dog skin problem

My dog has a serious scratching problem...........?

2010-04-24T04:12:00.002-07:00

My dog is only a year and a half old, but he has flees really really bad. I have tried frontline, the flee soap, but nothing works. He's scratching so much, that he has started to cut open the skin on his face and it causes bleeding. It isn't to bad, but I'm sure it will get worse if I don't find a way to stop it. I need ideas please!!!

My dog has a serious scratching problem...........?
If you are using frontline and other stuff you need to make sure you completely sort out your house and car and anywhere else your dog travels. You will just be re-infesting him if you dont, regardless of the frontline!

Go to your vets, you should be able to get an anti-itch injection which will help him in the short term. Long term, sort those fleas out!
Reply:it is probably not fleas,,if you are using frontline monthly as directed..... he could have mange, etc.. a thorough vet check is in order ,, he may also have allergies.... feed him a high quality dry kibble...
Reply:Take him to a vet, as it may be something more than fleas. Especially since he's scratching to the point of bleeding
Reply:My dog has allergies and her skin gets all red and irritated, and sometimes bleeds...take your dog to a vet and have it checked for allergies. My dog was put on a steroid to clear up the itchies and I'm supposed to give her benedryl if she gets itchy again.
Reply:did you bomb your house when you deflee'd your dog? you have to get rid of all of them. He could also be allergic to them. give him some benydryle. amount depends on weight. call your vet and ask how much. Put an over the counter antibiotic ointiment on his cuts to sooth them. wash all your bedding and his if he has any. lyme your lawn. to kill any outside. if there is another flee killer for lawns use that, but remember to keep your dog off it for 24 hours. Remember flee's hate soap and water. and when washing or spraying your dog with frontline. Always do under the tail first then do around the ears. those are places the flees will crawl into to hide. then do the rest of the dog last. do not frontline again. you will have to use soap and water and a flee comb. But bomb the house and lyme the lawn.
Reply:Sounds like you have an infestation of fleas in your house.

My advise is go to vet and get some antibiotics for the cuts on him. He is getting a secondary skin infection caused by the fleas. The day he is at the vets (keep him there) get your house exterminated by a professional for fleas. They are all in your house. Get rid of his old bedding and bring in new ones after the fact.

When you get your dog back keep him on the frontline or advantage. In additon to that use the heartworm prevention called "sentinal". It has a flea control in it. It breaks the life cycle of the flea. The flea part of this heartworm prevention works with the digestive system so give him this pill with a good meal. You will get rid of your fleas if you do ALL of this.
Reply:dont wash him with lemon juice and salt

if he is an outside dog rub some motor oil all over him

if he is an inside dog was him with head and shoulders

use harts flea spray get him a flea collar

bathe him every week

also to get rid of fleas in the house get a box or rock salt

pour rock salt into pie plates and shove them under the bed and couch and in every room

NO MORE FLEAS!
Reply:Try Advantix, it repels fleas, ticks and mosquitos. But it sounds like it may not be the fleas. There is an allergy some dogs get where they are actually allergic to their own saliva, so every time they bite themselves, fleas or not, they aggravate their skin worse. Most dogs that have this allergy lose enough hair as to make them look mangy, the poor things. A vet can tell you for sure though.

My mom's dog has a mild case of this, and we accidentally found something that worked for her. I say it that way because I got something for my dog with natural ingredients at Wal-Mart and my husband hated the smell, so I gave it to my mom to try. It's made by Sargent's, and it is in a litte tube you put on their neck like the Frontline or Advantix. All the ingredients are natural oils, like oil of peppermint, cloves, etc. Apparently, the pests hate the smell as much as my husband did, because they stayed off my mom's dog and all of her hair grew back since she quit biting. Maybe it will work for you too.
Reply:I would take your dog to your local vet and have him examined.

It could just be a bad habit, or he might have terrible fleas. Don't let it get too bad. Maybe tell him no when he starts to scratch very hard.
Reply:if you cant actually see the bugs/fleas it might not be fleas. all animals have little microscopic bugs on them, as we do too. if the animal gets too stressed over something the bugs will act up and over populate causing irritation and itching, sometimes even hair loss.(my dog lost hair around her eyes) it could also be dry skin, in that case try an oatmeal shampoo and conditioner, or i put a little olive oil on top of my dogs food, they love it plus it helps thier skin and fur. frontline is the best flea/tic medicine and if that didnt work i would think its something else. if you take her to the vet ask for a skin scrapeing, if she tests positive for mites they will give her a "mit-a-ban" dip, usually after three of those (depending on how bad they are) theyre gone. good luck
Reply:OMG mange!!!!! My chi had it, it was the worst experience ever!!!!
Reply:Your dog is allergic to flea bites. Get him to your vet for an injection to help with the swelling and redness, then continue on a flea preventative ALL the time. Next you will have to treat your home. Your vet will be able to provide you with the proper products

My dog has a naty skim problem?

2010-04-24T04:12:00.001-07:00

my dog has a skim disease know highly in west highland terriors and for some reason it wont cure he lost most of his fur his skin is black and oily and sometimes swollen even when given steroides it doesnt seem to make to much of a diffrence any ideas of what to do for him. Besides put him down cause my brother would never allow it. he loves the dog and doesnt even like to hear people when they say how nasty he looks he gets very defencive.

My dog has a naty skim problem?
It sounds like you need to take that baby to the vet before it gets any worse.
Reply:It's skin cancer.
Reply:Best ask your vet for suggestions, only your vet knows the best course of action. They also know the dx and prognosis.
Reply:Put the dog down if he is suffering. Your brother will get over it.
Reply:a diet consisting of raw meaty bones, muscle meat and organs clears up skin problems, and eliminates allergies. Since you have nothing to lose, give it a try.

For the next few weeks, try feeding chicken wings or thighs(for the size of your dog, one thigh or wing is a whole meal). Or you can get some chicken backs, and chop it into halves or thirds. Then you can give liver, etc....

As long as it is raw, bones are the best for your dog, as they don't choke, and raw bones don't splinter.

Good luck!!!
Reply:i assume he has been tested for mange - this can give the same symptoms you describe, and steroids will make it worse - its a simple skin scrape your vet can do
Reply:you need to bring him to a veterinary dermatologist to find out what it is

this is not a regular vet ... this is a vet that specializes in the skin of dogs ... we saw one for our dog that had a terrible skin condition and it turned out to be a fungus

there are so many things and they can be treated

do not let some of these letters you received upset you

no one could have looked worse than my dog and now she has a gorgeous coat

check in your area for a dermatologist

did your vet not recommend that you should see one

they should know where the closest one is located

take a look at these sites ...

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/der...

http://www.westiemed.org/health/malassez...

http://www.dermapet.com/articles/art-20....

much good luck to you ...
Reply:Your dog has malazzesia which is a yeast overgrowth. You need to get a vet who isn't pumping the poor thing full of steroids, as you said it doesn't help and the dog is probably miserable. A completely grain free diet would be a good start. Google malazzesia or yeast overgrowth in canines to get some idea what's going on. Good luck.

HELP! adopting a Labradoodle with Skin Problems?

2010-04-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

Hello - I am getting ready to adopt a beautiful female labradoodle but her current owner says she thinks she has skin problems. Sister just turned a year old and has her owner sent me an email saying:

"She does not look the way she did in that bushy picture. Her skin is red on her legs and her tummy. She needs to be taken to the vet to see what kind of skin problem she has. I am trying to be as upfront with you as possible. I can not afford to take her to the vet myself or I would."

The current owner also mentioned that Sister also has a spot above her tail the she has been biting at. ANY idea as to what this could be??? She mention that this skin problem started when she moved so is some type of allergy possible?

I am willing to take care of a problem that is manageable but I don't want to get a dog that my children have to watch suffer. PLEASE give me any advise as soon as possible as I am suppose to drive 3 hours to purchase her on Saturday. Thank yo so much!

HELP! adopting a Labradoodle with Skin Problems?
Skin issues are very tricky. If it is something easy like FAD then it would be no big deal. Is she spayed? If she is and she is having this problem it is most likely not Demodex. If it is Sarcoptic be careful.. it is highly contagious.

If it is allergies you could be in for an easy fix or a nightmare. The easy fix is that her food needs to be a better quality and she needs good clean living conditions. The down side is that you could be saddled with a dog that needs montly shots, special food, and medicine for the rest of her life.
Reply:What the hell is a labradoodle?
Reply:It's most likely a food allergy, do you know what she's being fed? Try switching her to a better food like Innova Evo or a raw diet and see if that helps before you do anything else- a vet will be happy to take your money and probably not give you much good advice in the process.
Reply:Wow, it could be food, could be

dust mites on an on....could be very expensive to diagnose or it could be a flea treatment is needed....

If I were you I would stand back and say if my friend were going to purchase a 1 yr old dog...Purchase...being the key word, instead of rescue....which is what it really sounds like....

would I advise her to not even see the dog because you know you'll feel sorry for the dog, bring it home, then to the vets and it could cost a mint to work on the problems it has...it might be as simple as intolerance to food it's eating....but at 1 yr. most dogs do not have skin problems. I'd back out if they wanted money for it especially.
Reply:it's not a known "breed" that has major skin problems, like shar peis. i would guess an allergy of some sort is hitting this girl, but is likely to be treatable once you figure out what's going on. the key is just figuring out what it is, and with pets it is often a case of trial and error to see what works. the areas that are red and itchy sound most likely to be either fleas or food. (fleas are a very very common allergy in dogs - all it takes is one bite to cause major itching, kind of like a mosquito to humans). that would be my first thing to look at.

• get her to a vet for a check...they may do a scraping, but these areas are not the first areas hit with either demodectic or sarcoptic mange so it's unlikely - they are more likely to look her over and give a shot/meds short-term to help control the itching...you'll want to bring her in to make sure it's not a bacterial skin infection that's causing this. it would need meds to clear it up, nothing else you do will help if it is, although it's not generally expensive to treat.

• get her on flea prevention, bathe her in oatmeal rinse shampoo or something like chlorhexidine shampoo (most vets carry it). see if that helps calm things down.

• if that doesn't help, change the food to a hypoallergenic one made with something like duck, venison, potato...there are plenty of good ones out there like this, some cheaper than others, just look at ingredients...canidae, royal canin %26amp; wellness all make good ones. stay away from beef, wheat, chicken, corn, these are the main food allergies for pets...

in the meantime, you can put sulfadene (available over the counter in some pet stores) on the spots to help with the itching. or brew some really strong tea and let if cool...put a cloth soaked in it on the spots - it will also help with the inflammation %26amp; itching. but unless you find the cause, it will continue. so once you get her, take her to a vet and see what they suggest as a course of treatment. good luck!
Reply:My dog had a skin condition and it was caused by corn in his food. Try finding biscuits/wet food without corn in it. He had no hair on his lower back but it has know grown all back. If that doesn't work it could be a flea or grass allergy...
Reply:I have a Schnoodle [Shnauzer + poodle] and Cockapoo [Cocker spaniel + poodle]. The schnoodle does not have sensitive skin, but our cockapoo [he seems to have a stronger poodle influence esp in appearance] has extremely sensitive skin.

Poodles have sensitive skin. Both dogs started losing hair during the summer. The Schnoodle had a red, angry bald patch at the base of his tail, but the Cockapoo had a red belly and red hind legs. Turns out they had picked up fleas from outside, so we treated them with Frontline. Both healed completely. We know when the Frontline wears off because the Cockapoo will start licking and nibbling at his skin until it is gets red. He even pulls out his hair.

She could have a food allergy or a shampoo allergy. Perhaps the breeder is using highly perfumed shampoos. The pup could also have some sort of fungal infection. It's really hard to say because I do not know the living conditions of the dog. There could be an untreated flea infestation.

It is very possible that perhaps some irresponsible breeding has occured and the pup has severely sensitive skin due to genetics.

Overall, I would take her to the vet and see what it is. If it is the flea or the fungal infection it should be manageable. Fungal infection= complete the vet prescribed treatment. If it's fleas, then you know you must use Frontline every month to prevent a breakout.

Additionally, because of the poodle fur you will need to purchase a dog comb and slicker brush and brush her every 2-3 days unless you send her out for grooming. This is the only way you can prevent matts, which cause skin inflammation and infection. The moisture under the matts may feel itchy so the dog may chew, lick, or scratch that area raw.

My best wishes to you! I hope it turns out to be a manageable condition because it sounds like you'd be a great family for her.

bougainvillea

Question for: Dog Groomers 'Eqyss Micro-Tek Shampoo'?

2010-04-24T04:11:00.000-07:00

Any of you tried this product? Is it as great as it sounds?

Would love to hear some feedback on it.

I'm thinking of ordering some for my shop. Alot of the dogs I groom have skin issues. Wonder if it helps with yeast and other skin problems.

Thanks!

Question for: Dog Groomers 'Eqyss Micro-Tek Shampoo'?
Sorry I haven't used that one. I used mostly BioGroom and PPP and vet prescription shampoos.

I had many regulars on weekly schedules if they were having skin problems. I also sent them to a Dermatologist (vet specialist) and after he diagnosed them I had them bring me the shampoos he wanted used and labeled them so the dog could always have it's own shampoo at the shop.

With the help of my vet and the Dermatology vet I got many of my clients skin better. I also consulted on the dog's diet if needed...many were not on good food at first. I did not push the Vet's brands.....just better food in general.

Yeast or skin infections need to be diagnosed by a vet so the exact shampoo or treatment can be used.

I also disinfected all the kennels and the grooming table and equipment between dogs. I used a parvocide that disinfected for everything. After each dog got bathed the kennel got cleaned before the clean dog was put back. And i never put another dog into a kennel without making sure it was clean and disinfected.

Many shops are quite dirty. I think every bit helps.

Googled and found this:

http://www.groomers.net/discus/messages/...

I googled the website that makes the shampoo it certainly does make a lot of claims...it would be nice if it is true :)
Reply:I haven't had personal experience with that particular brand, but I've tried a LOT of shampoos, and most of the 'miracles' don't really happen. For one thing, you have to understand that even a basic oatmeal shampoo is pretty much useless if only used every 6-8 weeks when the dog comes in for grooming. Unless you plan to buy take-home sizes and get all your customers to bathe at least once a week with the same products you're using, it just won't do any good. Medicated baths have to be regular to be effective.

Any shampoo made with Tea Tree Oil will produce pretty much the same effects, and it's cheaper. :-) Either way, good luck!
Reply:I've used it on my horse before and had great results. In fact, I use a number of their products on my horse. Not sure if it would work as well on a dog or even if it's safe to use on a dog.

I've also used Eqyss's spray for rain rot with great success, so the claims the company makes are in deed valid; however, I would make darn sure it's safe to use on a dog before using it on even my own dog let alone a client's.

There is an iodine shampoo that is safe for dogs as well as horses that is effective for some skin conditions. Since this evening I'm going out to see my horse, I'll look at the bottle so that I can tell you the brand. I know that I ordered it from Jeffers, however.

Apple cider vinager on dog?

2010-04-24T04:10:00.001-07:00

has anyone tried using apple cider vinager on dog. i read that it helpcure itching, and skin problem. would like to know what is the doseg

Apple cider vinager on dog?
You can just rinse him in it after a bath. It's good for them.
Reply:We use it on all of our dogs food. Dosage depends on dogs size. Add apple cider vinegar directly to food or drinking water, starting with small amounts and building up to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight for dogs and cats (1 teaspoon per day for the average cat, 1 tablespoon for a 50-pound dog or 2 tablespoons for a 90-pound dog). By gradually adding small doses to your pet's food over time, you can help even the most finicky eater to accept this valuable food. We give extra to my min pin for his runny eyes. Works wonders.
Reply:Oh yeah it is great for dogs, I put 1 tsp in their drinking water. In the summer, I mix it 50/50 with water and spray it on them. It keeps away the mosquitoes, black flies etc. It is good for dry skin, itchy skin, rashes, hot spots, you name it.

Remember too, if you have problems on the outside, it likely is coming from within. Check your food to make sure that you are feeding a quality diet.

What's the best way to look after a 16 yr old cat with pain in hip area & skin problems?

2010-04-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

Im a little concerned about my cat, she's 16 years old %26amp; apart from being the victim of a v.nasty dog attack 10yrs ago we've had no problem with her health (apart from her being v.paranoid if you touch the area she was bitten).

She seems perfectly ok but Im concerned about her weight (she was the runt of the litter %26amp; is very thin), she's very active %26amp; occasionally falls if jumping. She also seems to have nibbled some of her fur away near her hip - I was told it was due to fleas but we've blitzed her %26amp; cant find any trace of fleas...only rather sensitive looking skin.

When you stroke her if you touch her below her ribs she hisses %26amp; scratches - I know her old attack scars are there but am concerned about her hips.

My Mum thinks she could've just developed sensitive skin %26amp; maybe a bit of cat arthritis in her hips.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what the problem's likely to %26amp; what the average lifespan for a domestic cat is?

What's the best way to look after a 16 yr old cat with pain in hip area %26amp; skin problems?
It may be arthritis, it's a good possibility because of previous trauma to the area. If you're really concerned a vet can do an exam and an x-ray looking for any fractures or cracks to the hip area, especially as you said she fell when jumping. Their hips are very thin bones so there is a chance she damaged something there without you knowing and it's causing her pain.

The sensitive skin may be just dryness, or it could be a reaction to something--again the vet would know.

An average lifespan is closer to 20 years now for a cat, whereas 15 used to be the average back around 1980. They live longer nowadays.

Try adding 1/4 tsp of canola oil to her dry food once or twice a week and see if that helps the skin, but if she remains sensitive to touch back there, I'd schedule a vet appointment for her to be looked at. Especially if her pupils are very large when she's reacting to the touch (large pupils often indicate pain). Also watch to see if she is a little awkward getting up after laying down for any length of time and if she easily raises her tail vertically, problems with the hips would impair these two actions.
Reply:Sounds like she is on her last legs, 16 is pretty old, take her to a vet they will be able to give you better idea.
Reply:Have you had bloodwork done to check for thyroid, kidney problems, or diabetes? All common in older cats and treatable. There are medications available that are safe for cats that have arthritis and will make her time left more comfortable. Please see your vet for info. My cat is 18.5 and is doing fine, so you can't tell how much time she has left.
Reply:Congratulations on caring for a cat to age 16.

Arthritis is a possibility. Do speak to your vet about that. Some people like to provide senior cats with supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin, research and anecdotal information on the benefits are mixed. Some say it does no good, other report some benefit; it doesn't seem to harm. Because she is prone to falling, look into providing her with pet stairs or cat trees she can use to get to and from her favourite high places.

