HELP Rescue dog has SEVERE itching issues - Page 1

So I thought when I picked up my rescue pull from CA, I'd get a slightly aggressive dog which is what I was told before I took her out of the crate. She is really very sweet and hasnt shown any aggression. What I did get was a SEVERELY itchy dog from the likes Ive never seen before. And Ive had some pretty itchy dogs over the years. Here is what I tried and how it has worked so far

Flea spray = although I live in NV with no fleas the dog came from CA. The flea spray actually made the itching worse

Borax bath = Next on the list was possible mange. She is loosing hair of the sides of the shoulders and is shaking her head. Not yeast overgrowth in the ears nor is there any smell. The bath worked for a very short time and she seemed happy after her bath. I was feeling hopeful but once the scratching started...I was sunk for any further success.

Ive been told by more than one person skin scrapings are a hit and miss and not too take too much faith in their outcome. So I havent done it and Im out of work. I should have guessed that there was something wrong with the dog. I have yet to get a healthy one in YEARS.

Her primary area's to itch are the shoulder blades, neck and the sides of the back legs. NO place is safe but those seems to be the worst. She does seem to have nasal drainage but I thought that might be the beginnings of kennel cough so I put her on an herbal antibiotic. The itching is not just scratching. She digs at her skin and her feet dig at her skin. Oh and I tried some bendryl just to see if it did anything...and nothing.

I originally put her on raw and she had the runs so bad so Ive gone back to Earthborn and am transitioning the meat in. Treats are salmon. I dont want to go the pred route. But I feel bad for her and she whines as she itches. Im guessing its like having the chicken pox or measles. I feel bad for her. Help please for poor Candy. If you looked at her you wouldnt see anything wrong. She has a super thick NICE coat. But unless she is sleeping...she is scratching.  Barb

Barb

Could it be the food from the rescue or her original home?

Poor Candy. I know you're trying to go the holistic route, but since he is so miserable, I'd try Temaril P. It is an antihistamine combine with a very small dose of prednisone. Ive seen it work wonders on itchy dogs. Running cool water over the itchy areas can help too, or cool compresses will help too, but only temporarily. Too bad she couldn't tolerate the raw diet. That really helped my rescue girl who was terribly itchy when I got her. 

Hey Im willing to try anything. Candy came from the shelter so who knows what she ate. She is extremely thin. Anxiety? Maybe but the scratching is almost digging at her skin. Ill check that out though.

I've had excellent luck with Zinpro food for dogs with coat issues. Had a poodle come in that was bald on most of the areas it was able to reach to chew or scratch. The owner took our suggestion, and a few months later his coat had totally regrown!

I (when you can) would also worm her with panacur).  Remember you need to treat from the inside out.  I would put her on cococnut oil when the runs stop; give her some probiotics in food with some pumpkin.  Did she come with the itching or did it start at your place?  Did I read in Earthborn it has Flax?  Don't remember, but flax makes them itch also. 

I would also put the coconut in her bath water with rinsing her with some watered down white vinager rinse;  that will help to heel.  This may be something you just have to ride out until you get her changed over.  Possibly some enzymes would help to get her gut settled down, probably not necessary forever though.  Just my thoughts, I am sure you will get her squared away, she sure is a pretty girl;  she was probably scared to death in the shelter is why she seemed aggressive, didn't probably want anything to do with them.  Can't blame her, glad you got her out. 

Don't try too much change all at once.  The coconut and vinager rinse should help externally and internally as well.  ACV??

She is on coconut oil now and has been since she came in. Also probiotics. The odd thing is if you looked at her coat, which is in great condition, you would never know she has this severe of an itch. I'm still leaning toward some sort of bug problem.  Scabies? I'm taking her to the vet today for heartworm test then treat with some parasite meds.

I got home with her at about midnight and she was so out of sorts, hard to know if she had this before or not. Ive noticed though today that the scratching after the borax bath has slowed some. She is still crazy with itching but its a slight bit better.

Barb

I'm treating my dogs holistic for a long long time....probiotics do nothing for the skin. They are for the digestive tract. Leave all grain, chicken, preservatives away first. No treats. Transitioning to raw is good. If you can, feed only green tripe as raw food, that has the least allergenes.Feed her on the ground, no bowl and filter the water, if you can.
No straw, no fleece, no fabric softener in her blanket. No collar if possible. No conventional medicine as long as you can avoid it.
If she doesn't have hives anywhere, try homeopathic Sulphur C6. Start with one dose and see if she shows the slightest improvement. If there is slight improvment, give another dose of 3 pellets/drops after 3 hours until you show a big improvement, then stop the remedy.
Hope she is feeling better soon!

I suggest a veterinary dermatologist.
If you suspect mites, and the dog has all the indications of mites, then the vet should proceed and treat for mites even if they can't find them on a skin scrap.

Best of luck!