Irritated skin on 8 month old GSD - Page 1

We have a male GSD who is very active and outgoing. Over the last 3 months he has got spots on his belly and raw patches in his armpits. 

The vet has given us anti-biotic shampoo, which did not help.  Also antibiotic spray which did not help (mind you it was difficult to apply).  Today he has had all his hair cut off and been scrubbed with a fungicide and had an anti-fungal injection (first of three).  We have been told to scrub himthoroughly every other day for 2 weeks and then twice a week.  The vet says fungal spores hide in the hair follicles and that some GSD lines have weakened immune systems.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

take some alergy meds or check for  imune problems if you went to the vet he should nkow more of whats going on

sorry for spelling cant see well

Could also be caused by a food allergy. Check with your Vet and inform him on the food you provide to your dog,

Christiane

What you describe sounds like a food intolorance or allergy.If you are feeding a chicken based food ,get a different protein sourced food.An example,lamb,fish,etc.Also some dogs just dont do very well with wheat or corn so if it were my dog thats what i would start with.Good luck

Change to a Holistic vet. I'm surprised he hasn't been treated for sarcoptic mange. Even with a skin scraping, it is rarely detectable, but with these signs and symptoms, he should be treated for it.  It might get rid of it altogether. I rescue dogs, and that's the first thing we do with a skin condition that's not responsive to other treatments. It almost always works. Then we build the immune system with vitamic C, E, and a diet without wheat, corn, or soy. You'd be surprised at how quickly it can clear up. The bacterial infections are SECONDARY to what's really causing the problem. All these antibacterial treatments in the world won't fix the problem. Speak to another vet, ask about these other treatments. Skin conditions are a vets panacea. Most won't treat them effectively. Go see another vet. Von Leistung

I am fairly new to shepherd and their sensitive skin, but I am familiar with other breeds.  It is hard to pinpoint what it is if it is an allergy.  To quickly narrow it down you could contact your vet and see if they can send a sample to http://www.varlallergy.com/  .. Just my opinion if it is an allergy and not fungus. It would just keep you from having to switch foods and switch again if that didn't work and then it turn out that he is allergic to some sort of pollen or dust mite...

perhaps it is a grain allergy

what do you feed him?

Food allergy - just went through it all with my boy.  The Nutritionist at the UofM formulated a home made dog food with elk and lentils etc. and he is clear.....your story is my story.  Hurry it will only get worse.  The Derm. did skin scrapings and not sarcoptic mange - but treated him anyway because he runs and hikes with me and sacoptic can drop off a fox and can infect the dog - therefore like the individuals above - get him to a Derm vet or a really good vet.  They will get you relief with Benedryl till itching subsides........good luck..........know what you are going thru - however after 4 weeks my dog was good as new and all hair grew back and he is healthy and happy - however stained teeth from the lentils - oh well anybody know of a good tooth paste -