It is possible that her skin has become sensitive, either due to newly developed allergies or a change in major organ function. Again, your vet can help you with this and recommend the best diet, medication and/or treatments for her skin.

At this late time in her life, making happy and comfortable is the best you can do. Talk to an expert for help.
Reply:I'm sorry to brutal, but in my opinion you should have the cat put down. 16 is a very good age for a domestic cat. The cat has lived a good life but the time has come to put an end to it.

You must also consider vet's bills which can be phenomenal (unless you have insurance).
Reply:Your Mum is correct, any injury a pet suffers can turn into painful

Arthritis when the pet gets old. Just like people. There is medication available to ease the poor dears pain, see your Veterinarian asap.
Reply:Get some blood work done. I would have her checked for diabetes because: cats become very thin - second-when their blood glucose level is high, they are very grumpy and hiss etc. etc. especially when you try to pet them ( well this may be a bit of generalization) and last, because diabetes effects the hind quarters because it deprives the body of vitamin B.
Reply:Goodness gracious, I can't believe that anyone would be so callous as to advise you to have her put to sleep.

Right..Age. up to 20 years of age or so. I have just lost my 19 year old Moggie. He was deaf %26amp; his sight wasn't that good. He toddled out into the street %26amp; was run over. it was devastating really! He was tring to follow my daughter to her grany's house :o(

I think it is time to take her to the vets to investigate why this spot is so tender. It might be arthritis, in which case they can help her with anti inflamatories %26amp; pain relief similar to Ibruprophen. However, it might be something that is not obvious to the laymens eye, so I suggest that they might be able to help out where we can't.

Best of luck,

Sheelagh%26gt;"o"%26lt;
Reply:Average lifespan about 12 -15 years....I am not going to bother commenting about the rest.
Reply:Cat's live on average about 15/16 years - although my beautiful kitty was put to sleep earlier this year when he was 21, so they can live beyond the average.

As cats get older, they do tend to thin out, and eat considerably and seem to be a bag of bones in their twilight years - mine was always quite podgy and constantly hungry up until about 4 or 5 years before he died.

If she's having trouble walking, then it is possibly arthritis - it wouldn't be unusual in a cat of her age. So long as she's relatively happy, healthy and eating well (albeit less than previously) then there's no reason to have her put down.

Keep an eye on her and get the vet to have a quick look - often there's something they can prescribe, although cats are notoriously bad at receiving medication!

What causes the black greasy patches on a dogs skin under its coat.?

2010-04-24T04:09:00.001-07:00

When the dog is bathed, even with good quality dog shampoo, some of it comes off but lots of patches remain and look unsightly when you part the coat. What can be used to remove all the black. (Please note I am not refering to the black pigment where the skin on here tummies changes colour with age sometimes and I dont mean flea dirt - it is neither of these things). Can anyone tell me what it could be and how to remove it - the dog is a yorkie and about 11yrs old. It doesnt irritate her and she is not ill, the other dogs that live with her do not have this problem. Between baths it just builds up again, is it just that she has developed a greasy skin with age that attracts dirt?

What causes the black greasy patches on a dogs skin under its coat.?
Often hormonal changes, such as hypothyroid, will cause skin pigmentation and oiliness of the fur. It is usually accompanied by weight gain, lethargy, and thirst. Best to have her looked at, especially at her age, and a full blood panel run, complete with T4 (thyroid panel). It is easily treatable, but can cause a lot of problems if left untreated.

There are other possibilities, including diabetes, Cushing's, and various other problems, but the clinical signs of these are more extreme, you would probably notice skin changes last (after weight gain, poor condition, vomiting, unquenchable thirst, excess urination, etc).
Reply:She could have over active secretion glands.. I would consult a vet on this one.. Even if it is just a phone call asking them what they think.
Reply:skin cancer?? i dont know it sounds strange.. as with anything else, when not sure go to the vet and get it checked out....

shell flower

Help! Why why won't my dog stop losing his hair?

2010-04-24T04:09:00.000-07:00

I took him to the vet, and he was tested for everything. It's not mange or any disease or anything, the vet says he's just got allergies and he'll be fine, but his poor little tushie is BALD! I hear that small breeds (he's a boston terrier mix) and inside dogs are more prone to skin problems, but there must be something i can do to keep him from going totally bald

Help! Why why won't my dog stop losing his hair?
This can also be cause by vaccines. See link for Wisconsin University. When it comes to Benedrly, don't take previous advice. It needs to be given by weight. Pet med list and dosage link is also below.
Reply:verb. it's what dogs do.
Reply:Does he itch? Does he hurt? If not??? Let him go bald...if its not hurting him, and the vet says its allergies, go with it...

You'll love him anyway, won't you?
Reply:I think your pup is simply going through malting. If you let him be, I'm sure he'll be back to his old furry, lovable self.
Reply:If its allergies, try a different type

of food, it could be something in the

food he eats. Dogs benefit from eating

omega 3's too. Try giving your dog some

fish oil, I drain the oil or water from

tuna and or salmon, and give it to my

pet once in a while this helps the fur

and checking with the pet store on

other products you can use for aiding

hair loss. Good luck.
Reply:Thats just what happens when you have a dog.

Its worse when you have a pool,All the hair gets blown into it!
Reply:If it is allergies did your vet give you any suggestions? If not this what my vet told me. He said I could give my dog a half of a children's Benadryl once a day. I wrap it in a peace of cheese and give it to her that way. She takes quite well She thinks she is getting a treat. Another thing you might consider is the type of dog food you are feeding your dog. If you feed your dog a dog food from a grocer store stop go to a pet store and try Natural Choice. It is a great dog food and does help your dogs skin and coat. I hope this will help you. Oh one more thing if you are going to change your dogs dog food do it very slowly by mixing the old with the new gradually. You can ask a sales person at a pet store or a pet trainer how to do this. let me know if this helps you out.
Reply:There is some extensive testing that can be done to find out what the dog is allergic to. Talk to your vet about this, or try getting a second opinion
Reply:If you change his dog food:

Remember to stick only a little bit of the new kinda dog food in with his reg dog food! Every day put a tiny bit more of the new kind so your dog doesn't get sick from the diet change.

If you want you can feed him a hard-boiled egg, he'll probably eat it, eggs are good for hair (i forget why).

I hope you find out what his allergic to, allergy medicines work better at preventing an allergy, than stopping an allergic reaction already in progress.
Reply:Did they do a thyroid test? Thyroid disease is often responsible for hair loss in dogs. Also, even one flea bite can cause irritation and loss of hair if the dog is allergic to the flea saliva. I would use a good flea preventative like Advantage and closely read the instructions. The other thing that could definitely be responsible for hair loss is an allergy to the diet that you've been feeding. You may want to do an elimination diet where you start with a diet that consists of one thing (like maybe duck) that the dog has never had before. Ask your vet for specific instructions on how to do the elimination diet or join us here for instructions http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ToyDogLove...

Possible skin allergies in dogs?

2010-04-24T04:08:00.001-07:00

My 2 y/o Jack Russell/Shih Tzu mix scratches, bites and licks at his back almost constantly to the point of having bald patches. There is no sign of him having any fleas and nothing has changed in the household. His diet consists of mainly Alpo canned which I have checked and it contains no red dye #40 which I have been told can cause skin problems in the shih tzu breed. Any suggestions of what may be causing his skin problem or what I can do to alleviate it or at least improve his condition.

Possible skin allergies in dogs?
if you are feeding fish to your dog then just stop it i am 100%sure fish causes skin problems
Reply:this is a situation that needs to be addressed by your vet....there are so many possibilities....

has the dog recently been vaccinated?

could still be a food allergy

do you use plastic dog dishes?

possible skin problem other than allergy

stress related etc

at any rate,your dog is uncomfortable and deserves to be seen and treated to feel better
Reply:My best guess is a food allergy, but you really want to consult a vet on this issue.

The red flag here is that you are feeding Alpo. Here are the ingredients:

http://forums.dogfoodproject.com/showfla...

Ground yellow corn, beef and bone meal, soybean meal, beef tallow (preserved with BHA), animal digest, salt, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, added color (red 40, yellow 5, blue 2), manganese sulfate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, natural flavor, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite

Nearly all or ANY of these ingredients could be negatively affecting your dog. Corn, by-products, soy and so on can all create issues in your dog.

I would suggest you look in to something of a higher-quality. And yes, you CAN afford something better!!!

How about these:

Merrick

Innova

California Natural

Natural Balance

Heck, even Nature's Recipe might be best for your dog!

Please do some research in to dog food and the ingredients you should avoid. The best place to start is here:

www.dogfoodproject.com

Good luck!
Reply:A vet is the first place to start. Your dog might have something not able to be seen by the human eye. I just adopted a dog that has food allergies... yes, she is allergic to wheat! So she gets a wheat free diet. That also means no table scraps.. Not only that... she can not go running out in the woods... grass allergies. The worst yet... she is a hunting dog. Well, this is the reason she was dumped by the breeder to a kill shelter. So do your self and your pet a favor... take her to the vet.
Reply:Don't rule out fleas if you're not regularly treating with a veterinary flea treatment. Doing this is the only way you can be sure he doesn't have fleas, unless you know exactly how to check for them.

Beyond that, this could be mites, a hormonal imbalance or skin infection. It could still be allergies - these can develop spontaneously, even if nothing's changed.

You really need to get the dog checked by a vet to find out what's causing this. If you don't know what's wrong, you can't treat it of course - you can't just apply random treatment if you don't know what's wrong, it might make things worse. I'm afraid there's no way we could diagnose over the internet, even if we were vets.

Chalice

Dog eating cat food pt. 2?

2010-04-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, so now that I've discovered it is a bit unhealthy, I need some help. My dog is staying at my grandmother's, and my grandmother has cats. She feeds her cats a cheap-O brand (whatever's on sale at the store) and this is due to a limited in-come, and my dog has to eat high-quality food(I feed Canidae) or else he breaks out into rashes of all sorts(Flea allergy dermatitis, yeast infections, and food allergies).. My dog, for some reason, will eat the cat food when he's got a bowl full of Canidae. My grandmother can't put the cat food bowl up high because she's taught the cats to stay off of counters, etc(it is just one of her pet peeves.) I really don't want my dog to start getting all these skin problems again, how can I stop it?

Dog eating cat food pt. 2?
My parents keep the cat food in a room with a gate up so the dog can't go in and eat the cat food. Do that - find somewhere to put the cat food and block off that area so the dog can't get to it. It'll be a lot easier than trying to teach your dog to leave the cat food alone.
Reply:ohh my dogs used to do the same!if you really want your dog away from the cat food, just ask your grandma to put the dog in a diffrent room until the cats finish eating.

or

to just put the cats food in a diffrent place. theyll start looking for it whenever they get hungry.
Reply:I'm guessing that the cat food doesn't produce allergies for your dog.

As long as it's only for a while, then i think it's alright.

Also, what is harmful is the proteins in sea food, so if its a cheap brand I'm certain that the sea food level is not as high and largely substituted, in which case the risk is minimized.
Reply:My dog is on a special prescription food, so we have to be extra careful of things like that as well.

Our cats are fed on a schedule (morning and night) and get about 30 minutes to eat. When the time is up, we take the food away. That way, we are not keeping the pets separated for very long...

Now, since this is your grandmother's house, she might not be too happy if you tell her what to do with HER pets....so another suggestion would be to bring a baby gate (you can get a cheap pressure-mounted one for around $10) to her house. Gate off the room that the cat food is kept in. If you have a large dog, you could put the baby gate up high enough that the cats can sneak under it but the dog cannot go under or jump over. If the dog is smaller, just check to ensure that the cats can jump OVER the gate to get to their food...older cats may have trouble jumping.
Reply:Yes, dogs will take catfood over their own stuff - it's yummier because it's got a higher fat content.

If your Grandmother feeds the cats at set mealtimes, she can just keep your dog out the room during these times. If not, you've got a bit more of a problem - can't the cats be fed in a room the dog's not allowed in? Because basically, your only option is keeping the dog AWAY from the catfood because he won't stop eating it if he's around in, too tempting!

Chalice
Reply:Sure, your dog could easily have allergic reactions from the cat food. All it can take sometimes is a few bites...

The baby gate idea is good, and another easy and cheap one is to take a large cardboard box, make a hole enough for the cats to get through, but not the dog. (Will only work if the dog is large than the cats ofcourse ) put the kitties food in a bowl insode the box and they can go in there and dine, while your dog whines outside :)

HELP !!! My dog has a problem with Fleas.?

2010-04-24T04:07:00.001-07:00

She is allergic to the Flea collars and I have used all natural sprays and solutions and she is allergic to those also. Her hair and skin is now discolored and she is losing the hair on her back from scrathing. If anyone has any real ideas please respond. Thank you so much.

HELP !!! My dog has a problem with Fleas.?
YOU REALLY NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE VET.
Reply:Flea collars are no good. Your best bet is to take to vet. Otherwise look at getting your dog onto Frontline Plus. Also, in case you don't know this one, pet insurance is the best solution to helping your dog. I use VPI Petinsurance. VPI covers the costs of Heartguard and Frontline, 100%. You can purchase Frontline cheaper through 1800petmeds.com, rather than going to a local pet store like petco.
Reply:Have you had the vet check her out myfriend had similar problems with her dog and found she was actually allergic to the fleas
Reply:Your poor puppy! Perhaps you should take her to your vet, if nothing is working. They should be able to prescribe something or suggest what you can do. You may have to clear up her skin problems first before trying anything else. Have you tryed pills?Obviously they are not topical so they shouldn't hurt her skin. I use advantage and I have never had a problem, my dog has sensitive skin. Good luck
Reply:There are enough chemicals in her world already, more isn't going to help her. Have you tried flea treats? They are all natural, and they repel fleas. Works great. I've been using them for a few years and now have my mother switched to them for her dogs as well. A friend of mine from Cali has been using them for years with great success.

Dogs love them as they are liver flavored. Somehow the flea treats repel the fleas naturally so you dog doesn't pick them up in the first place. http://www.fleatreat.com Check it out.
Reply:Okay. Try Palmolive REGULAR soap not diluted. Bathe your dog in this. It will kill a lot of the fleas on your dog.. make sure you scrub and scrub everywhere. Gotta get the eggs too!! If you have carpet, have it steam cleaned. You cant get rid of fleas completely unless you eliminate them from EVERYWHERE!!

Good Luck!
Reply:it can be food allergy some dogs have skin problems from certain proteins mine did and I changed food. I keep mine on fronline plus and always use medicated shampoo it does the trick
Reply:Try treating her enviroment for fleas, my dogs suffer from fleas as the bloody roo's keep bringing them into the yard, then the dogs chase the bloody roo's cant win.
Reply:Use KP-24 medicated foam to kill the fleas on contact. You can also use ADVANTAGE on her neck every two weeks to stop them from coming back but they will probably never fully go away cause my dog had fleas as well but that seems to work as long as you keep bathing and giving her advantage. Good Luck Anyway. PS: please do allergy tests before using anything, i don't want her to get a skin allergy form my idea
Reply:vet
Reply:You should probably take her to the vet. Ask your vet if flea treats could work.

My cousin used salt as a natural flea repelent. It prevents fleas from nesting in the carpet, however it doesn't prevent the eggs from hatching.
Reply:frontline works great
Reply:First off you need to spray your yard because you can put flea collars on or even give her shots but if you have them in your yard you will never get rid of them . Spray yard and give her advantage treatments vets also have flea shots now since she is allergic to a lot of them shot might be the best . But spray yard so other will not jump on her . Works for my 4 Schnauzers flea free. good luck

alstroemeria

My dog has a problem, need suggestions?

2010-04-24T04:07:00.000-07:00

I will describe the symptoms, and the treatments so far...

Basically her symptoms consist of a super itchy stripe of skin that goes from her shoulder blades to her tail.

Also she burps a lot and throws up once or twice a week for no apparent reason, often in the morning when she first gets up.

I have tried at least 5 different kinds of allergy food, to no avail - actually, she puked more often while eating some of the brands of food (ie Wolf King)

Vetrinarians (she has seen 4 so far) all want to start a prednisone routine (a shot and then a couple months of pills) I wont allow this since she has very bad withdrawls from steroids. (she has three legs - her mother sat on her - and has been given way too many antibiotics and steroids in her life due to the surgeries to remove one leg and operate on another twice)

I am treating her with KetoChlor (clorohexidine and ketoconazole) shampoo incase of possible candidia overgrowth, after 4 baths in 5 days she is not changed

My dog has a problem, need suggestions?
Has she had a blood test?

My dog has a thyroid problem that has gotten progressively worse since she's gotten older. The vet noticed the hormonal imbalance a few years ago, but it was borderline so treatment wasn't pursued. Then a few months ago her skin got terrible. She had a rash all over her body. Her skin was flaky and red everywhere. So we tried a few store bought allergy shampoos and creams, etc. Nothing worked and she ended up having more blood drawn. Turns out it's her thyroid creating some kind of bacterial infection in her skin. So now she's on medication (she'll have to be on it for the rest of her life) and she's gotten much, better. The rash is pretty much gone, except for a flare up every once in awhile on her stomach.

Also when she was still having skin problems we tried a few different allergy foods too. But because for most of her life she'd eaten the cheaper foods (I wasn't always educated on more high-quality dog foods) with higher fat content, when we tried to switch her to the more healthy stuff, even though we did it slowly, he skin dried out because of the lack of fats in her diet. So that may be one of your problems too.
Reply:sounds like it has a mange or something . But with the pukeing your dog hasnt rolled in something and tried cleaning it off itself because it could be chemicals causeing it. tea tree shampoo is good for itchy coats i use it on our dogs they suffer with dry skin.
Reply:You might try a fatty acid supplement....I think it would help!!!

My dog had the same problem %26amp; drsfosterandsmith.com has some supplements that really helped my furgirl!!! :)
Reply:The vets know what is best for your dog, tell them about the withdrawl that you dog sometimes experiences and see what they say about it. You can't let your dog go on like this. It sounds like your dog has had a stroke, or maybe is he the runt of the family?

Watch the way your dog walks if he/she walks kind of messed up chances are you dog has had a small stroke.
Reply:we had been having some similar symptoms with our rottie (lexi), and one of the problems was the residual issues from fleas, but as there are none here, i would make one other suggestion to try (if you are not already doing this)... give her distilled water or boil any water before you give it to her. for lexi, this wasn't the main issue, but it did compound some of the other issues... also, you may already know this too, but whenever you change a dog's food, make sure that you do it gradually (e.g. start mixing half and half old and new foods) for a period of time, sudden changes in diet can disrupt their digestive system.

i hope this helps.
Reply:You may be bathing her TOO much....That could dry out her skin. Do you have a veterinary specialist in the area who treats skin disorders or allergies? Or is there a vet school in your state? You might try calling them and asking if they could see your pet.
Reply:Have you changed her diet recently,or changed her shampoo.laundry detergent when washing her bedding.My miniature poodle had this horrible rash on his belly,legs+ his willie,the vet asked me if i had changed anything including my laundry detergent,the answer was no,no,no,no,That is until the bills from the vet came to $500.00,after that i would check everywhere he went,and low and behold i remembered we had to buy cane mulch for my plants,so i raked it up and one week later he was healed.

