Pyoderma Anyone? - Page 2

In addition to all the other great info you've gotten on this thread, I've got a few more suggestions. My dog has had skin problems since I adopted her 1 1/2 years ago and I have treated her with a combination of conventional and holistic methods. I feed my dog a raw diet, rotating proteins and I give her salmon oil, kelp (great for the skin), probiotics (double the normal recommended dose) & digestive enzymes. I also rotate herbs, giving her spirulina, chlorella, white thistle (liver cleansing and detox) and echinacea (build immune system). Yes, vaccines can cause skin problems, but the white thistle, spirulina and chlorella helps to cleanse the metals and other poisons out of the system. When my dog has flair ups I give her Cephalexin 1000mg twice a day for three to four weeks for the infection and Temaril P to help with the itchiness. Temaril P is a wonder drug, but not to be used long term. Antibiotics may have to be given long term, as needed, but not continually. Some vets recommend givng the dog antibiotics one week a month, even if there is no sign of an outbreak. I have found bathing seems to cause the flair ups, so I try to avoid bathing my dog. The vet recommended Ketachlor shampoo, but I haven't used it. Anyway, with doing all of the above my dog had GREATLY improved.  Also, if a dog has a low normal thyroid, many times giving Soloxine or other thyroid med will help tremendously. As someone eles said, if your vet won't give it to you, change vets.  I hate to say it, but neutering could make him worse as this really effects the dogs hormones, so if I were you I think I'd hold off. My holistic vet says that both spaying and neutering negatively effects dogs because it throws everything out of balance. Think about women going through menopause!!! Having said, that both of my dogs have been altered.   I hope this helps somewhat.