Skin issues... - Page 4

You will know it if your dog has scabies (sarcoptic). He will scratch 24/7 and any humans who come in contact with that dog will also be bitten and will scratch day and night. It is the most intense itching you can imagine. Fortunately the mites don't live on humans, they just bite and then fall off looking for a dog. Scabies effect the areas with the least amount of hair - the ears, elbows and face primarily.  Scabies are  highly contagious one dog to another.

If your dog is scrathing now, 4 pack, it could mean he has developed a secondary bacterial infection and he might need oral antibiotics or some sort of topical treatment.

Pine bark I believe is for inflamation. I'm dealing with Pano on and off and hoped it might help with that.

Aye! me hates this whole post. That Minx 4 pack only did it because she hates Pirates Arrrr me hypochondria had me up scratchin all nite. me itch so bad me cant stop t' scratchin. Me feels like tiny bugs be crawlin all over me body. Me poor skin be scaley, itchy, and bstarboard red Aye! For t' Love o' God make it stop. me buys cases o' Preparation H for me rectal itch and anal pain anyway, so me been rubbin me whole body wit it Aye!

Hi 4pack---I'd also nix most of those supplements....at least for now.  Sounds like Demodex....brought on by stress.  Could be training or just plain change in routine living situation.  You've lost dogs recently....Is the little black female still in the next kennel?  If she isn't....he might not like being alone.  If she is.....could be he's maturing (and so is she.....sexually).  Whatever the reason...stress could be playing havoc on his immune system and hormones.

You mentioned you're not giving heartworm meds anymore.  A depleted immune system brings out the allergies and usually those pesty mites.  The heartworm meds (usually the milbemycin oxime in Interceptor and Sentinnel) squashes the mite problem.  I know you're trying to go holistic.....but, you might have to rethink somewhat...and compromise.

If I've made some valid points to your situation, I'd continue with the Cosequin DS.  Give a minimum 750 mg of ester C, 250 of Colostrom, 200 VIT E with selenium, a whole raw egg (complete with shell), and 35 mg of VIT B Complex with Biotin.........Divide dosage into two meals DAILY.

Give the heartworm med, plus the supplements I suggested.  I hope he gets better.......A trip to the vet to rule out Sarcoptic might be necessary.  Demodex, IMO, is a bigger problem. (And, remember....scrapings don't always expose the mite problem).  Good luck.  You know what 4pack----Take him to the vet----it could be anything.  Too much supplementation...bacterial infection....acne.....thyroid.... Cushings....etc, etc.  Just not worth taking a chance. (BTW---have you put anything new --straw or cedar--- on the kennel floor recently?)  I'll shut up now. (LOL)

LOL thanks LMH for being so concerned and asking questions. Lets see...Baden is 13+months now, the little black female came into heat and then moved away. So there are some changes and stressors there. He has full run of the back yard or a different kennel 5x25. I swap my 2 dogs a couple times a day or crate one while the other runs the backyard.

He doesn't seem stressed in any way though. He eats, drinks and isn't mopey or off his game at all. Since before Piston left I started bringing him inside more to be with me. I have been babying him, he comes in every night for a few hours before bed. About training, we havn't gone in almost 4 weeks now, so that isn't stressing him. We still do OB daily but he loves that and doesn't get corrected, accept for no reward when he doesn't do something right.

I have the Nupro on the way and he just had an egg with breakfast. I took him off the brown rice and started Oatmeal for breakfast. I just throw the cracked egg on top with shell. I'll hold off on supplements until I talk with a vet.

Oh I did already call the best vet in my area and make an appt. We got in tonight. I can't stand not knowing, when it can be so many things. The new kennel he is in does have pine/cedar shavings over dirt, but this skin thing has been going on for 2 months and the kennel change just happened 2 weeks ago. 2 months ago we saw the local vet (easier for me) apparently what they gave him didn't stop the problem or something else came along. Loomis Basin is farther away, (50 minutes) but they are so much better than any local vets we have here in town. I'm bitting the bullet and gas prices to take him there, just to put my mind at ease.

Vet says yeast and fungai. We have Ketoconazole and Keflex tabs. An ear flush and Otomax ointment for the yeasty ears. He suggested Benadryl for the itching. They tried to do a scraping on his face but after Baden tried to take his hand off along with the blade, we decided to skip that part. No one who has seen him, thinks it looks like Demodex or mites. If it doesn't clear up in 3 weeks, I will have to go back and knock him out, for the scraping and possible allergie tests.

I like the GreatDane Lady's natural approach to tackling yeast infections:

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

4pack,sounds like you're going through what i have lived for the past 2 years.If there is a yeast infection in the ears,I can assure you that this dog is allergic to a protein component of his diet.Usually chicken is a big offender in dogs.They say that it has something to do with the way  vaccines are made up and the ingredients used.I remember it having to do with egg and something it triggers in  the immune system.Would it be possible to try a different meat source?If its been going on for a while,thats where you might wanna start.Good luck with your dogs,I know this can be heart wrenching.

I agree on the Ivomec, it won't hurt your dog to try it, I actually use it as a heartworm preventative but have also used to to treat mange. That doesnt work, test for allergies.

Good luck with him 4pack. Keep us posted please.