I have a Bullmastiff, that has a problem with his skin (allergies) has anyone heard of this?

2010-04-24T04:06:00.001-07:00

He breaks out on his chest and his eye lids fold inward which irritate his eyes, which then get all crusty and a white or light green film is over his eye and he can't see. The Vet said because he is a large breed that happens sometimes with there eyes and they need surgery to be corrected. As far as the skin he just tells me to use a medicated shampoo and conditioner, but to wash him every couple months. Now I not a Vet but it seems to me that a dog should be wash atleast every two weeks. They get dirt just like we do, so does anyone have any suggestions, PLEASE let me know.

I have a Bullmastiff, that has a problem with his skin (allergies) has anyone heard of this?
I have three dobermans and two Bischons. Believe me it doesn't matter what size they are, they can still have allergies. One Dob and both Bischons went through something similar. Luckily I had this all figured out on the first one the next two weren't so bad. First, change their water and food bowls to stainless steel. Some dogs are allergic to the plastic. Second, it's very common for dogs to have animal by-product allergies. Read the labels before purchasing your food. We found that Nurto Lamb and Rice works really well and the dogs have wonderful coats and a lot less waist to clean up because their bodies digest most of the food unlike corn.... Be careful when offering treats as well. Again, read the label and know what your feeding your dog (avoid beef, chicken, etc. stick to the lamb for a while and give it time to see if it works). It may take a few weeks to notice a huge difference after the changes, but they do work. If you don't want to spend the time going to a pet or feed store for the Nutro (which I swear by) you could try Purina One lamb and rice which is the best feed I have found in the grocery store. Good luck with your dog! Please keep us informed as to how he is doing.
Reply:try wellness simple five dog food for the skin. that's what we use for our bullmastiff since he has skin problems. the vet can give you $10 shampoo called pyoben that will help too - its not sold over the counter Report It

Reply:Try a different vet for a different opinion. Also, you don't want to wash your dog too often because it will irritate their skin more. Generally, people wash their dog once every month or two. As far as allergies, there are a lot of treatment options. For example, you dog can get allergy shots a couple times a year and then he'll feel much better. Bring it up with a vet.

Take care
Reply:Many times skin problems are food related. Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359%26amp; more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoo...
Reply:ask your vet about food not to feed your dog.
Reply:yes i have read about this , i own st bernards and it is something you have to watch out for, the eyelids turn in and irritate the eye. its called ENTROPION, the ve should be giving you soothing and eye ointments, but most cases do need the operation which will prevent further damage to the cornea. for the skin on his body try putting a cup full of vinegar in he bath water (nothing else) dont use any shampoo. vinegar is good for getting rid of allergy redness, ive tried this myself and it does work. if you dont use the vinegar (which i recommend) then buy some coal tar shampoo from your local petstore. entropion is hereditary so do not breed him or the poor puppies will end up with it. the sooner he gets the op the better because is eyes will become ulcerated and it can cause blindness. poor big pet.xx
Reply:Go to peteducation.com and do a search for dog allergies. My Husky also suffers from skin and paw itching allergies. That website gave me the information I needed to understand what causes her to react what questions to ask my vet. Now when my dog is miserable, I give her half of a children's Benadryl. Please do not give your bullmastiff any medication, without first checking with a vet. Also, I would suggest finding a different vet. Your vet should explain not only the symptoms to you, but what you can do for you pet that will make him or her feel better. A dog suffering from allergies is just as miserable as a person with the same. You should find a vet that is willing to take the time to explain everything, and suggest treatments that will help. Someone that cares just as much for you pet's comfort and happiness as you do.
Reply:I had a dog with skin allergies- My vet recommended

BENEDRYL which worked great ! we also gave him vitamins and had to change his diet-omitting milk products of any kind (even as an ingredient in dog food)and several other things which I forgot. Certain types of baths are very soothing and healing!!! Try a healthfood store for bath stuff and info on common ingredients that worsen allergies. VERY SIMILAR TO HUMANS. More common in fair skinned dogs.Those eyes are probably very painfull so you need to put some drops in, whether its just a lubricant or better off- an opthalmic solution to heal the conjuctivitis and relieve pain.There are dog foods for allergies but you may have to pay $$.- WORTH IT!

I got an ionizer air filter and kept him from laying in the grass and he did real well. Lived to 18 yrs.GOOD LUCK!
Reply:The eye condition needs to be fixed with surgery. Get it done or the dog will be blind and you will end up having to remove both the eyes due to chronic infection.

As for the allergies do not bathe him every two weeks that is way to often to bathe a dog and could make the allergies worse.

Dogs have a oil that is screted by thier skin and every time you bath it off their body produces more to compensate for what you washed off.

I only bath my short haired breeds about every three months they do not stink. You can get some wipes to use on them for the wrinkles on the dog to keep them clean. You need to be using the gentlest shampoo for dogs you can get one for allergies and sensitive skin. Bathing to often leads to dry flakey itchy skin.

Bullmastiffs are well know it have skin and allergy problems you need to be feeding a very high quality diet with no corn or wheat or soy in it and maybe a lamb and rice type of food. You may have to try a few and see how he does or have him allergy tested to see what triggers his allergies.

My dog has itchy skin, it looks red and she is starting to get patches.?

2010-04-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

She is a staffie, 11 months old, White.

I took her to the vets and they did a test to see if it was mange, but that was negative, they then gave antibiotics, when I went back and said this did not work they gave her a different type of antibiotics.

This still didn’t work. I got fed up and decided to change her food to a natural food. A hypo allergic food and the shampoo I use is too. But she still looks sore and itchy. Anyone had the same problem or any ideas??? Please help

My dog has itchy skin, it looks red and she is starting to get patches.?
Your dog is deficient is certain nutrients. She needs:

Vitamin D, 1 tablet of 10 mg per day for 3 weeks

Boron (multi chelated) best by Solgar (make). If you get their 3 mg capsules, give the dog only a half every other day for 3 weeks

The dog would also benefit from a good multivitamin and mineral formula, human adult size, a half every 3 days, for 5 weeks.

Please let me know how she is in 10 days time.

All the best!
Reply:sounds like mange
Reply:That sounds like eczema. Try giving her a 5MG of chlortrimeton twice a day for a week and see if that helps. It could also be an allergy caused by fleas. You can get the meds at Wal*Mart pharmacy area. I use their brand.
Reply:My basset hound has the same thing, or something very similar. She gets little red dots and patches on her skin and the hair seems almost gone in those areas. It seems to be allergies, she is allergic to everything! I think she gets an antibiodic everyday (I'm not sure because I'm not the one that usually feeds her) but she still has it sometimes. I don't know if there's a lot you can do, just keep talking with your vet about it. If it's not hurting her or anything then she should be okay.
Reply:My dog did the same thing. In fact this past spring her allergy was worse than ever and it's caused mostly by allowing fleas to spread too much. So watch for fleas and make sure you give your dog some kind of flea stuff either from the vet or the store. DO NOT get the Hartz two in one collars and shampoos...they're worthless and wastes of money
Reply:solodene just might work 4 your dog.. its a yellow oil .. apply it once a day altho it might say 3 times a day.. do that for 4 days in a row and see if that helps.. and in about a week or less you will see new growth of fur.. you can find it at any pet supplies places.. like K-mart or Meijer.. i had shar peis that were know 4 skin problems, even had chows. and from what you are saying, sounds just like what they had.. solodene is good 4 allergies and hot spots and itch.. good luck with that..
Reply:I had a dog that did the same thing. Usually about this time of year when the weather is changing. My Vet told me to wash the dog with dawn dish soap because it is so mild, Then put Snuggle fabric softener on her. He said to rub it in and let it sit for about 10 minutes then rinse. Sounds weird I know, but it worked for me.

I did it twice and she started to get better. Good-luck
Reply:Any of these 'off standard' colors are prone to additional skin issues. Many have skin that is super sensitive to all chemicals and dyes. It could even be something in the yard if it is an allergic reaction. Has the vet checked for allergies vs. excema? Keep her on the natural food it will only help her out. Also if you havent already done so, she should be spayed. Most likely this skin issue is directly linked to her color and she could pass on any congenital issues to puppies. (coat color has many genetic links to health issues....pure white boxers being deaf ect.) Good luck and keep trying.
Reply:I would give him some Benadryl to stop the itching. The more he scratches, the more irritated it'll get and more itchy. Probably allergies, maybe not to food or shampoo. Could be pollen or something.

My dog has dry skin. what do i do???

2010-04-24T04:05:00.001-07:00

my friend shannon has the same problem

My dog has dry skin. what do i do???
In our case, we got a humidifier for the dry months of winter, and this has helped relieve the itchy dryness our Doxie tends to get this time of year.

Ofcourse, you should still consult your vet to determine if this is a result of a medical condition, or if there may be a shampoo you can use that will help.
Reply:call your vet. you probably need a cortizone shot or some other kind of cortizone meds. my grandfather had a dog w/ the same prob.
Reply:try giving your dog omega 3 pills and use a tea tree oil shampoo.

maybe a moisturizer for your friend?
Reply:cortizone shot is probably the way the vet will go. you can try to bathe your dog in oatmeal bath, that might help. You can also buy a spray for your dog skin.
Reply:My vet recommended that we put a teaspoonful of mineral oil in our dogs food a few times per week. This has helped a great deal, cuts down on the itchy skin all year around. It also keeps my dog from getting hot spots in the hot weather, which can become infected if they are scratched.

You can buy plain mineral oil in drug stores or in the health section of most grocery stores. Good luck and hope this helps.
Reply:Try switching to a healthier dog food. A lot of the cheap crappy dog foods have ingredients in them that can dry the skin out. There are types of fish oils that you can mix into the food to help as well that has omega fatty acids in them to help the skin and coat. Also look for flaxseed/flaxseed oil in food that helps as well.

elephant foot

My dog has dry skin and a lot of hair loss. Any ideas?

2010-04-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

We have taken him to several vets. They have dicovered that he has a thyroid problem, so he now takes Soloxine 2x a day. We also switched his food to Canidae which was recommended to us, and he takes 2 extra strength Derm Caps. Nothing has helped and I know he is itching because I find him chewing and licking until the spot is raw. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions??

My dog has dry skin and a lot of hair loss. Any ideas?
Goodness. My only real suggestion would be a raw diet--it can be very beneficial for dogs with allergies.
Reply:Try some hot spot spray (ask your vet or pet store) to keep him from irritating his skin or opening up large wounds. Also, oatmeal and eggs are known to help dogs coats - though I'm not sur eit would help in ur case it might be worth a try.
Reply:Switching to a raw diet may be beneficial.

Also you could try Wysong kibble

Salmon Oil.
Reply:Sounds like hot spots they make over the counter meds you can buy at the pet store or consult your vet about it, I would say find a good food they he like to eat and wait about a month to see how hes doing on it coat wise I switched my pup over to solid gold wolf cub and her dander cleared up in about 2 weeks, people are going to tell you to go raw and im going to get thumbs down for this but raw is some what expensive if you dont have a freezer and its also time consuming very time consuming, I suggest getting a premium grade kibble and give it a few weeks to see how things work
Reply:Sounds as though your dog may have a food or environmental allergy. You can start by changing the food to a prescription allergy diet, which you can get through your vet. It isn't terribly expensive I believe Hills makes one called Z/D. If that doesn't help, it could be environmental. There are tests that your vet can do to find out the exact cause. If your current vet isn't meeting your expectations, get a second opinion.
Reply:Don't do anything without check with your vet first. My dog had allergies and scratched all the time. I gave her Benadryl as advised by my vet. Don't do this unless your vet recommends. I also used shampoo for skin irritation which my vet recommended. Don't bath him too much though because it will dry him out more. Talk to your vet, explain what's happening and ask for advise. Good Luck.
Reply:I would have to agree with the RAW diet recommendation. I have seen the amazing results, and it's definitely something you should look in to if your vet has no other solutions for you. Good luck!
Reply:My chow also has a thyroid problem. Oatmeal baths tend to work for her. I get the shampoo from the vet.
Reply:Give him a bath with baby shampoo. Also feed him egg yolks and tuna juice.
Reply:My vet recommended that I add a couple of tbsps. of peanut oil to my dog's food to help with dry skin and coat. It has really helped. Also, this is just a thought, I have used olive oil on my hair when it need conditioning. Maybe a bit of olive oil on the really dry spots will help soothe the itching. When raw spots heal they itch and the cycle continues... Hope your pooch gets better!
Reply:I'd also get your dog allergy tested. There could be something other than just Thyroid issues going on here. Heck, gotta do something for the little guy! Poor thing.

Dry skin or a bigger problem?

2010-04-24T04:04:00.001-07:00

My cats are shedding big time!! (Duh, it's summer.) For the first time in his 10 y/o life, one of them also pulls out his hair SOMETIMES while giving himself a bath. I've looked at his coat and skin, and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong. He is white so I can't really tell how dry his skin is (dandruff) but my experience with cats and dogs is that shedding can cause dry skin. His demeanor and everything else is perfectly normal. It doesn't hurt for me to touch him where he pulls on his hair. He doesn't pull enough out that he has bare or thin spots. He's never been a nervous cat (at least not with that behavior). Any thoughts?

Dry skin or a bigger problem?
do you brush your cat? try brushing him to get rid of the undercoat...that maybe what he is trying to void.

If the behavior continues, see a vet.

Good Luck.
Reply:Despite popular belief, you can shave your cat, and then rub lotion all over her, they dont like the shaving but they love the lotion after.
Reply:Stop the bathing my vet gave me **** for over bathing my cats and drying out their skin. Also they could have fleas so a vets visit should be in order. I add a tin of salmon in oil twice a week to their diets it really does make a difference. and I don't recommend shaving your cat at all. Good luck.
Reply:for more helpful information about skin care you can visit this helpful site http://www.skinsosilky.com hope this will help you and your pet break away from dry skin.
Reply:Someone else asked this same question and I forwarded her to this site: http://www.fleascontrol.com/cat-biting-t...

I know it says cat biting tail...but when a cat starts to bite its tail and/or hind area...it's usually related. Anyway, the site gives different possible reasons for it...but also, something interesting it says is cats can sometimes develop OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) when they just compulsively pull out hair, etc.
Reply:He's shedding his winter fur.They shed twice a year,it's normal.Feed him sardines in oil.That will help, the oil that is.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buy hairball remedy at the pet supply store.
Reply:It may be dry skin, it may be a change in the household has upset him and he is aggressively cleaning due to this. If there are no bare spots, he may be hot and trying to lose his winter coat. Although he is short hair, you can try brushing him, my short haired male LOVES to be brushed, and well I'd rather brush him than sweep and vacuum lose hair
Reply:He may have a little sliver or something stuck in his skin that is not visible to the naked eye. Use a magnifying glass to see if anything is there. Try cutting the hair very short in that area and rubbing something cooling on the spot.
Reply:I actually bath my cats but we also live out in the country and do not want fleas in the house. It could be that your cat is allergic to something. Have you started using some new sprays or chemicals in your house? It could be that your cat just had and extra thick coat of fur from winter. It would probably not hurt to take him to the vet if it gets noticeable worse.

Hope everything goes well,

R
Reply:I say bathe and brush him. then take him to a vet if he doesn't stop after that.

My dog has a problem can anyone help me out?

2010-04-24T04:04:00.000-07:00

My dogs penis for the last three day has been swelled so big that it wont even go back into the skin. It will go down for a few hours each night but will swell up humongous again the next day. I just got a poodle and he keeps humping it. I am just wondering if it is swelling because he is humping it so much or does he need to go to a vet, he keeps walking weirdly since this has happened.

My dog has a problem can anyone help me out?
your dog has what is called paraphimosis which is the inability to retract the penis. you should go to the vet to solve this problem
Reply:Take him to a vet this is not normal.
Reply:Not normal, make an appt. with the vet asap.!!
Reply:Well you DEFIINENTLY need to take him to a vet. They will tell you whats wrong with your dog. Poor doggy. :(
Reply:I would say that the poodle is a contributing factor since you said that he is humping it. There more than likely is an irritation from the poodle. You see your pets activities and deep down you know whats going on with them. Trust your instincts like this situation. I do the same thing and ask people for their opinion. It says good things about you that you want to be informed and you are a concerned pet owner. Kudos to you for wanting to be a good owner.

All that being said, if your penis was that swollen would you go to the doctor? I sure would make my husband.
Reply:OMG - Take him to the vet! The poor thing must be in terrible discomfort! Get him to the vet!

Does my dog have dry skin?

2010-04-24T04:03:00.001-07:00

I have a jack russell/lhasa apso mix. I have treated her with frontline and I don't think she has anymore fleas. My house gets really dry and I am pretty sure that is the problem. Anyone have any ideas how to fix it? I don't think they make lotions or such for dogs, do they?

Does my dog have dry skin?
take her to the vets they will be able to giv her somthing to treat it
Reply:You can get supplements for dogs that target dry skin. I was just reading in the Drs. Foster %26amp; Smith pet catalog about it. You can go to their website www.drsfosterandsmith.com to read more.
Reply:They don't make lotions for dogs they make certain shampoos to treat this sort of problem. But your best bet is to get dog treats that are specially formulated for dry skin, they have a high dosage of Omega 3 and 6 which is what your dog needs more of as well as zinc. My puppy has the same problem and I got her treats called ZINPRO, you give them 2 cookies a day and within a week you will see better results.

Good Luck.
Reply:Is she itchy? scratching constantly? flaking? These would all be indicators of dry skin. I would discount shedding as Jack Russells shed like a son of a gun under the best of conditions.

I would avoid lotions or creams as she is probably going to lick them off, and/or smear them all over you bedding and upholstery.

You can test for fleas by checking around her privates or armpits (just look for the little buggers) or run a comb through the hair at the base of her tail and look for fleas, their eggs (look like salt) and their excrement (looks like pepper) If that's a no, then:

You can run a humidifier when you have to run the heater, or even boil some water (just monitor it so it doesn't boil dry) to add moisture to the air. Will be better for YOUR skin as well.

