testing. The secondary infection obviously needs to be treated with antibiotics

 

Continued from above....................

Now here are my observations about my own dogs. I'll give you some history so Texasbulldogs and Miakoda can tell me if they think that I'm on the mark or out in left field.

HISTORY:Petey is 8-1/2 years old. I have had him since he was 5-1/2 weeks. He was the result of an accidental breeding by our friends, Kelly & Joe's dogs. His mother, Charlie, was a 35lb. little Staffie that was some little gangbangers prized fighting dog and was confiscated in a drug/dog fighting bust and rescued. No human aggression, but she was VERY dog aggressive. His father was a dog that someone had intended to train to fight, but the someone got busted, so his wife tied Sid to Kelly & Joe's fence and left him there. Sid was about 95 lb.

Birdie is approx. 14 - 16 months old according to our vet. All I know about her background is that she was picked up wandering the streets in a really yucky part of Long Island in October 2004. She was fostered by a dog trainer from February to June of 2005. Eric from Smilin' Pitbull rescue helped me find her. I adopted her on June 12, 2005.

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When I got Birdie in June, she had serious seperation anxiety for the first two weeks. She ended up with a really bad case of diarrhea, so I put her on a bland diet (white rice, chicken, hamburger & cottage cheese) & I took her to the vet right away.

He put her on Metronidazole and noted that she had a staph infection on her skin and prescribed Cephalexin 500 mg and told me to continue the bland diet.

Since I wouldn't feed just one dog the "yummy stuff", especially with Birdie being new to our home, I didn't want to create jealousy between the two dogs, I fed Petey the bland diet as well.

Birdies' diarrhea went away and her skin cleared up. And I noticed that Petey stopped itching his ears and rubbing his head on the carpet.

We have always fed Petey either Kibbles & Bits or Pedigree dog food. Birdie had been eating Iams, but decided she liked Petey's food better, so we threw out the Iams

Fast forward to the end of July and Birdie's skin is rashy and itchy again. And now I noticed that Petey's "bully bumps", something that I assumed all bullys had, looked like Birdie's rash.

Since the rash came back, I suspected she is allergic to something. So I start the process of elimination and reviewing my diary and dog journal.

Petey has always had these bumps. I ruled out grass because he has them when there is snow up to my butt outside. I ruled out this house because he had them in the other 3 places we lived. I ruled out laundry detergent because we use this all natural, dye free stuff because I am allergic to laundry detergents, perfumes and certain soaps. I ruled the soap I wash him with because it's the same stuff I use. Soaps never affected the bumps in any way good or bad. You get the idea.... I evaulated everything.

Remembering how good their skin looked after the last run of the bland diet, I suspect food and start researching thier dog food, supplements and treats. Then I put them both back on the bland diet. Chicken and rice with cottage cheese. Within two weeks, I see an improvement in both of them.

I made an appointment with the vet to discuss my observations and concerns. He reviewed all my notes & agreed that it's a good possibility that they both have a food allergy. They both had staph infections, so they are both put on antibiotics for several weeks. He advised me to phase out the pedigree and phase in what ever dog food I decided to feed them. Call him to discuss what I decided to feed them.


THE DOG FOOD DECISION: I decided on two seperate foods for them.

Petey: Canidae Platinum Diet. He's older and gaining weight since he hurt his back and can't be hooked up to a wagon to work with me for awhile. I also like that glucosamine is included in the food. He's a picky eater & likes the Canidae

Birdie: She is a younger dog and working dog. A handicap service dog to be exact, so she needs to be in top form. Since her skin is really bad, I think she is more sensitive than Petey. After a ton of research, I opted for Timberwolf Organics Lamb Barley and Apples Formula.

Right now they are looking much better. Not only have the rashes started to go away and heal, their coats are starting to look better. They will be completely through with the pedigree food soon and done with the antibiotics.

So, in short, I think that you should give the Timberwolf Organics a try if you can find it near you. The feed store I go to gave me a TON of different food samples for the dogs to try to make sure that they liked them.

Sorry for being such a wind bag.

Hope this helps.

Miakoda & Texasbulldogs - I'd be very interested in your thoughts on this.

 

I'm trying out some of the Timberwolf products myself right now.

 

"think that I'm on the mark or out in left field."
Sounds good just curious as to why the "platnium" version of Canidae and not feed them the same be it Canidae or Timber Wolf?

 

if its not fleas, it can only be food allergy. Try to change his diet.

 

Birdie's vet bill was $123.00 for the visit, 21 days of Cephalexin 500mg to be taken 3x per day, Efa-Caps HP (high potency fatty acid dietary supplement for dogs) 1 per day for 60 days and Oxydex shampoo.

But I live in CT and my vet is more expensive than the other two local vets, so it might be different where you live.

 

Petey's age and weight. The Platinum is for senior or overweight dogs. He's 8-1/2 years old and has gone from 68 lbs. his optimal weight to about 74lbs because I can't work with him like I used to.

He T-boned himself on the doorway and hurt his back badly several months ago. The vet advised me not to let him pull anything, jump for his ball, play for extended periods of time etc. for several more months because it is still bothering him.

Plus I like that the Glucosamine and Chondroitin is included in the food.

He likes it and he can be picky.

 

your dog has the "d" mange. it is caused from mites, they are born with it. if the dog's immune system isn't strong enough, then it will come out. a strong antibiotic and dipping is needed. over a period of 3-6 weeks. it is not contageous as even humans carry the d mange. usually found in the creases in our noses, elbow crease and behind the ears and knee creases.. it will eventually kill your dog if left untreated. use that nu stock stuff it kills alot of things. including that.

 

Yes my dogs have a scratching problem too they will all scratch from dusk to dawn and then some lol.

 

Big River Kennels---I don't think it's mange. My parents dog has had mange on and off, and it looks entirely different. Thanks, though. I'll keep that in mind, just in case.

 

It is not mange, looks like a pyometra

 

Sounds like you pretty much narrowed your possibilities down to food allergies causing the pyoderma (staph infection) and like your veterinary prescribed beset treated with first generation cephalosporins.

The choice of Canidae Platinum, not sure if I’d feed that versus their All Life Stages kibble. An 8.5 year old dog is not considered a “senior” nor can they stay over weight, unless you allow them too. If you’re feeding it just for the added Glucosomine and Chondroitin, I’d recommend buying it yourself and adding it to their kibble (sulphate type). If you’re buying them in separate forms make sure the Chondroitin is not bovine or chicken cartilage, only 10-25% of it will be absorbed. You might also want to try MSM (Methyl sulfonyl Methane). The dosage varies between the three; half of an adult human’s dosage is sufficient. Good luck sounds like you’re on the right track.

 

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.

Petey is almost done with the Canidae Platinum, so I'll pick up a small bag of the All Life Stages kibble to see if he likes it. I do have a good supply of the Glucosomine and Chondroitin so it's not a big deal to add in.

He's overweight because we had to cut back his activity for his back to heal, but we didn't cut back on his caloric intake. He skidded down the hallway and T-boned himself on the door jam. It's driving him nuts because he loves to pull the loaded wagon and chase his ball.

I'll check GNC for the MSM, sounds like both the dog AND my husband need to take it. LOL

Thank you again.