Please help ~~ itchy 10 week old puppy - Page 1

Ok, my puppies are now 10 weeks old, 6 are now living with their new families and I have my 2 pick puppies.

One of the boys I noticed scratching the day before he was to leave 7 days ago, rushed him off to the vet who gave him a small dose of cortisone and an antihistamine injection, he responded well, I rung his owners and suggested they leave him for a few days but they insisted that he left on schedule 10 days ago. All OK as far as I know but I will be ringing them tonight.

Now one of my girls has scratched herself naked in the same areas as the boy, (from groin to chest) she was treated by my vet the same as the boy but I am not seeing any response so she is back to the vet tomorrow, she has no broken skin just no hair and very itchy.

From the day I first saw the male puppy scratching I moved the whole litter to another puppy run that was mainly concrete because it looked as if it could be environmental from the areas involved so whatever the cause cannot be environmental.
I have not changed their diet in any way since they were weaned,  I would love to do that now but I am afraid that I would cause other problems if I do that now.

We have had lots of foxes around here during the summer and we also have a very large communal type of birds nesting in a tree that is about 30 feet away from them but my vet did not think it looked like sarcopties or bird lice when I asked him. Not only that but none of my other dogs are effected, only these 2 puppies

Does anyone have any thoughts or input??

Could not wait until tomorrow, went back to vet this PM ~~~ told to give antihistamines for the next 5 days~~

Not Demodex ~~~~ Not Sarcopies .

I am still very concerned !!!!

This is my PICK PUPPY.

The problem is with the food you are feeding. Your vet will be happy to medicate the problem with a variety if medications, none will really fix the problem, just cover it temporarily if at all. This is very common. My universal treatment for skin problems is; Deworm and change diet. It's worked 100% of the time. I've spent thousands chasing skin problems at the vet and all along it was just the crappy kibble I was feeding.

Take some time to  rersearch and give them a good raw diet or just feed chucken thighs until you can get something else. Give them some probiotics, salmon oil, ester C and they will be fine in about a week and the skin will get better in time as the hair grows back. Put some MTG for horses on the skin to promote hair growth.

Save yourself a lot of anguish and money in the process. Look for a reoccurrance around 12 months if you're still feeding kibble. I'm sure others will have similar responses from their experience.

dogs show allergies through their skin.

what are you feeding this puppy?

beets, oats, barley, wheat - there are so many common allergens in feeds. finding the culprit may take some time.

Flax will do it also either seed or oil;  I have 2 that within hours of giving any flax of any type are scratching like crazy; and as soon as it gets out of their systems (about 2-7 days) they stop.  I also know others that can't take flax.  Best of luck  Nan

If you can possibly go onto raw I would highly recommend that. 

Did your vet do a whole blood/urine picture already?
Although mostly in older dogs, thyroid problems could show hair loss in different areas. Kidney malfunction shows hair loss as well, but mostly at the side of the body. Antihistamines have many side effects and can lead to other problems on the long term.
I would recommend raw food too, but only from 100% antibiotic free chicken or turkey to start with.

I am having the same kinds of problems with my 1.5 yr old GSD. The itching and scratching started about last May or June probably and we haven't found a solution. We have tried benadryl and prescriptions with her, but they only helped slightly and temporarily. No fleas or mites, according to the vet. She bites and scratches her fur until it's bare and inflamed. We feed her Lamb and Rice Purina Pro Plan. Not sure if it's allergies or just a nervous type habit she does while kenneled. She is kenneled while I work and at night. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

She is at the present time on Purina Pro Plan for am & pm meals with Human grade beef mince, fish oil capsule and plain natural Yoghurt but her mid day meal is always chicken frame or wings. As I only have enough Pro Plan left for about 7 days I am prepared to start a change over to an adult fomula dry food.

I live in a rural area and I often have access to beef when a local farmer has to shoot a cow  when she does not pick up post calving, ( as much as I have room for in my freezer for no cost ).

I  would love feed raw but at this time I am not comfortable feeding puppies raw, I am too worried about gettting it right.

GSD1117, I see that you have skin problems also and that your dog is on Pro Plan, could be the Pro Plan.

 I agree with Dog1 100%. A raw meat diet will solve many types of skin issues, vitamin E and omega 3 fish oil will also help. The vet treatments are just temporary solutions. Good luck.  

 My pup was whelped onto a raw meat diet, I got her at 10 weeks and she machined threw chicken bones like nothing. a bit longer on beef rib bones. I was unsure if a pup this small could handle it. Let me tell you it was the best thing I ever did! Never had a healthier pup. I owe it all to my breeder. I switched my 2 adults as well. The results are amazing-no bad breath-spotless teeth-3/4 less poop in kennel, no scratching, all around healthier dogs. I'm telling you it's amazing. I as well was very skeptical as well. Now I know it's the best for my dogs. That's what there digestive tract was built for. It will cost no more than premium gravel. Hope my experience helps.