Also you can work on her skin from the inside out, so to speak...Feed a quality food, like Canidae or Wellness; something that contains Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids; READ the side ingredient panel.

Infrequent baths; when you do bathe her use an oatmeal or tea-tree oil shampoo formulated for dogs; human shampoos have the wrong pH.

A little olive oil on her food may help, however start with an extremely small amount, maybe 1/2 teaspoon, as it may cause digestive upset or diarrhea at first. Another alternative would be fish oil capsules, look for them in the (human) vitamin section.
Reply:You can use human lotion on your dog, something unscented like Vaseline Intesive Care or Keri. Just be sure to dampen the coat first....you can also try some oil in the food (anything but peanut) once a day and see if that helps...if she had fleas, it may take a week or so for her skin to get over the irritation.
Reply:Good quality dog food, Omega 3 oils in the food, and lots of fresh clean water. Don't bath her all the time, that dries their coat and skin out more than anything. Don't allow her to sleep on top of your heat source. If the house is too dry, get a humidifier, or put bowls of water around the house.
Reply:you can get a leave on conditioner from your vet OR the less expensive route would be fish oil capsules. You can get at CVS or GNC. What type of food is she on? I have a German Shep and he does get dry skin but since I switched his food to Pedigree, it has the Omega oils so now he is 10 times better!
Reply:oh i think the best thing to do will be to bring ur dog for a visit to the vets. they would recommand the best remedy. maybe u shld check this one out. i've brought my dog there and they seem great
Reply:Big dog owner above mentioned my favorite pet supply catalog, www.drsfostersmith.com. Great store.

Every day my Labrador either gets a tablespoon of olive oil or cold liver oil poured over his dry food. Daily he gets glucosamine in a teaspoon of peanut butter. One day his glucosamine tablet has Omega 3 oil and the other day it has chondroiton. Also, all the shed control products have Brewer's Yeast so he gets about a quarter to a half a teaspoon sprinkled over his food.

Other than that, I put Bag Balm on his elbow callouses and don't bathe him more than once a month. If he gets fragrant between baths I use bath wipes. I also clean his ears (weekly) and give him an oral dental rinse (several times a week).
Reply:Consider adding a salmon oil over their food, the other thing I do is to give new rescue dogs who are scruffy a raw egg, shell and all. In in two weeks their coat, eyes and skin are renewed!

Know that there are different concerns with skin vs the coat.

Watch for eruptions on the skin which can indicate a toxic overload occuring in the organs that need to be checked on.

There are some other considerations which may help you in the links below - one for the winter elements, one for the grooming.
Reply:you might ask your vet first, but my lab mix gets dry skin in the summer and winter all the time, we add vitamin e tablets in her food, she eats then right up, the vitamin e will give them back their natural oils that can be lost due to the cold or dry weather, good luck but ask first
Reply:Something that workd for my girl was something I got from the petstore called IN TREATS, they are supplements you give them as treats according to dogs weight. did not take long to (couple days to start releif)
Reply:Yeah course they do, there are loads of different medicated shampoos available for pets, just see a vet! Don't bath within 48 hours before or after applying the Frontline though, or you'll inactivate it.

Chalice

agave

Uncommon frequent urination problem in my dog...?

2010-04-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,..My dog, an 8 yr. old female lab mix, just took up the habit three days ago to begin urinating around my apartment. This happens so infrequently that I can't even begin to think as to when it's happened last. Now, my first thought is that she has a bladder or kidney infection that is making her have to go more urgently and therefore she isn't letting me know she has to go like she normally does. Nothing has changed in her environment in the recent past weeks and she's acting completely normal. However, I had her at the vet about two weeks ago for her yearly check up and they found that she had a minor skin infection and so they gave her a round of antibiotics. If she did have a bladder or kidney infection, wouldn't the antibiotics kick that infection too or is there a whole other round of antibiotics that I should be calling my vet about? Anyone with any info on antibiotics out there would be a huge help..being that the holidays are here, I can't contact them for 3 days!

Uncommon frequent urination problem in my dog...?
A broad spectrum antibiotic should cover a urine infection.There are other reasons she could be urinating alot,kidney stones ,diabetes,etc.What antibiotic was she on for her skin
Reply:Antibiotics for her skin would help a bladder infection but may not be the right kind or given long enough to cure it. Have the vet check her urine for signs of infection.
Reply:she could still have a bladder infection. did you mention this to the vet when you took her in? it could be a number of things an 8 year old dog isn't old but isn't young either and can have some of the problems of an older dog. i would take her to the vet and ask them what it could be. sometimes if its a urinary tract infection they can fix it with antibiotics or sometimes its even as easy as changing her diet to a senior dog food that can help her urinary tract health. but unfortunately your not going to know for sure until you take her in. i wish i could be of more help good luck to you and your dog.
Reply:The antibiotics for a bladder infection would be different. However, some antibiotics cause a dog to pee more frequently, so the skin antibiotics could be doing this. I would call the vet just in case. If she has a UTI it is probably very uncomfortable for her, not to mention your floors.
Reply:Depends on what the skin antibiotics covered and what (if any) infection she has in her bladder / urinary tract. Not all antibiotics affect all bacteria, which is why it's important to get the bacteria identified so the correct antibiotic can be used.

The other thought is that she may have age-related incontinence, which isn't uncommon in older female dogs, but fortunately is usually easily regulated with medication (Proin / PPA).

In the meantime, a waterproof crib mattress pad from Target (fleece covered, dual-sided, with waterproof plastic sandwiched in the middle) can be a lifesaver and go a long way towards saving carpets and sleeping areas - much easier to put in the washer than a carpet!
Reply:My guess would be a urinary infection. My dog is being treated for one right now as well. But...as an older dog, it could also very well be a problem with the kidneys. I would take the dog to the vet as soon as the Holidays are past %26amp; they are open again. It's probably not urgent enough to warrant an emergency visit, but I would go on there first day back in the office. Best of luck!
Reply:A urinary tract infection would be my first suspect.

While antibiotics for the skin infection *might* have also taken care of a bladder infection they won't necessarily. Different bacteria respond better to certain antibiotics. If she does have a bacterial urinary infection the bacteria causing it might be resistant or just not responsive to the antibiotics you were using for the skin. Also, that visit was two weeks ago. If it was a minor skin infection I'm guessing that your round of antibiotics was only for 7 or 10 days. That means that the antibiotics haven't been in her system for at least a full 24 hours before the urination problems started. It's possible that she didn't have a bacterial bladder infection while she was on the antibiotics but picked it up after she finished them.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not all bladder infections are bacterial (at least not primarily). Bladder stones or crystals in the urine form because of an imbalance in the pH or too much of a certain mineral. While most UTI's involving stones and crystals also involve bacteria the bacteria are more of a secondary infection than the cause of the problem.

You should try to call your vet as soon as possible and see if you can get her (or at the very least a sample of her urine) in to get checked out. While a bladder infection is the most likely culprit there are other things that can cause housetrained dogs to have urinary accidents. It could also be age-related urinary incontinence, kidney insufficiency/disease, or even a symptom of diabetes or other metabolic disease.
Reply:The antibiotic your vet prescribed for a skin infection wouldn't necessarily clear up a urinary tract infection. UTIs are caused by either bacteria or e-coli in the bladder and require a 10-14 day course of antibiotics. Have her vet checked. Good luck.

What to do with a shih tzu's skin problems?

2010-04-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

I have an older shih tzu (11 years old). He has these bumps all over his skin, especially on the top of his head. He scratches a lot and sometimes scratches himself raw in places. I bathe him regularly in the clear shampoo that is formulated for dogs with sensitive skin. I keep his hair trimmed. He's a very laid back dog, so I don't think it's anxiety or anything. What can this be, and how can I help him?

What to do with a shih tzu's skin problems?
I also have a Shih-tzu who had similar issues, I discovered she was allergic to wheat, once I changed her diet she was so much better. I recommend also getting a dog food that is free of by products. I also recommend using Benadryl for the iching, but childrens Benadryl is all it will need.

Also watch your cleaning products in the home, some dogs are allergic to them, anything with alot of dye or perfumes. If you are putting anything on your carpet to clean, change it or try using nothing at all, and see if it improves. I love Shih-tzus too.

thanks
Reply:I would suggest seeking the advice of a board certified dermatologist, especially if your general practiction is out of advice. He may require biopsies. He could have anything from allergies to autoimmune disease. A veterinary dermatologist would be very knowledgeable in diagnosing the problem and in treatment. Depending on where you live, it may be a drive to see one, however, very well worth it. Good luck with you little man!
Reply:My ex-in law's had a shih tzu, he had the same affliction. The vet said it's very common with that breed. It was just some type of dermatitis, but he had it for years and had to take some medication for it. I believe it was a steroid of some sort.

I'd take him into the vet and see what they suggest.
Reply:It could be mange or something else. Have him checked by a vet.
Reply:Your dog is now 11yrs older, i surmise you have been feeding your shih tzu with commercial foods. The shampoo you have been using is not organic and therefore contains harmful chemicals,and alcohols which then in turn dry out your dogs skin. Does your dog get to go out for a walk round the block as this also has an affect on your dog, it may be bored, hence the licking himself raw. Try organic chicken mince, and organic foods, i know its expensive but pay for you dogs health now rather than later. it may be too late after all it is 11.
Reply:Hi. I have a Shih Tzu also. My girl does the same thing. The vets said she was allergic to fleas and the grass we have at our house. OS maybe that is your problem also. Have it checked out. You can use allergy pills to calm it down and it wont scratch as much. Also u can use "Hydrocortisone 1% Cream

It a ANTI-ITCH cream. Rub a lil on the bumps and it stope the dog frome itching so much and when it scratches itself raw use that creme. IT WORKS WITH MY DOG

If you need anymore help email me. crazyfrog127@yahoo.com

And le me know how it goes with him. And also it might lick its feet and boyd and scratch if its bored. So keep it entertained some. You should spend AT LEAST 1 Hr a day with your dogs. Its good for them

Help me with this problem of my dog?

2010-04-24T04:01:00.002-07:00

I live in mumbai and i have a fawn color 11/2 year lab. he is facing a problem of some type of fungus. i contacted one of my old doc. but he is not like before he just keep on saying that we have to do skin scraping test we have to peel his skin and test it. in the starting the doc was very good but now he is only concentrating on making money. so what should i do should i do that expensive skin scraping test or should i consult another doctor??

Help me with this problem of my dog?
Skin scraping is not painful. It is no more than you do when you scratch a mosquito bite.. If should not be expensive at all. If your vet charges much for this, or even any beyond the normal office call, then seek another vet.

The cost should be the price of an office call, and the appropriate medication. ( usually a spray or salve) if it IS a fungus. If it is mites, the treatment is different.

You can call your vet's office and ask what the cost will be. They should be happy to tell you.
Reply:well if you feel like your vet is only concerned with making money, you could always get a second opinion. But if your dog does have some type of skin infection they do usually do a skin scrapping to see what it is.
Reply:If you want the vet to be able to give your dog the right medication, then do the skin scraping. If you want to force the vet to make a blind guess, or try a dozen medicines to find the right one, then don't do the skin scraping. It's not a scam to make money, it's what needs to be done to find the cause of the problem.
Reply:you could go to another doc. but the scraping of the skin is right, we just had or dog tested in the same mannor.Come to find out, he had mites.All better now, it was about 2;00 dollars, it was worth it because we love andrew.
Reply:If he is having some sort of skin issue, you should have the vet do a skin scrape in order to determine what issue it is. You shouldn't be treating something without knowing what it is that you are treating.

It could be one or multiple issues, and you won't know unless you have it checked.....

Your vet can not help you unless he knows what it is, that's why he is insisting on a scrape.
Reply:Consult another vet. There are many types of skin diseases.
Reply:you have two choices either try to treat "something with something" and hope for the best or take a culture to be examined at the lab to etermine whatit is and what should be prescribed for treatment ... the other obvious choices a) find a second opinion maybe he has seen similar situation and his guess might be better informed or b) to save moneyon potential test allow him totry a few differant sorts of things and see what works best, which will bemore expensive long term ..............fungus infections dont yusually just disapear but knowing what best to treat them with .requires identifing it
Reply:regarding the life must go to hospital soon
Reply:The skin scraping is done to identify the infecting organism so that the correct medication is given. I applaud your vet %26amp; only wish more human doctors would check lab samples prior to prescribing antibiotics, et al. The overuse of antibiotics is what has lead us to the super strains of microbes we have today. I'm afraid animal medical care is following human medical care in the form of high prices...but I digress. Good luck.
Reply:If you don't want to go with the skin scraping you could always try something alternate like Aloe-Vera. We use it on our skin for many problems and have at times used it on my dogs. Paw Paw ointment is good to. It is worth a try, especially if you can't afford the vet. No harm in trying. Good Luck..Cheers.......Moogie

My dog has a bad itch and I remember years ago same problem was solved with another dog with a product I can't

2010-04-24T04:01:00.001-07:00

remember the name of. It was a fish oil based liquid called someting like Lupiderm or Lubiderm. It worked so fast she stoped itching next day. I have new puppy with the same problem. Just alergies or dry skin? Anyone knows this product???

My dog has a bad itch and I remember years ago same problem was solved with another dog with a product I can't
Itching couild be fleas, ticks, mites, mange, sensitive skin, allergies, hot spots...etc, etc.

If it's a bad itch, I suggest seeing a vet so you can find out what it really is, rather than randomly treating it. Some dog itches are things that can affect humans or your household, so I'd get it looked at right away.
Reply:Are you feeding your dog a corn/grain free dog food? A common problem with dogs skin problems is they are allergic to corn or grains the grocery store brands put in there food. Also watch the dog biscuits, they are full of grains/corn.

I use Canidae All life stages. Good food for a good price. Not the best out there, but price to quality matter to me. Try good foods and see it the itch goes away.

snake plant

What cause a dog to have hairloss followed with bumpy red skin hes acting normal..?

2010-04-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

what cause a dog to have hairloss followed with bumpy red skin hes acting normal..?

TOOK HIM TO THE VET AND THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEY GAVE ME SOME ITCHING MEDICINE CALLED AMOXIL HE CONTANTLY ITCHES AND SCRATHES HIMSELF ITS REALLY SAD I CANT AFFORD THE VET BILLS THEY WANT ME TO COME IN EVERY OTHER DAD $50 AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AT ALL PLEASE HELP ME HES A CHIUAHUHA MIX. HE DOESNT EVEN LOOK LIKE A DOG ANYMORE.

What cause a dog to have hairloss followed with bumpy red skin hes acting normal..?
i had a pit bull who was allergies to flea bites and it did the same thing we used front line to get rid of the fleas and it hair grew back and the rash went away... if he dont have fleas than its probably a different allergy..also get some hot spot to keep him from itching...you can find it at walmart and pet stores.. i hope i could have helped...
Reply:All of this was likely brought on by vaccinations, bad food, flea and tick meds or all of the above.

I would either put this dog on Raw food or see if you can find him a home with someone who can afford his care. Does he have mange?
Reply:He probably has hot spots, or could be reaction to flea bites. I'd find another vet. I think you can give dogs benedryl, but I don't know how much. Also they have spray for itchy spots for dogs.
Reply:Could be anything from flea bites to ringworm. change your vet - sounds like an idiot to me if he can't figure out what's

wrong.
Reply:the first thing id do is find a new vet, every other day is exsessive for full price office fee...

second thing id do is a skin scraping, they can check for mange and other parisites.

if that comes up clear what have you changed reacently, it could be an allergy, an alergy pannel will tell you what foods and items hes allergic to

it could simply be a "hot spot"

however sounds most likely to be mange or allergies!
Reply:I own a chihuahua and also had some hair loss problems. He did not get help until I found a vet who was familiar with toy dog breeds as they are different than other dogs. My new vet has chihuahua's and knew immediately what was wrong! No expensive tests, etc. Turns out he has an adrenal gland problem. That might not be what is wrong in your case but I highly recommend you call around and get a vet who knows these guys. Good luck!!! P.S. We had the skin tests, etc. so I brought those results with me.
Reply:i have a lady who comes into my work and says the same exact thing your descibing happens to her dog when its feed food with preserviatives...so she is no longer to feed it meat...she use to get it a sandwhich for a treat along with dog food...now she has to buy special dog food without the loaded preservatives and she gets her dog string cheese for a snack....i would try cutting it out and see if it goes away...she said if she snuck even one peice of beef jerky (out of the package) into her diet by the end of the day she would run under the bed and be itchy..rashy...and loses hair...i would see another vet just to get your dog diagnosed...she doesn't have to go to the vet at all unless the break outs occur again which she is then givin pills or cream to apply on the break outs....

Huge problem- aggressive, "mean" dog. Not sure what to do. Any suggestions?

2010-04-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

My family has a Chow/German Shepard/Yellow Lab mix dog, about five years old. At times she'll be fine, the most lovable dog in the world. Other times, she'll randomly growl and begin to snarl (showing teeth, etc.) and even lunging and "biting". She HAS, in fact, broken the skin on a few occassions, but normally doesn't bite down hard. She normally does this when she's lying down and we're on the couch watching t.v. or something of the sort, but as of late she's done it in other instances. For example- the other day I went to reach for her ball while we were playing and she, without any warning, snapped at my hand and chased me, snarling and growling, until I reached the stairs, out of her reach. Also, this morning, my mom was showing my dad her hand (she burnt it last night while cooking dinner) and our dog started to growl. My dad said "oh, it's ok, girl" and went to pet her to calm her down and she snapped at him, biting his hand (she broke the skin, drawing blood).

Huge problem- aggressive, "mean" dog. Not sure what to do. Any suggestions?
Dogs like this require professional training. It is obvious you don't have enough experience otherwise you would know to never run from a dog or try to coddle it when it is misbehaving. Get her into training. She has simply learned that she can take over the household little by little and you and your entire family need to learn to be alpha to her.
Reply:I think you should contact your vet and ask what they think about her sudden behaviour change. It sounds very unusual, and you really need to address it quickly, before someone gets seriously hurt. A lot of people on here are probably going to tell you to kill it, which is the last thing you should do. Take the time to at least try to find out if it is a problem you can deal with. Good luck.

---- You say you can't afford to take her to the vet, but can you afford for her to bite someone who might not be as understanding as a family member? Can you afford the court costs and medical bills associated with that? I would think twice before saying you "can't afford" to take her to the vet. Call around and find one that will let you make payment arrangements, or one that doesn't charge excessive office visits. Your pet is a responsibility, just like your family - I'm sure you don't deny them medical care when they need it. When an animals behaviour changes, that is usually indicative of a bigger problem. She needs a professional assessment of some sort. Anything less is cruel to her.
Reply:Take the dog to the vet. It may need to be put down, but there could be other options. I have heard of "doggy prozac"...not sure about it, but maybe something like that would work. That sounds really scary, good luck.
Reply:You cannot pet her and tell her it's okay when she is growling. To a dog, that is praise, and you are encouraging it. Please get her enrolled in obedience classes, you need a professional.
Reply:maybe it is something medical? Get a complete health check on her, blood work, everything. Its not like she can talk to you and tell you what is wrong. It may cost a bit, but if you are thinking about putting her down....
Reply:Dogs can "turn" against people. They can also get sick and be crabby. Have your dog evaluated for several days- the humane society can help. It may, sadly, be the end of the line for your dog- or it may be an ilness.
Reply:you need to get this dog to training classes or a trainer to work with you one on one. these behaviors can not be acceptable and will only lead to tragedy. I would not suggest trying to fix this on your own. do some research and find a good trainer.

ADD- as everyone else said, if this behavior is new, there could be a medical reason but if not, a trainer is your best bet
Reply:Have you discussed this with your vet???

Has she had obedience training???
Reply:If she has bitten people (even "just family members") she's a dangerous dog and you're right - something needs to be done before something tragic happens!

Personally, I would have her put down because of this - but that's not the answer you really want to hear.

Take her to the vet for a thorough physical exam. this is to make sure there isn't a physical problem - such as internal pain (say, from joint problems etc.) Explain the biting problem just as you have explained it here. Your vet can recommend a behaviorist to have her evaluated for behavior problems.

Follow the behaviorist's advice faithfully. Even if this means being more "stern" or "forceful" than you have been in the past. It's better to be harsh and stern now than to face legal problems from having a known biter in your house.

Good luck. This is going to take time, patience, and not a little bit of money.
Reply:She could be ill so make sure she has a clean bill of health first

Then contact a behaviourist for a training plan.

Fundamentally it sounds like she is trying to take over the family - make sure you do basic things like walk through doors and eat first. Ignore any growling or give a firm no back. Do not run away from her but stand tall with your arms crossed and DO NOT look her in the eyes
Reply:i'm afraid your right without spending lots of money for a professional trainer. is she spayed? sometimes spaying/neutering will dampen aggression as well as make a dog easier to control. it sounds as though your dog has always been in control of the household and is trying to keep her position. she's a big dog and trying to get control now is going to get someone hurt. chows and shephards tend to be head strong to begin with and don't make the best mixes.

and it's never too late to spay or neuter.
Reply:If your vet can't find anything physically wrong wiht her, I'd probably consider putting her down. I'm sorry, I know that is hard to hear, but this dog seems to have no predictable triggers that you can either avoid, or train her out of. It sounds like she feels like she rules the home, and that is not a safe situation for any of you.

Part of the problem, if I am reading this right, is your Dad unknowingly rewarded her for growling by saying, "Oh, it OK girl" when she growled at him examining your Mother's hand. That is encouraging the aggression. My concern is, that after all this time as "boss" that when you try to re-train her, she is going to decide to try to beat you into submission, and with her teeth and strength, you are going to lose.

You might consult a few trainers to see what their overall opinion is before making a decision, but from reading what you have here, I think she's a ticking time bomb, and the fuse is getting dangerously short.
Reply:First have her checked over by the vet to see if there is a physical problem.

Then consult with a professional trainer who is experienced with aggressive dogs.

Or have the dog put down.
Reply:Firstly she is getting old. When dogs begin to get old they begin to ache, like an older human does. Secondly, Chows are very unpredictable dogs. It could be the Chow showing in her.

Talk to the vet. Perhaps he knows what to do. Maybe muzzle train her, she bites, she gets muzzled for an hour.
Reply:That's a chow mix for ya. And then somebody keeps telling her 'It's OK girl"? The rest of you run, get scared, get bit?

Solution: #1) Your whole family needs educated and #2) Your dog needs trained.

Suggestion: This is no time to putt around ... GET A TRAINER for this dog to come to your home. Please.

What it is NOT: It's not about whether or not she breaks the skin or draws blood. This dog is getting away with her behavior the moment she shows teeth and/or growls. The rest is just confidence and ya'll letting her.
Reply:You do need to get her to the vet and rule out health problems.

But your dad needs to quit praising her for inappropriate behaviour. Likely this has been going on her entire life. You cannot tell her it's okay when she has done something wrong, you are reinforcing the behaviour. You should find the money and get a good behaviourist to take a look at her after the vet has gone over her. She is a dangerous dog, that doesn't know her boundaries and has been praised for biting and growling. You need professional help.

If you cannot afford the vet, and you cannot afford the trainer, the only right and fair thing is to have her put down. Do NOT give her to someone else.
Reply:sorry to tell you that chows are bad for turning on their owners for no reason. You should answer some more questions before I can help you. Is your dog up to date with all shot? Even if your dog is an inside dog, very imperative to know. also when is the first time your dog bit some one to break blood? You need to think of the potential danger this dog can be to your neighbors as well as your own family. German Shepard's too are known for turning against their owners. If your intentions are to keep a biting dog, get a distemper shot. Most vets will say euthanize. Once a dog gets the taste of blood, it will crave that taste there after. Striking more frequently, vigorously and more often!
Reply:Defiantly have her checked out by a vet to make sure she's not hurting anywhere. If that's not the problem then chances are you're not the boss as far as she's concerned. Don't ever praise or console her if she's doing something you don't want her to do again. You're just telling her that biting and growling is right, now let me pet you to thank you for biting me. Also, Don't run away from her. You're just confirming that she's in charge. It all starts with walking her properly. Make sure she stays behind you or by your side. Don't let her lead you on the walk, ever. Hopefully this helps. You'd be amazed at what proper walking will do.
Reply:Well, your not going to like this:

I had a beautiful Australian Shepard that started biting children.

I love this dog!!! After a long consideration,I brought him into the vet's office I worked at and had him euthanized. The children's safety has to come first!

He had done this twice to children. I just felt I could not "trust" him anymore. I'm not one to lock up an animal or muzzle an animal or bring him into a shelter for him to injure someone else...That would be cruel and irresponsible. This dog was 5 years old and just had an attitude.
Reply:After reading everything that you wrote here and some of the responses you have gotten the only thing I have to say to you is put her down. Nothing of any behaviors you describe sounds like a dog that is all together there. Good luck to you!!
Reply:You might check with your vet. Dogs don't just normally start biting for no reason. There may be a health issue involved.
Reply:Wow - you have EVERY excuse in the book now don't you? You have a potentially dangerous dog but can't seem to find the money to take her to the vet to determine if there is a health issue that might be causing this. You talk about putting her down but you don't have any money.

Might I ask how your typed the question on YA? Were you at a friend's house? The library? Or sitting at your home on your own computer using your internet that costs - what - minimum 40.00 a month.

You have the money, you just choose to spend it on other things (waiting for the next excuse you would like to throw out there).

Your dog has issues and problems. Putting a muzzle on the dog is not the way to address the problems, it's what you do to work on the problems safely. Alas, you need - at the very minimum, a trip to the vet, and to get into training with a knowledgeable instructor. Alas, neither of those things are free. So make your choices now. Make a committment to working on your dog and quit making excuses or be the coward and take her to the human society. Drop her off, pay the 40.00 drop off fee and then know that she'll be euthanized. But hey - at least you saved a few bucks.
Reply:You have a dog that is a resource guarder. You should find a trainer to help you learn how to change this behavior. Check out the book MINE!

www.fearfuldogs.com/books.html

sorrel

Scab on my dog?

2010-04-24T03:59:00.001-07:00

I went to the doctor about an infection on my dogs snout. She gave an antibiotic and a skin cream. Unfortunetly its not working, the skin problem hs become deaper and more scabby. Someone told me burnt car oil or Neutrigena T-gel, would help. I was also told that skin irritations on dogs are hard to get rid of. any sujestions.

Scab on my dog?
First off, how old is your dog? We have a 7 year old lab who seems to be suffering from the same problem but we have noticed that a little neosporin has been helping him..also a lady I work with suggested that spray on aloe vera for burns?

We haven't tried that yet but she said it helped out her dogs. Hope this helps!
Reply:You should always go back to the vet to get a recheck if the dog doesn't improve on meds. Burnt car oil is a horrible idea that may be fatal.
Reply:Recently, we discovered a scab on our dog. It was bothering him. And the scratching was causing it to bleed and lose hair. We took it to the vets. His answer was that our dog was probaly bit or stung by an insect, or maybe stuck by a thorn. The solution was to use medications and a spray. Before we took him in, we found that Neosporin was working, but just wanted to be sure it wasn't too serious. Good luck! I hope your dog get's well soon.
Reply:Car oil or any other type of oil carry PCB and can affect the wound. 1 clean the sore, use a disinfecter. peroxide, clean it, use the creams prescribed as per instructions and do not remove scabs. An antibiotic might be needed see your vet again.
Reply:If it's external try Goldbond powder. My dog used to dig horribly at her ears and have scabs up the yin yang. My vet had perscribe Goldbond powder for her and it worked dramatically and it stops irrability for the dog.

How can I tell if my dog has a serious hip problem or just hurt himself? How long should I wait to see?

2010-04-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

My good old dog (15) has been squealing when he tries to sit down or stoop (lower his back) to go through the doggy door. He does have a skinned place on top of a paw, so he probably was chasing something with my other dog, who is heavy and aggressive and just have a sprain or twisted muscle from crashing with her. But I've heard of old dogs having serious hip problems. I just noticed it last night (Friday) and I don't think it's time for the emergency room. He's licking the paw that's cut, so I'm thinking I can wait through the weekend to see if it gets better. I really can't afford to go to the vet unless it's really necessary. He's o.k. when he's relaxed and he can walk o.k. but puts back feet together before sitting. It's just when he gets up or sits down that it hurts him. This has happened before when he got into a scuffle with Sweetie (my rough dog), so I'm thinking its not that hip displasia that dogs get sometimes which require serious attention. What thinkest thou?

How can I tell if my dog has a serious hip problem or just hurt himself? How long should I wait to see?
Being that old a good rassle with younger dog could hurt him. They can have a 1/2 baby aspirin a day. My old Rott had arthirities and thats what we gave him. Vet told me. So if your dog is smaller go less aspirin. Remember only aspirin, no tylenol or anything else.I think I would call vet, it sounds bad! Good Luck!
Reply:the best thing to do would be to consult your vet
Reply:Older dogs, especially if they are overweight, are vulnerable to cruciate ligament ruptures (the most common rear leg injury in dogs) which is equivalent to an ACL tear in a human. Other possibilities are nerve damage, back injuries or arthritis causing nerve pinches and severe pain, muscle sprains from atrophy due to arthritis or other injury, and so on. You should have your dog seen asap, if he is living in miserable pain he deserves at least a diagnosis. If it is fixable, fix it. If not, put him to sleep so he doesn't have to live in pain anymore.
Reply:At this age , you should see a vet , but you can put him on glucosamine condriton , pills , its pretty safe give the dosage for and adult human if the dog is over 60 pounds half that if under 50 pounds . it takes about 2 weeks to bring down inflammation and help with pain , since your dog is old keep him on it for the rest of his life ,, you can give your dog a baby "aspirin" for pain , but only "aspirin" NO TYLENOL , TYLENOL is toxic to dogs ,

if your dog is over 70 pounds you can give one adult asprin
Reply:If in doubt you always go to the vet. Dogs are masters at disguising pain. If your dog is no longer disguising it you can bet he's hurting a lot.
Reply:Aww - I am sorry to hear about your dog's pain. However, it does seem like he has a hip problem. Large breed dogs are usually more predisposed for hip problems although all breeds can have them. Since he is a senior, I would really get him checked out. If you want further information on Hip Dysplasia, please check the link below.

Good luck!

Dog has overly dry skin, recommend something for it?

2010-04-24T03:58:00.001-07:00

My 1 yr. old red heeler has very dry skin. I bath him in shampoo for this problem and I have a hydrocortisone spray to help relieve the itchyness but he chews his back so bad that he will chew it raw. Anyone have any recommendations to help with this problem. Thanks

Dog has overly dry skin, recommend something for it?
vita caps they work great on my girl - by dr foster %26amp; smithb

chin
Reply:lotion
Reply:you could try adding about a teaspoon of olive oil to his food.
Reply:The vet.
Reply:Don't bathe him too often. That can cause dry skin. Also, try adding some oil or crisco to his food. Just a little, so you don't make him sick.
Reply:I dont know what a heeler is but discuss iwth your vet the animals diet. Diet changes or additions to his diet could be good!

there may be a fungus or condition that he needs to be treated.

Def. go to a vet. would you want to itch so bad like that? Good luck! I hope they can find something.
Reply:Your pet needs some Omega 3 vitamins...or fish oil. Wash only when absolutely necessary and with a shampoo for dry hair. I use Head and Shoulders and use an extensive conditioner and possibly oil treatment. Dogs can get extremely dry skin and more oils in there diet will usually help
Reply:Oatmeal shampoo
Reply:Omega 3 %26amp; 6 Fatty acids; Vitamin E; or you can buy Linoleic Acid at Walmart that has all 3 in it; it makes for wonderful coats!
Reply:Have you tried bathing your dog with an oatmeal based shampoo? My vet recomends that. Also, sounds like maybe your dog has allergies? Can you try to find out what he might be allergic to? Or is he so dry because its cold out and the heat is on? In the later case maybe try a humidifier.
Reply:I would not bathe him as often as you have been, and I use Derm Caps with the fatty acids and omega oils in them. Also maybe a dog food with the omega oils in them their are quite a few, Lok at the Nutro Choice brand. Good luck
Reply:I use suave conditioner on my dog. Same as with your hair leave it on about 5 minutes then rinse well. Just don't let him lick it off during the 5 minutes.

I'm sure they have conditioners for dogs. If you don't want to use suave
Reply:a fatty acid supplement like DermCaps can help with dry skin, it sounds like he has allergies, is he on a medication for this? Benadryl can be given 3 times a day, dog dose is 1mg per pound; it is not as strong as some allergy drugs but it is safe and over the counter, it can cause drowsiness. There are more effective allergy medications and diets that you can get from your vet. If the skin is chewed raw then he may need antibiotics. Also keep your dog on flea preventative like Frontline year round, flea allergies are common in dogs with other allergies.
Reply:My Min Pin also has dry skin and unfortunately since he is a therapy dog I have to bathe him more often than the average dog. I use an oatmeal based dog shampoo and than a bath in water mixed with Avon Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil. The SSS Bath Oil replenished the oils that get washed off, has reduced his itchiness, and dry skin flakes, and the scent last longer than doggie shampoo does.

Good luck.
Reply:baby oil works fine , not overly done it can help because it clean,free from chems
Reply:You may want to put an e collar on him just for the time it takes him to heal. If you don't wanna use a e collar, you could also bitter apple any hot spots he has on his back to prevent him from chewing them. The problem is that it has to be reapplyed frequently. You didn't specify what shampoo you were using, but I would use a gentle oatmeal shampoo or a prescription shampoo from your vet. Also, adding 1 raw egg a week to your dogs diet will help his skin and make his coat shiny. Good Luck!!!
Reply:My mother had the same problem with her dog. A cheap fix to try is to soak him in Aveeno oatmeal bath. You can buy this at the store. It comes in a box. Or if that don't work I am sorry to say you will have to get him cortisone shots at the vet.
Reply:BEt you are feeding your dog cheap commercail dog food. Go to your local pet shop and ask them to suggest a goot food for a dog with dry itchy skin. They should suggest Wellness, Solid Gold by Hund-N-Flocken or Evangers.

The commercail dog foods are mostly grain and meat by products (translate to cartliege, bone and tendon no real meat). Read the ingredients. You want to get away from any dog food with corn, wheat, wheat gluten, soy or soya. Dogs need meat. When is the last time you heard about a farmer upset because the coyotes and wolves won't stay out or his corn? You just don't cause dgos need meat.

I would bet you if you switch your dog to a quality dog food his problems will clear up in side of a month. I have seen overa dozen dogs with varying problems improve almost voe rnight with better food. NOt to mention you will reduce vet bills and help ensure your dog a longer life.

PS dogs don.t produce body oils or sweat the way we do. you are probaly making the problem worse by bathing him. Talk to your vet about bathing. One last thing.

Just thoguth of smoething else your dog could have ring worm or mange. If he is digging that badly he needs the vet
Reply:You should check with your vet to determine if the skin condition is viral/allergy or not. If it is, your vet will give you medication for your dog. If it's not and your dog just have dry skin, your vet will probably suggest giving him Omega 3 and 6 oil supplements such as 3V Cap, Derm Cap, etc. You can purchase these oil supplements from Dr. Foster %26amp; Smith cheaper than getting them from the vet, and you can also purchase DF%26amp;S' own brand, VitaCap. I have been giving my dogs VitaCap for years and they have shiny beaver-like coat :)

About the bathing...It's probably better that you bathe your dog as little as possible if it has dry skin. Bathing will only wash away the essential oil your dog's body produces naturally to protect his skin. Wiping him down with bathing wipes (a good brand is 8in1) to keep the dirt and grime off in between baths is better than giving him full baths often. If you must bathe your dog, a gentle dog shampoo, such as oatmeal, will dry his skin out less than other types of shampoos.
Reply:A woman told me to put a table spoon of oil in the food everyday an that will help with the dry skin.

Skin problems w/ my min pin?

2010-04-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

my dog has quite a few bald spots on her upper back/neck area... they are recent, and tend to come and go, but it has gotten worse lately.. I did take her to the vet, and at first they said its a very serious problems because its a bug that burrows below the hair folicle and can be very deadly for they dog...she had a skin scraping done, and they found nothing, so he said to let it go for a while to see if it spreads ...one minute my dog id dying, and the next .."just wait and see what happens"!!! needless to say I am getting a second opinion, but right now I am still panicing!! the patched are slightly swollen and they don't itch her at all.. I also have a boxer that she rough houses with, but not enough to rip out chunks of hair!!! also, the vet said she might be possibly going through a false pregnancy (but he isn't the brightest and I couldn't even understand him...from animal welfare) but he wasn't sure about that also..he just said it because he nipples are larger than normal

Skin problems w/ my min pin?
Don't let your dog be near rugs, cleaning detergents, sand, and grass. Also give your dog a bath once a month. My dog had something like that and I did this things and now is a lot more better.
Reply:????????????????????????????????????????... too long 2 read...
Reply:Another cause of skin problems in dogs and cats is the vaccinations that they receive. Read the Wisconsin University weblinks for dogs. Look up cats on the net.

http://svmweb.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/6...

http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/8413.h...
Reply:You are definitely doing the right thing by getting a second opinion. It could be and allergy to something or it could be mange (there are two kinds: demadectic and sarcoptic). I can't remember the difference between the two, but I think mange usually itches. A lot of times the bugs that cause mange can't be seen in a skin scrape. Don't panic. Skin problems aren't usually fatal. If your dog is still eating, drinking, and not acting lethargic just keep the appointment for the second opinion. Otherwise take her to an emergency vet.

shamrock

VET HELP Please! My dog has something wrong with his skin?

2010-04-24T03:57:00.001-07:00

My yellow lab has very pink skin, he's actually a white lab. In the summer he gets these "rashes" on his belly, this summer they are horrible! I took him to the vet and he says its an allergy. The rash some times gets to the point of a scab. They are mostly on his belly and up his chest. The problem is my vet is kind of "old school" and I cant get him an appt elsewhere for a week. The rash doesnt seem like it boths my dog a lot, he just does the normal licking and cleaning. I took some picture of it, if a vet out there would be will to look at them I would so appreciate it. My vet gave me Genesis Topical Spray it a solution of .015%Triamcinolone. He also gave him a shot there but nothing has helped. Please email me if you are willing to look at the pictures, I'll email them to you. Creativeidsignr@Yahoo.com Thanks! Here is a you can see his picture and how white he is thus pink skin. http://www.frostypawstreats.com/FrostyPa...

VET HELP Please! My dog has something wrong with his skin?
What you are describing sounds like 'hot spots'. Does your dog go swimming? Hot spots can be caused by excess water on the skin from being wet and not drying properly. This mostly occurs on the belly and chest area. Bacteria reacts with water or saliva from the dog licking the skin. This creates a skin infection that has a definate odour and will scab when healing. The area should be clipped down to prevent the fur from collecting the skin secreations thus blocking the area from being dried out by air.

Get the area clipped by a professional. Then go get some Nizorol Shampoo from the pharmacy. Dilute 1 part nizorol with 3 parts water. Soak your dog for 5 minutes if possible. Repeat three times a week for one week. Then once a week for two additional weeks. This will help. It could also be allergies to grass or ragweed but I can't say for sure without seeing the pictures. The nizorol shampoo will help with allergies as well. Send me the pictures at: thepetproject@zoomshare.com

I may be able to give you a more definate answer once I see them.
Reply:Could it be the food you are feeding him? Have you changed his diet lately?
Reply:it could be food allergy too - check your ingredients you want to avoid - SOY, WHEAT, CORN, BEEF, PORK

it could be from bugs or sprays on the lawn or even household cleaners (on the floor or carpets)

you can bathe with oatmeal shampoo
Reply:are you trying to get attention for your dog? all you had to do was say click on this site to enter the contest. why send in a fake question?
Reply:he could have skin infection--he would need antibiotic s... could be allergies....my guess is skin infection though... they will probably give you antibiotics and suggest medicated shampoo..maybe a cortisone shot.. the gentocin spray is good for hot spots.. It really depends on the vet you see
Reply:maybe allergies to the food you feed him.

wash all his bedding %26amp; yours in hot water %26amp; vinegar.

change his food to a holisitc food w/ no wheat,corn,rice,soy

DONT feed store bought or generic food. Better yet make his food.
Reply:its very common ....your dog has got the 'Funk'

1st thing you have to do is make a necklace of 12 large garlic cloves put securly around your dogs neck

2nd thing is you have to keep your dog in a well lighted room till the next full moon.

3rd thing is burn incense 24/7

4th thing you got to do collect the liver and hearts from 7 vampire bats ... dry and then ground into a powder

5th need the testicles of a newt

6th play the long version of Tobacco Road by Iron Butterfly

over and over on a slow speed then play backwards and listen carefully for coded message.

7th thing is you need the blood of a english man about 1/2 pint

%26gt;%26gt; mix all ingrediants in a 2 qt mixing bowl stir with the leg of a black crow stir stir till the ingrediants make a nice juicy paste

simmer on low heat till begins to boil........ let cool for 5 minutes.

*serve with wheat crackers and white wine / 4 servings

smear the paste onto infected area ..... 1,2,3,4,5 seconds

scream aloud "Funky Dude Leave My Doggie" keep saying this over and over till the next full moon .

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; that ought to fix'er up

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; if not

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; use a medicated shampoo

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; call a vet
Reply:if it happens during the time when he is in heat...it could be demodex.
Reply:A picture of his belly/chest would have helped.
Reply:Sorry I can't help, I hope you are able to find answers soon. My dog gets sick (throws up) between Aug - december. We think it is an allergy as we have had tonnes of tests done and everything has come back normal. It does sound like it may be an allergy. Could it be a heat rash? Good luck, let us know what it turns out to be!

WHat to do about dog with bad fleas and dry skin?

2010-04-24T03:57:00.000-07:00

My friend has a small breed dog about the sixe of a poodle. She has used many types of flea treatments, including Hot Spot,Frontline, and the good ole flea shampoos. The problem is he is still digging like crazy and no fleas are to be found. She says she has used products to treat dry skin and nothing ha helped the poor dog. He is not allergic to fleas either so I am out of reasons and ideas. If anyone has suggestions please share your advice!!

WHat to do about dog with bad fleas and dry skin?
I am guessing he may have a skin disease such as mange. Take him a vet for some expert advice and treatment.

But other than that theres not much you can do without a vet.

If you do spot anymore fleas its likely that they are jumping back onto him from furniture in the house. Fleas can nest anywhere, mainly in rugs or skirting boards. Make sure you treat the house aswel as the dog or the situation will just be ongoing. The treatments you've used are usually really effective exspecially frontline. Try give him a good bath and brush as much of the flea dirt out. And when applying the treatment make sure you are doing it correctly. Part the skin on the back of the dogs neck and smear on the liquid. Make sure he stays dry!

Here are some skin diseases found in dogs :

http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/dog_skin_...
Reply:May be an allergic reaction to one of the meds or shampoos. Pets can be just as sensitive to the ingredients in medications and other products as people can. Ask the vet or your local pet or health food store for a gentler and all-natural shampoo or ointment for the itch. Perhaps the vet can perform an allergy test.
Reply:Capstar it really works, no fleas in 30 miniutes!

http://www.medi-vet.com/Capstar.html
Reply:no more chemicals on that poor little dog. Its skin has probably been burnt by all those treatments. Go to the vet. You need a Professional opinion
Reply:It could be possible that the dog is alergic to something. maybe plants in the back yard?? If there are no fleas to be found then this could be possible. ???
Reply:I don't understand.

You say in your heading about fleas but then say in the body of your question that the dog does not have fleas?
Reply:First, remember fleas cause heartworms. So if there are fleas the dog needs to go to a vet for treatment and to recommend what to deflea the house and furniture with. If there are no fleas the itching could very well be food related. Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359%26amp; more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoo...
Reply:First of all, she should go back to her vets and have a skin scraping done to make sure she does not have any other type of mite. Also talk about Dermititis or eczema- and there are particular treatments that are good for this. And allergies to either one of the products or something in the environment. Ask about shampoo recommendations (for dry skin); oatmeal based are fantastic and gentle but there are veterinary formulas that may be more helpful.

Secondly, the best product for fleas is Advantage, but it has to be used for 3 months consequtively (products like Capstar kill the fleas on the dog within 24 hours but to do not take care of reinfection due to flea eggs hatching). She also needs to vaccuum her entire house, through the bag away outside, and wash all the bedding that the dog sleeps on.

NEVER use any flea medication other than those recommended by Veterinarians as some (Hartz products) can actually be fatal. Frontline is not as effective for fleas as Advantage, but very safe. Revolution is another safe and effective option. Please keep in mind, you should not bounce from product to product and need to wait a certain period of time between switching to another. The veterinarian based products sit in the lipid layer (fat) of the skin and are not systemically absorbed (with the exception of revolution, but it's used for heartworm prevent and intestinal parasites) and they do not use insectisides, thus are very safe.

Thirdly, she should get on a supplement for her skin. There are some great products offered by veterinarians that are safe and effective; or you can add fish oil-Salmon oil is the best- and follow the dosing information. Dry skin will take a bit to deal with especially since she's been hit with so many different chemicals.

Best of luck

Older dog has nipping problem. help?

2010-04-24T03:56:00.001-07:00

I have a mixed lab whos 10-11. He is the sweetest dog and had never hurt anyone before a year ago. In the last year he randomly jumps up and clamps or nips random people on his walks. He doesnt growl or ever break the skin. My whole family is confused and angry that he does this. How can i get him to stop or change? In the last year hes done it about 6 times.

Older dog has nipping problem. help?
not sure about how to control the jumping at random.. except maybe a shorter leash? - the snapping might be controlled by a muzzle.

Beats having an emergency room visit for a dog bite. Not to mention the 10 day stay (in this neck of the woods anyway) for your pet at the vet under quarantine, that U get to pay and any medical bills incurrred by the unsuspecting walker-by.

Dogs do pick up on the tensions of their masters.. are these things happening while U R under duress? Or anxious? -- just wondering if your critter was trying to save U from ___..???

I wish U luck!!
Reply:I think your dog is having sensory problems because he is old. Hearing and vision problems perhaps? And this could lead to fear aggression. Or he could have small bouts of epilepsy without you realizing it.

Epilepsy can contribute to fear aggression. Thyroid problems may affect a dog's mood. A dog with vision or hearing problems may be afraid of what they cannot hear or see; a dog with an ear infection may become unusually sensitive to sound. A dog in chronic pain (such as a dog with hip dysplasia or arthritis) may be cranky and indisposed to tolerate nonsense.

Does my dog have a skin condition?

2010-04-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

A few months ago my 3year old golden/husky mix had a really bad ear problem.On the outside of her ear and around her eyes she was losing hair and her skin was red with tiny bumps where she lost the hair. Well i sprayed peroxide mixed with water on the infected area and it slowly went away. Now she has the same thing on her lower belly near her rear and on her inner thigh. Does anyone know what this may be ? I am open for any suggestions. Thank you for any help.

Does my dog have a skin condition?
Take the condition seriously! and bite the bullet!

Your dog probably has a form of mange which is caused by mites that live and feed around hair follicles. You don't use the regular antibiotics to treat it. You should see a vet to confirm it's demadex mange. This is done easily by examining a sample scrapping of the infected area of the dog's skin under a microscope. Then ask the vet about giving your dog small daily oral doses of liquid ivermectin (it has a white milk-like appearance) over a period of 2 to 3 weeks.

I know there is another medication to treat demadex but its hard to get and very expensive and may also not be good for the liver when its metabolized.

That should take care the problem soon before it spreads because the condition can lead to worse problems and become harder to treat.

If money is unavailable look up and call the animal shelters in your area. Tell them your situation and ask them if they can help. If they are unable to help, they still might know a vet who will help you for the costs of the medication.

Oh, and one other thing, I recommend bathing your dog regularly-at least once a week with a medicated shampoo or a tar shampoo or a mixture of both with a small amount of flea shampoo added in. I think the aspirin (methyl salicylic acid) in the medicated shampoo together with the minimal amount of flea shampoo will help keep the dog-scratching episodes to a minimum.

Please let us all know later in the comment section what you did and what happened.
Reply:Take your dog to the Vet!
Reply:take the dog to the vet..... my dog's skin looked all weird and turned dark and the vet said he has a problem with his thyroid and now he is on meds that make everything ok... you should always seek a professional opinion
Reply:It could be anything. Just to be sure I would take him to a Vet to get checked out. When we got my Pomeranian, he had flaky skin and red bumps around his ears and was losing hair on his paws... we found out he had the mange. He wasn't taken very good care of by the previous owner. I would get it checked out to be on the safe side.
Reply:I think it is a skin condition dogs get called Mange you shoulkd research on it . Lots of times you need to go to the vet so the pet can get some antibiotics or something
Reply:Yeah, I would take my dog to the vet. What it could be is flea dermititis or an allergy or mange. Either way, your dog will need medicine from the vet.
Reply:sounds like posion oak your dog may have found a patch and although they normally wont be effected except tender parts like the ears and belly. check and see where your dog is laying around and see if you can find a patch of posion oak.
Reply:Sounds to me like your dog may have what is called "hot spots". Very common in a lot of breeds of dogs and the Goldie is one of them.

Seems to be easy to fix but you really should get your dog to the vet. for a "once over" to be sure to get the proper medication.

Don't worry! My old Bouvier/Goldie X has the same thing and she is 12 years old. I still have to treat her spots once in a while but for the most part it is easy and fairly inexpensive.

Good luck!!!
Reply:umm this could be that she has gotten into a ivy of some sort like she has poision ivy patches or it just could be that her skin is very tin or something they dont have vets for nothing! lol
Reply:It sounds like Mange. This is treatable but will require some antibiotics. It's very uncomfortable for the dog so get him to the vet.
Reply:yes and no. Your dog probably has allergies. If you let her loose in the dog park or your yard note on what she touches and her reactions a few days later.
Reply:If you can afford it, take your pup to the vet. Their office could set up a payment plan for you if need be. Dogs can suffer from allergies too, as my yorkie did to fleas.

Best of luck!
Reply:take your dog to the vet and explain your financial situation, he my be able to help...
Reply:It sounds like your dog has allergies. G.Ret. are very prone to allergies. They can get recurrent ear infections ,skin rashes(hot spots.)

I would take her to the vet when you can. They will probably give you antibiotics if the skin is infected,a steriod to control the itch. If they suspect mites a skin scraping.

Until then you can clean any rash with a mild antibacterial soap,dry the area .Then apply a cortisone cream on the rash. You have to keep her occupied after the cream is applied so she does not try to lick it off right away. Just a small amount to cover the area twice a day. Maybe apply before she goes for a walk or before eating.

Hopefully this will help until you can take her to the vet . They have seasonal allergies just like humans. Keep her ears clean,she will produce more wax if it is an allergy problem. I would go to a pet supply store or vet and pick up a good quality ear cleaner.
Reply:Its very hard to diagnose any kind of skin problem with out actually seeing the pet. There may be several things it could be. Staph pyoderma which is just a skin infection treatable with antibiotics. Hot spots which is also a skin infection treated the same way. You may have to bathe the dog with a medicated shampoo .Do not buy any kind of products from the grocery store, get them from a veterinarian! The dog may also have mange mites, the only way to know for sure is by doing a skin scrapping and seeing the mites under a microscope. If the dog has mites the can be treated with very strong dips done at your veterinarian's office. Stress can cause the mites to appear. Is your dog spayed that will also cause the mites. No matter what the condition is the dog need to be seen by a veterinarian as any of the conditions are very uncomfortable and pain full.
Reply:Take your dog to the vet

oxalis

My dog has a skin irritation....?

2010-04-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

i need help. my dog has a horrible itch that we just can't get rid of. it started back in june and when we took him to the vet, she said that he had fleas (we took care of that problem). since then, he was still having the issue, so we took him back and the vet said that there was some kind of fungus. she gave him a cortisone shot, an antibiotic and a medicated shampoo. the whole time that he was on the antibiotic, he was fine. now he's having the same issue again and he's so miserable. we have taken him to a different vet and they pretty much did the same thing (antibiotic, cortisone shot and medicated shampoo). i have changed to hypo-allergenic everything (detergent to wash his bed, shampoo and i even watch how i clean the house in case i'm giving him the irritation), i give him a bath twice a week and he just can't shake the itch. anybody have any ideas? thanks in advance.

My dog has a skin irritation....?
What are you feeding your dog?

Would you be opposed to adding a clove of garlic (chopped up) to his food? Garlic is great for clearing up bacterial stuff. Don't overdo it - I give about 1 clove a day to my guys (20 lb dogs).

You may be seeing a skin irritation from the food that you're giving him. Since you've considered other options that might be what's causing it.

Dr. Pitcairn's book about dog and cat nutrition may help you:

http://www.drpitcairn.com/

Good luck!
Reply:Call the vet and ask if you can give him/her benadril - it worked for my dog
Reply:Your dog may have food allergies, or you could be drying out the dog's skin by over-bathing (depends on the breed...my dog can't be washed more than once a month or she gets dry skin). I am assuming you are using dog shampoo; you never want to use human hair products on a dog.

If I were you, I would try to switch food to a high-quality dog food (such as Canidae) with a different source of meat than your dog is currently eating. (Make sure to transition the food slowly). I would also not bathe the dog that much unless you know that your breed can handle such frequent bathing. I hope the dog gets better soon!!
Reply:Too much antibiotic and cortisone might be dangerous in the long term and even, create secondary problems.

Maybe an hypoallergenic conditioner to soothe the skin could give him some relief

(at least temporary) also check his claws and his teeth.
Reply:he may have an allergies try cutting out all wheat corn %26amp; soy products from his diet, get him on healthy food like solid gold avo derm, wysong, eagle pack but make sure it is wheat free! it will take a little bit to stop once u do this but is this is the problem u should see a difference in a couple of weeks he will not be totally better but he u will notice not as much itching and stuff. also it is winter so the heat can be drying out his skin just like us so dont bathe him for a long time if he stinks just use the old listerin(gold kind) put it in a squirt bottle and spray him with it the listerine smell goes away after a few minutes and so does the doggie smell, plus it is anti bacterial!!
Reply:It could very well be an allergy to the food you are feeding him . Some dogs are wheat intolerant and if the food you are giving him contains wheat this could contribute the problem.

You could try adding a teaspoonful of Evening Primrose Oil to his food once a day. This is very good for dry skin

I would definitely look into changing his food. If you can buy something which is gluten free, e.g. Wafcol Salmon %26amp; Potato in the UK, or the equivalent if you are in the States,you may find that this may do the trick.

I do hope you can solve the problem. It must be wretched for him to have to suffer so much.
Reply:I wouldn't be bathin him twice a week for itching... bathing him just stips his coat all the natual oils to keep his skin moisturized, which may cause itching because his skin is dry..

I'm not sure about your problem though, but I would certainly not bathe him as much... it's not going him any good at all.
Reply:Why don't you try changing your soap? Even the medicated ones are full of chemicals and other things that can really dry him out. My dog has had dry skin since puppyhood and we have been using a really great soap ever since then. It's a soap that's made by Three Dog Bakery (www.threedogbakery.com) I don't know if you have a store near you, but if not, they can ship it to you.

The soap is actually a bar soap, that's all natural and made with Oatmeal, Goat's Milk and Citronella (acts as a natural bug repellent). It's the only one they sell, and it costs $6 per bar. It lathers wonderfully, smells great and lasts forever! That one bar of soap lasts us several months!
Reply:Why don't you just ask the vet what long-term solutions there are? They helped you at first - why not go back for more?

We don't know what's wrong with your dog, and therefore we can't suggest treatments. I can suggest not bathing twice a week though - that will be inactivating any flea treatment you use for one thing! And will not help with itching, it only dries the skin out.

You really need to keep working with a vet.

Chalice

My dog has dry skin and is itching all year round sometimes worse than others, what can i do to help her?

2010-04-24T03:54:00.001-07:00

She loves the vet so its not a problem bringing her there, but it costs a lot so this was my first choice. I love her to death so i want her to be as healty as possible. She itches mainly right behind her ear, both ears. But i dont know if it is the fact that she has dry skin which is what the vet said last time or something else, because i need to find something to do to help her.

My dog has dry skin and is itching all year round sometimes worse than others, what can i do to help her?
One of my six dogs had that problem, and the vet suggested that he might be allergic to his food - we were feeding them Pedigree. We changed to Dog Chow and his problem went away immediately.

It might be something to consider, anyway.
Reply:roll her in oil
Reply:My vet recommends adding a little olive oil to her food every day
Reply:We use Science Diet, Sensitive Skin Formula.
Reply:It could be an allergy. Try switching her food.
Reply:My dad has a scottie and a westie...these types of dogs have sensitive skin. He uses special dry skin dog shampoo on them. You may be washing her too much? Good Luck!
Reply:Try giving her a tablespoon of olive oil for a few days. It helped my dog.
Reply:Just like humans she may just have dry skin, she may have dandruff that cause itching, or many other things. You should be able to find a shampoo or spray or cream or something at any of you local stores. Good Luck.
Reply:It may be a problem with her diet. Try switching her to a dog food made for those with dry skin. You can find these foods in dry or wet, and sometimes in grocery stores. Pet stores may carry a spray for the problem areas, or pills to combat the underlying problem.
Reply:FISH OIL.

My dog had extremely dry/itchy skin and my vet prescribed fish oil and it worked great. If you can bypass the vets office and get fish oil somewhere else, you'll save some cash (the 16oz bottle I had was like $60).

BETTER DOG FOOD- this combined with the fish oil should fix your dog right up!
Reply:Our Dane puppy has itchy skin...a breeder suggested fish oil capsules...Vit. E. capsules may help also...gave them to my breeding female Rotties.
Reply:Your dog may be allergic to her food, or it could be something else. Try changing her food to a brand your vet recommends. If that doesn't seem to work add olive olive, chicken, and boiled rice to her food and add apple cinder vinegar to her water to prevent parasites. When you bath her put her in water that has baking soda in it to soothe her dry skin, and use a gentle shampoo, baby shampoo is an example of a gentle shampoo since it is designed for sensitive skin.
Reply:check the inside of her ears clean them out with a mix of achole and peroxide if she got mights or wax get some oatmeal mint shampoo for her bath and if needed some hemp lotion or somthing
Reply:put egg on her skin and oil then let it sit for 10 minutes then wash it down it makes her skin moist and gives her oil to her skin that way she won't itch
Reply:If she is only itching at her ears she mite have ear mites or an ear infection.Your vet would be the only one to tell.
Reply:if you can't afford to take her to vet for medical treatmen then you have absolutly no business having her!!!!!!!!!! "it costs alot"!!! everything costs alot!!!!! your computer that your using right now "costs alot"!!!!!!!!!! my advice to you is for you to surrender her to your local SPCA!!!!!!! I know that if you were itching and had dry skin all year round then you would immediatly go to the doctor without giving it a second thought!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T STAND people like you who think they can own animals but they can't afford to pay for their vet bills!!!!!!!! I don't care if you love her to death or not!!!!!!! give her to somebody who cares enough and has the money to take her back to the vet again!!!!!!!! obviously you don't "love her to death" that much!!!!!!!! It's extremly hard for me to try to be nice to people like you!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:I have a westie, and they are real prone to skin problems. Dry skin being most common. I had take my westie to the vet for this when he was just a puppy. whether it is dry skin or something slightly worse. Wash her in Selsum blue for extra dry scalp. every week to every other week. keep the water luke warm to cool because the hot water will dry out her skin even worse. Also give her a supplement that contains omega-3 and fatty acids. this helps to moisturize the skin. you can also try the dog foods that are high in fatty acids. but the shampoo and supplement work fine. If she is itching uncontrolable you can give her a childs dosage of benadril to help her out.

If she is mainly scratching behind her ear then she might have ear mites. You might want to make sure her ears are clean. they have treatments for earmites at walmart and pet stores.

And of course check for fleas
Reply:Well you can try looking in petsmart for shampoo fro dry skin Or your dog may have an allergy to flee bites one of my dogs has that problem.

She has achuley lost all the hair on her butt at times your vet can give her some antibiotics to help.

My dog has dry and Ichy skin. What can i do?

2010-04-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

My 2 year old Papillion has very dry and itchy skin. We do have a problem w/ fleas but every time i give him a bath i go threw his white fur and pick out the fleas w/ the tweezers. I have tryed moisterizers,,oatmeal,,baby shampoo,,the puppy shampoo i started him on when i first got him i even went back to that. I was thinking about buy him some selzen blue thinking that might help him but im not sure. Even when i put the frontline flea meds on him he stilll itches. It dosnt matter if he just had a bath. PLZ help me!!!

My dog has dry and Ichy skin. What can i do?
To help with the fleas give your dog garlic supplements. For the dry skin start feeding "Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato" formula. Fish food helps dogs with skin allergies. The Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in the fish will add oil to your dogs skin and coat. Or you could just add fish oil to your dogs food. But if you add the fish oil to the food the oil will seep out of your dogs pores and he will smell like fish. So you're better off feeding the fish flavored food.
Reply:Olive oil in his food, and Garlic aswell.

the garlic will seep through the skin and get rid of the flea's, and the olive oil will stop the dryness. had the same problem with my dog, and this worked.
Reply:he needs oil in his body. i had a dog, terrier mix, that had the white flakes. i mixed a little salad dressing in his food, just a few drops once a day. after the flaky skin cleared, i used the salad oil once a week.
Reply:It could possibly be connected to his diet. A change might be in order. Numerous discussion re BARF diet, cooked meat, commercial non allergic foods have occurred on previous YA. If you care about your dog, and by the sounds of it you certainly do, then you can research the net and seek vet advise as to the best diet for your dog. Though vets tend to go with commercially prepared foods.
Reply:Sounds like you are having real problems getting rid of this flea infestation. Sometimes it can really help to do a big clean of the area where your dog mainly plays and sleeps (or flea bomb if you can be out of the home for a while). You'll find that even if you get rid of the fleas on the dog they will be back quickly if the problem has spread to the environment.

Best to give a capstar (a tablet which kills the fleas instantly on the dog), bath the dog and then the following day when the dog is completely dry apply advantage. i personally have seen more success with this product compared to frontline.

Good Luck!
Reply:Take him to the vet, he could have allergies, mites, ringworm, just dry skin, or other types of parasites, he could have food allergies also, any number of things. Shampoos alone will not help, if the cause is any of the things listed here.Good luck.

ps try home treatment, to help rid the fleas, as well as the Frontline every MONTH. Without missing for at least 3 months.

http://www.fleabuster.com/
Reply:my dog had dry and itchy skin for a while, she also had fleas, i took her to the vet, he said shes ALLERGIC. what you need to do is buy a flea bomb or whatever its called, go to the vet and see if you can get something medicated, and go to the store and buy this flea spray its called GOLD. but make sure you do all this at the same time cuz you want to get rid of the fleas which is probably what is irritating the dog making it itch. and for the dryness is why you need the medicated shampoo is what they should give you or something like that. dont put it down, thats not right just cuz it has a small problem. take it to the vet and see if the vet has any better suggestions.
Reply:In our area, Frontline isn't working well this year. Our customers are having more results from Advantix.

Several things could be causing your dry skin problem and fleas.

1.) Shampoo you are using. Most over the counter flea shampoos have some detergent that causes 2 problems. Dry skin and it REMOVES you drops (Frontline, Advantix, Revolution,.....). You must use a soap free shampoo. One made to use with the drops and the drops will then be able to do their job. We use Tropiclean Shampoo.

2.) Diet. Beef is a high allergen that can cause redness and itching. Chicken is better, Lamb is best.

3.) Age. Past about 7 yrs I would be giving a supplement for healthy skin.

4.) Neutered/Spayed? Takes away the hormones that produce body oils. You need a supplement.

5.) Fleas carry tapeworm larvae. If you pet has tapeworms, it will affect his skin condition.

Once the weather is under 50 degrees and stays there, the fleas go into hibernation. Do a thorough flea cleaning of your home and pets and you should be good for the winter.
Reply:give him some cod liver oil tablets in his food that will help with the dry skin,you should see an improvement after about a week or two,also take him to the vets cos he could be allergic to something,the vets would also test him for mange
Reply:why let your dog suffer take it to the vet
Reply:medicated shampoo will treat that in a matter of days
Reply:my dog has a similar problem, he is allergic to house mites and dust mites. he has to go to vet once a month for an injection. i hope your dogs insured. i also give him an anti-histermine tablet with his food everyday. i find this helps alot
Reply:bath it
Reply:you can try tea tree oil cream,pet smart does it.............I would take him to the vets if you have flee bombed the house and he has had front line and is still getting them,in case one problem is masking another.

I would try eukanuba food as well as it treats dry skin etc.

hope this helps you...........bless him

http://www.dorwest.com/products.asp?dept...
Reply:We give our dog fishy cst food twice a week as the vet said the fish oils are good for her skin.
Reply:All natural emu oil i use it in the winter on my pugs when they get dry skin from the dryness . It is safe for them to lick too and great for their coats.
Reply:what are you bathing your dog in,,,,,,try johnsons baby shampoo as it is so mild..a little baby oil when fur is dry just massage it in the fur....it keeps the coat good..but try to leave the bath unless they need it...ie rolling in mud....
Reply:put it down....i highly recommend it

What if any is the best fish to give to dogs with fur and skin problems?

2010-04-24T03:53:00.001-07:00

goldfish

What if any is the best fish to give to dogs with fur and skin problems?
i hear that raw egg yolks give a dog a nice shiny. soft coat!!!!!

ive never head of fish doing anything though
Reply:Dogfish....type of shark.
Reply:lamb is the best for skin and fur problems. also try an oatmeal bath every 3 to 4 weeks. a humidifier is great in the winter for dry skin in animals.
Reply:You can buy the vitamin supplement with fish oil in it for dogs. I use Spring Valley brand fish oil caplets for mine.
Reply:as little as a tble spoon of cod liver oil (pure) on there food is good. But you should really find out what kind of skin problem the dog has first...If the dog suffers from something called HOT SPOTS it doesn't work and your dog could have exzeama. That could be treated with medicated shampoos...Always best to get a VETS option first before you try anything on your pet
Reply:when you have a piece of cod or haddock ,give them the skin they love it , you watch how shiny their coat becomes
Reply:Tuna in oil (not brine)
Reply:well, i have a golden retriever, and I've learned that salmon works best. But if that doesn't work, use vegetable. Sounds gross, but hey, if it stops the itching, you'll take anything right?
Reply:I give my dog sardines out of a tin!!

Fresh sardines aren't really that expensive, but you have to gut/clean/cook, so out of a tin is fine.

I'm not saying that it will cure your dogs coat and skin problem, but it will help.
Reply:any kinds of oily fish,macrel is a good one.
Reply:there is alot of good info on fur loss, itching, balding at www.earthlink.com/pets

baby jade

I think my dog has skin allergies or something wrong with his diet?

2010-04-24T03:53:00.000-07:00

I have a 85 lb, 1 year old chocolate lab. he has been itching and licking himself constantly. he didnt used to have flees as bad before the itching and licking, but now he has quite a bit. his coat was perfect and the first thing i noticed was a sore, right above his tail at the bottom of his back. and it slowly went up. and im not sure if he even created the initial sore and what followed because hes been itching and licking so much when im not around i couldnt tell. we've been using different food over the past 3 months to see what he likes. he pretty much eats it all so its hard to tell what food would be the problem if the problem at all. im pretty sure its allergenic, even though the sores are on his back., he has inflicted scratches badly all over his body. and continues to lick and lick, sometimes he wines and continues. even though we try to stop him everytime, he is constantly still doing it....

I think my dog has skin allergies or something wrong with his diet?
My St. Bernard used to constantly bite her back end. She was hairless from midway down her back to the tip of her tail and she had sores and scabs all over. Our vet said it was allergies and we were getting ready to do allergy tests but we changed our dogs food and she did a complete turn around. She now has the fullest shiniest coat and no more scabs or sore. It sounds like you dog could have allergies to his food just like my Saint did. Now we were feeding Purina and switched to Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice but there are other foods out there you could try. They ever have special allergy foods.
Reply:take your dog to the vet to get him checked out, and it's better if you decide what kind of food to give him, if he will eat it all, it won't matter to hi will it?
Reply:Go to the per store and pick up the medication for hot spots, put it on the sores. Also give him a bath, with Johnsons baby shampoo, doesn't dry the skin out like dog shampoos do. Gentle on the skin, prevents dryness and itchiness
Reply:if you are seeing trouble in the area above the base of the tail, this is almost always a flea allergy. They say that one flea bite, once a week on an animal with flea allergies could cause severe itching. So make sure your dog and environment is free of fleas. To control the itching an 85 lb dog can have up to 50 mg of benadryl without even causing drowsiness. (50mg would be 2 benadryl tabs) If you take care of any flea issue, try the benadryl, and this is not working, you may have a food or contact allergy. These may need to be treated with cortisone injections or tablets.. you will need to take him to the vet for an exam and prescription if it doesnt clear up. Good luck!
Reply:He could have flea dermatitis. Work hard to get the fleas cleared up. Make sure he has plenty of vits C%26amp;E in his diet. Put 1 fish oil capsule in his food on a daily basis, once the skin problems are under control you can cut back to 1 or 2 a week.

If you think it is a food allergy take a close look at what is in his food. Soy, wheat %26amp; corn are top allergins for dogs. Try switching to a food that has none of those.

Consider checking out some natural remedies for your dog.

http://www.azmira.com/
Reply:my little daschund hound has allergies and ill put calomine lotion where he scratches and bites, try that
Reply:First get rid of the fleas. Then see if it clears. If it doesn't, take him to the vet.
Reply:I use this Wonderful nutritional product that helps with skin allergies, shedding, skin conditions, itchiness, hot spots, digestive problems, and the list goes on and on! And the product is guaranteed.

The website is www.dinovite.com

The product says it may take up to 30 days before you see a difference, but we saw a remarkable difference in a matter of days.

Possible problem with dog?

2010-04-24T03:52:00.001-07:00

Hi... I was just petting my dog, and I noticed a bump around his stomach/chest area... It appears to be under his skin, and kind of glides around, it seems. Now, my dog is considered a family member in my house... So, of course, I'm horrified. I know my family would be willing to pay any price for surgery. My question is, is this just a normal part of the dog, is it life-threatening, or is it just something that'll go away?

Possible problem with dog?
Take him to vet, any lumps under the skin should be checked out. If not for anything else than for peace of mind. Wouldnt any parent take their child if they felt a growth under the skin?!? if he's member of the family the protocol should be the same.
Reply:The only way to know is by bringing your dog to a vet to be checked out. Alot of times it can be fatty tissues that sometimes can be left alone or if it is very large can be surgically removed.
Reply:It sounds like a cyst, which is not serious. I would make an appointment to take the dog to the vet to be sure.
Reply:It sounds like your dog might have a tumor, get him to the vet!
Reply:Definitely check it out! It sounds however to be a fatty cist. My best friend's chocolate lab used to get them all the time. My golden retriever has one on her chest, under the skin.

If you have cats or if the dog got out or even scratched itself it could be fluid build up. My girl got bit at the dog park and she had a lump there for a while, just as a reaction to the bite.

But you can never be to sure.

Good Luck
Reply:it could be a sist or a fatty build up both are very comin in dogs, but take him to the vet just to be safe, good luck! let us know how your dog makes out.
Reply:Well, it is a growth of some kind so your vet should check it. Many times, depending on what it feels like, your vet will just recommend keeping an eye on it. If it feels like a fatty tumor (which is benign) your vet will recommend you check it about once a week and have it removed if it seems to be growing or if it bothers the dog. If it doesn't feel like a fatty tumor, your vet may recommend removing it and sending it to a pathologist or just taking a small biopsy of cells to send off.

There is really no way to tell if it is benign or something more serious without sending it to the pathologist, but dogs commonly get fatty tumors as they get older and they usually don't bother the dog.

Schedule a visit with your vet to see what he/she recommends. And don't worry! It's not time to worry, yet! :)
Reply:Two answers:

You can call and talk to your vet over the phone and describe the lump, and they can tell you if you should be alarmed or if it's nothing to worry about.

Or you can take your dog in to see a vet and have them do a biopsy of the bump. They can run test on it to see if it's cancerous, if it's an infection, or just a cyst. It could be anything, if your family is willing to pay for the vet bills then...I don't know any vet who would rush your dog into surgery without doing a biosy of the bump first, a physical exam, and possible test.

No one can really tell for sure what the bump is. I know that some dogs have bumps on their bodies and it's just growths or something that they don't have to worry about (via checked by a vet).

Your best bet is to do one of the to options I stated at the beginning. Good Luck.
Reply:hmm could be a cyst, fatty tissue, tumor etc... take it to the vet my Cousins grandparents dog had bumps like that but his could be left alone but take your dog to the vet to be sure.
Reply:that is up to the vet. have an exray done on him just to be safe. It might be a tumor, but we're not for sure. so have him get checked out.
Reply:It could be a sist or tissue biuld up it sounds to me like tissue build up und it is not that serios but you shuokd still get it checked out. try not to touch , rub or move it around under his skin alot because if it is a tissue build up it will grow if you do this to much hope my info helps you
Reply:It might be just a bite, such as from a tick: I pulled a tick off one of my cats, and a lump something like that was left behind. But you would be better off taking your dog to the vet to get it checked.

Good luck!
Reply:Hi, It could be a couple of things. Only a vet doing a hands on exam can tell you for sure. It very well can be a fatty tumor and they are usually benign. There are also cancerous cysts, but let's just think positive until you go to the vet, and hope it is simply the fatty tumor. These tumors can be removed since they will grow over time, but of course any surgery would depend on the dog's health and age. No, not all dogs gets these bumps but a lot do. Call your vet and let your dog be examined. Good luck and I hope it is just a fatty benign tumor.
Reply:GET YOUR DOG TO THE VET ASAP!!! THIS IS NOTHING TO MESS AROUND WITH!

My dog with ingrown hairs?

2010-04-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

My dog has always had skin problems since she was a baby, but they seem to be getting worse with age. Our vet has tested her and finally just said its not something easily diagnosed. She gets these things all over her that get long, hard and crusty, at first we thought they were ticks and then the vet said no. Does anyone know what this is for sure?

My dog with ingrown hairs?
Does the vet say they are sebaceous cysts? Has he tested her thyroid %26amp; for Cushing's Disease? Maybe you should take her to a veterinary dermatologist.
Reply:Maybe your dog has some allergies. Here's a site that could help with that and its a little less expensive then a trip to the vets office. http://www.1800petmeds.com/

Odd skin condition on my dog maybe? on her back aroudn her tail?

2010-04-24T03:51:00.001-07:00

my pit bull appears otherwise healthy except for that she has a red area around her tail... not really dark red, but darker than the rest of her skin, like if the skin is irritated or something, she's a white dog so it is pretty easy to see. it doesnt seem to be a critical problem, but i was wondering if anyone had any ideas. she used to itch it alot, and bite at it, lately she hasnt been doing so as much.

Odd skin condition on my dog maybe? on her back aroudn her tail?
I have had this problem with my beagle mix and lab mix. I took them to the vet last week. The dogs are having more allergies this year and the fleas are more intense. The vet said that Advantage is the flea stuff to use as the others are not helping. Also the "hot spots" on the dog are allergy to fleas and other agents in the air. They gave me a prescription oatmeal shampoo and steroid pills. They have both are clearing up well. Also they said to give benedryl 25mg twice a day (they weigh 25 pounds) Hope this helps!
Reply:pits have sensitive skin it is just irritated from scratching, give her a bath with oatmeal shampoo
Reply:It might be an allergic reaction to something. That happened to my dog after he got stung by a bee. We had to take him to the vet and get a shot.
Reply:She may have fleas. I have a pitbull/boxer and his stomach gets that way. They told me he probably has fleas. He chewed his back by his tail so much he had to be on anit biotics and things like that. I would definitly check for fleas, because they can cause irritation
Reply:It could just be dry, allergic skin. Try a bath with medicated shampoo, and if that doesn't work, take her to the vet. She could have an infestation of fleas, or she could have mange. She could also have impacted anal glands that are causing pressure and making her bite at her rear end because she doesn't know why it feels bad back there.
Reply:Ask your vet about Malaseb shampoo. My dog had the same condition and the vet prescribed him with Malaseb and it cleared it up in a couple of weeks. Hope I helped!
Reply:Could be a fungal infection called a hot spot. Also if the area is thin coated, it could be sunburn.
Reply:again ,,, white animals have more skin allergies than other animals, keep frontline or advantage on religously to keep any fleas off, inhalent allergies are another problem, clortrimatone works good also a .25 tablet 2-3x a day of benedryl will help. the brown spot is a discoloration of the skin caused by the salava in your dogs mouth from licking and chewing. use a gentle shampoo for her skin like aloe and oatmeal,,, and feed her a skin sensitive high quality dog food to rule out any food allergies. that should help.
Reply:My guess would be a bad case of fleas. Sand fleas being smaller are not as visible either. My mom had a dog who had a serious prob like yours. She used a med shampoo for awhile and antibiotics. She also had to use better flea protection and keep her inside more. My dad treated the yard in the area she was usually let out.

china green

My dog has bumps/pimples, icthing, peeling of the skin, hair loss spots or thinning. what is it?

2010-04-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

My dog was treated for a bacterial infection about a month and a half ago and she is still showing signs of the infection. Its red near her abdominal. she is losing her hair in certain spots or in patches. She is biting her tail, back area, and so forth. she was giving oral antibiotics, giving fish protein to mix in her food, and a shampoo to was her three times a week for three weeks. everything was done and given to her but she still has this problem. The vet didnt really know what her problem is he took her skin graph and still nothing showed up, what is the problem? Until i get her back to the vet what could I do to stop the itching?

My dog has bumps/pimples, icthing, peeling of the skin, hair loss spots or thinning. what is it?
Hmm that sounds like what my Lab was going thorough. Nothing to freak out about. It sounds like Mange or Allergies. You should keep the dog clean don't leave her outside. Itching is most likely the allergies. She might be allergic to something outside or some thing inside like a type of Cleaner. Change some of the stuff to see if anything changes.
Reply:probably allergies
Reply:You can give the dog benadryl....its sounds like an allergic reaction....a friend of mine went through it recently....it took months to get it daignosed that hes allergic to grass....now she has to keep it mowed very short and hose him off after he plays in it, but he did get better. The vet told her benadryl was fine.
Reply:YOu really need to get help from professional. Please dont waste any more time! call someone.. Poor doggy...
Reply:Sounds like sarcoptic mange. Some of our pups picked this up at the vet's office a couple of years ago. When they started having symptoms, I took them to the vet and he didn't find the mange, a couple of weeks later, I took them to another vet and she said it was the mange. It is a bugger to get rid of.

Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as canine scabies is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites can invade the skin of healthy dogs or puppies and create a variety of skin problems, the most common of which is hair loss and severe itching. While they will infect other animals and even humans, they prefer to live their short lives on dogs. Fortunately, there are several good treatments for this parasite and the disease can be easily controlled.
Reply:Get a second opinion.
Reply:Your dog has the mange when we had our dog and she started doing that especially losing the hair my dad rubbed some motor oil on her coat everyday and it actually worked and her coat grew back she stopped biting and her coat was healthier than it was before she started losing her hair
Reply:Some dogs have food allergies, particularly to corn which is in most dog foods. You can give 1mg per pound of Benadryl twice daily and see if that helps the itching, but it sounds like the skin infection started because of a food allergy, Science Diet makes a food called D/D in a variety of different flavors. This contains different protiens in it that your dog may not be allergic to. I would ask my vet about it because it is a prescription diet. Z/D ultra is another hills food that is hypo-allergenic. If its not a food allergy it could be a flea allergy. where if a flea bites your dog then it has an allergic reaction. Frontline is a flea and tick prevention that is a once a month topical preventative. it is best i\used in conjunction with Interceptor a heartworm prevention. It will be neccessary to have a heartworm test done prior to givin the interceptor to make sure your dog doesnt already have them. but overall your dog most likely has some kind of allergy. have a good day
Reply:for all the time it took you to write this, you could have found another vet. If your vet doesn't 'know', why not take your dog elsewhere? even if it was for just this problem. No shame in talking to someone else if your dog is miserable.
Reply:your dog may have mange my dog had the same thing and if thats what it is its a possibility your dog may not make it so get it to the best vet in town my dog had mange so bad it would bleed it itched it so bad so we had to put her to sleep u could go to a pet store for dogs and get some anti itch creme that may help
Reply:CHANGE HER FOOD TO NUTRO'S LAMB AND RICE WITH LINATONE FOR GREAT SKIN AND SHINY HAIR. MY DOG WAS JUST LIKE YOURS AND WITHIN A MONTH IS OSO SHINY AND THICK WITH NO MORE SHEDDING. FOODS WITH "CHICKEN BY PRODUCES" HAVE THE FEET, BEAK SKIN, FEATHERS! ALL THAT USELESS JUNK THAT CAUSES THESE KINDS OF SKIN PROBLEMS. TRY IT YOU WILL BE SO PLEASED. IT WORKED ON ALL 4 OF MY DANES.
Reply:She could be allergic to something, her food brand, bedding,

her shampoo.See if you can find what she is coming into contact with that is causing this, if she scratches more, on the carpet or in her little bed etc... For the itching use Benadryl. Yes, the same kind we humans use, it is safe and will stop the itching. Try this and see if it helps

Allergic Rhinitis?

2010-04-24T03:50:00.001-07:00

Since my sister was given a dog for her birthday i have noticed my eye's turning red all the time 24/7 my nose blocked 24/7 etc. I went to the doctor and he said it's Allergic Rhinitis and gave me some nose spray. It didn't work. I went back again and he gave me some tablets, they didn't work either. I went to the hospital and the doc said i have Allergic Conjuctivitis, this is all over the past year. My eyes are red and watering 24/7 i feel like sh*t, seriously i have given up, mum say's we can't get rid of the dog because my sis is to attached to it, and im 100% sure its the dogs skin that causes this, it makes me look ill, and when i go out i feel like people are starring at me, i have bags under my eyes, its terrible. PLEASE somebody help me. Is there not anything i can do to get rid of the dogs skin problem? or do something myself. Please note, that my allergy is BAD. Please help, its so bad i dont even want to go outside anymore. Thank you.

Allergic Rhinitis?
Devil: There is hope. You can live with your sister and the dog and avoid the allergy. First, understand what makes you sick is a protein in the saliva and urine of the dog. When the dog licks or relieves itself it spreads this protein onto the fur and skin. There it dries up and flakes off into microscopic particles that become airborne and you inhale them. Now, your sister is not allergic to the dog. When she inhales this her immune system says "Hey look it is a piece of dog protein...big deal..who cares"

When you inhale this particle, your body does not correctly identify it as harmless dog protein. Instead, your body says "OH NO!! We are under attack from alien invaders!!!! Help Help Help!!! Get the immune system to work" So, your immune system begins cranking out IgE and your eyes water, your nose gets congested, some people get rashes and wheeze and sneeze. The good news is that because proteins are made up of amino acids, they can be de-natured or neutralized. The dog should be washed at least once a month with a special shampoo to take off any protein stuck to the skin or fur. This shampoo is called Pet+ and I will give you a link to the page where you can read about it and find who in your area sells it. Also, once a week, the dog should have a coat conditioner called Allerpet/D applied to neutralize any protein present and to put down a protective layer to neutralize any protein from when the dog licks. I will give you a link to that page also. Lastly, don't let the dog lick you in the face or anyplace else. If you play with the dog, wash your hands afterwards and if possible change your clothes. Keep the dog out of your bedroom. The last link I will send is a link that is about how to take care of cat allergy, but since cat and dog protein are the same....its the same steps. Good Luck (ps the bags are called allergic shiners and once you control that dog allergen it will go away)
Reply:Explain this to the vet and ask if theres a special shampoo if not. spend he majority of your day out of the house.

Pyoderma Skin Condition in Dogs?

2010-04-24T03:50:00.000-07:00

My dog (a mut, short hair) has superficial pyoderma on the inside of his hind legs. The main skin problem is a bunch of little red circles that are puffy and take up about 1/2 inch on his inner thigh. No pus, but they look like blisters. The vet just put him on cephalexin 500mg two times a day. He weighs 65 pounds and is 1.5 years old. His diet is Blue (natural dog food) combined with organic vegetables. I give him Vitamin E (800 mg a day according to the vet), vitamin C (500mg a day) and salmon oil. What else should I add to his diet?

He has been on the antibiotic now for 4 days and it still looks the same. I put calendula gel and aloe on it. What is a natural way to treat this? What can I give him so he can take internally, not just putting topically on the skin?

His diet has not changed, he does not have fleas and he has never had allergies. Please help. Thanks!

Pyoderma Skin Condition in Dogs?
Try that site it all about dogs skin problems http://sratim.dogskin.hop.clickbank...

and add .net in the end
Reply:Try that site it all about dogs skin problems http://sratim.dogskin.hop.clickbank

and add .net in the end

Dogs with sensitive skin?

2010-04-24T03:49:00.001-07:00

i have a lab and pitbull mix he is more lab then anything pics below so u can see but he has very sensitive skin he was loosing his hair and his skin seemed irritated so i got worried and took him to the vet and i ended up putting him on advantage multi for dogs which covers heart worms , kills fleas as well as treatment and control of intestinal parasites and i was also told that it would help with mild skin problems everything was fine afor about three months untill i ran out and had to wait a few weeks to get him some more but i noticed that he is losing hair again on his back you can litterally keep pulling it out it really worrys me becasue i saved him from deaths door when he was a pup and i promised him that he wouldent be neglected so i got him some more advantage today and im hoping that does the trick plus i have a coat and skin suppliment to go in his food but has anyone every seen a dog with sensitive skin like this and is there a reason for it ?

Dogs with sensitive skin?
I'm having that problem with my cat my vet said its allergies or a thyroid problem he goes to the vet Wends. Vet said he needed to do a blood test to find out for sure. The vet did say a throid problem normally includes weight loss. Is he losing weight too?
Reply:Yep, I've seen lots of sensitive dogs.

I have one myself.

Here are some tips:

Corn, wheat, soy, milk, chicken and beef all cause skin allergies. Check the label on his food AND treats. Skip ones with any of these ingredients. Look into Innova EVO. It's doing great things for allergic dogs.

Other good ones:

California Natural, Wellness, Canidae, and Artemis. All have websites.

Consider 2 different meds for fleas. Again, this worked wonders for my allergic dog. Put Advantage on, then 2 weeks later put on Frontline (or Revolution), then 2 weeks after that, Advantage will be due again. From now on, every 2 weeks they get alternating flea treatments of both drugs. Does that make sense?

Treats count.

You could feed the best food out there, and it's pointless unless you feed good treats too. The dog should eat NOTHING unless you have read the label first.

You don't mention what supplement. California Natural Skin and Coat Formula works wonders. www.naturapet.com for more information.

Ark Naturals is a great site for holistic/herbal remedies for pets. www.arknaturals.com

Good luck
Reply:I have a little dog with sensitive skin, he is really allergic to

fleas and when the weather is warm, even with monthly

flea treatment, his back and butt get really irritated. I give

him a Benedryl tablet in the am and pm (wrap it into a

piece of jack cheese) It seems to help him with the

irritation and keeps him from rubbing himself raw.
Reply:Poor baby. I'm not a vet or anything but I love dogs and have three. It sounds like he could definitely have a flea allergy since you say that while on the advantage the problem improved. Those few weeks that you were late with it may have been enough to allow him to pick up fleas again resulting in another allergic reaction. The best solution is probably to make sure that you aren't late with any of his advantage doses. I do think you should talk to your vet again about this tho to make sure it couldn't be anything else that could harm his health or put him in danger. I'm wondering if it could be mange, which would need veterinary treatment, but that is not likely since the advantage helped. Just make sure you don't overdose him on the advantage because it is a pesticide, which isn't exactly the healthiest thing to put on a dog, person, etc. But you don't have much choice, especially if it's a flea allergy. You may also ask your vet, if it is an allergy, if he thinks benadryl would help the symptoms at all. Btw,I have heard frontline plus is a safer choice than advantage but not sure if that's true. I'm glad your pup found you and that he's in a good home with someone who cares. Best of luck with his healing.
Reply:Fish. My dog has a severe flea allergy dermatitis, and our vet said any fish high in omega3 fatty acids will help and it really does. Use a cat food - not every meal, but 3 or 4 times a week and watch your pooch's hair grow back.

Keep using the flea treatment too, cause one bite from a flea will restart the cycle of itching and biting.

mayflower

What is the best thing to put on my dog that has irritated skin from scratching and biting?

2010-04-24T03:49:00.000-07:00

My dog has been scratching and biting and his skin is slightly irritated is places from this. I find an occasional flea or two, and believe he is allergic to flea bites. I am using an all natrual anti-itch shampoo and conditioner, he's on Frontline Plus and I'm giving him flea treats to prevent from being bit before the Frontline kills (which I am questioning, the FL, is working on him, as I had a problem with ticks a few months ago). I have also treated my house and yard. I live in the south in a warm climate.

I have rubbed vegetable oil, antibiotic ointment, vasoline and cornstarch on him, but anything I try he licks off. His problem lies mostly on his lower belly and back thighs and legs. Any suggestions to what he may leave alone? Also, is anybody else having trouble with Frontline working. I suspect he may, after over a year, be starting to become immune to it's effectiveness. I am considering going to Advantage.

What is the best thing to put on my dog that has irritated skin from scratching and biting?
Very possibly he is allergic to fleas. You're still finding them, so this will be plenty to make him crazy; it only takes one when an animal is allergic. The only way to clear up the symptoms of a flea allergy is to get rid of 100% of fleas. This can be done, but not with your current regime.

Frontline Plus is very effective against flea allergic dermatitis - but if you're bathing as well you may well be inactivating it, at least partially. Bathing is never helpful when fighting fleas. I would stop putting so many treatments on the dog - stick with Frontline, and make sure it's getting all on the dog's skin, not on his fur. Also treat the house - Frontline Plus kills the flea eggs and larvae, but only the ones on the animal - if there were fleas in the house before you started the Frontline, they could well still be there.

Switching to Advantage is fine if you want, it is good stuff. It doesn't kill eggs and larvae though, so I might suggest adding Program tablets in to the mix if you switch, as they do this. Also if the dog's fleas have become immune to Frontline, switching to a different veterinary spot-on is the logical step.

Chalice
Reply:Something from a VET would be a good idea.

Did your vet recommend rubbing all these different at home items on him? This dry skin can also be brought on by his diet. Please speak with a vet about your dogs skin problems and see what has to be done. Its not a good idea to ask a bunch of people over the internet to make a diagnosis for you.
Reply:I got a spray from my vet called "Relief". It's worked well on my dogs and smells nice too.

Your dog may have other allergies too. You may need to have him tested.

I've found Frontline Plus works better than Advantage.
Reply:K-9 advantix works great for flea control. As for the itching, ask your vet for Derma cool, it calms and cools the itch (works great) its not expensive either.
Reply:You say you "believe" he's allergic to flea bites. Have you had him tested for allergies to foods, etc?

Allergy testing is costly. An effective way to rule out some certain things is to take these steps:

1) ride the pet of fleas by giving starting him on Advantage - from your vet. The fleas on puppy will be gone within 24 hrs, and any rmeaining fleas that jump on him will also die. The fleas DO NOT have to bite poor puppy to die, that way you're not having to deal with a flead allergy dermatitis, if this is what it is.

2) Get him on a veggie, Lamb, Veal, Salmon, Buffalo, etc. diet. No pork, chicken or beef in his diet. Keep him on this diet for 12 weeks - 8 minimum and all treats must also be beef, pork and chicken free.

Add Omega 3 (or any fish oil) capsules to his food and 1tsp flax powder p/day. Both are natural anti-inflammatories.

Try this. This is a way of basically saving a bit fo extra money as this is what the vet will tell you to do.
Reply:My dog had to get tested for allergies and we found she was allergic to several things. Simple things like trees that are in our yard, etc. She was put on allergy shots (that we do at home) and after a few months she was much better. Skip to a year later and she started having major issues again. They did more testing and she had gained new allergies so her medicine had to be adjusted. She's still in the "mending" stage, but hopefully it will get better soon. Anyway, besides getting that tested, for now have him wear one of those halos around his head. It could be something that when the areas have healed and the fur has grown back, that he'll be able to leave them alone. The areas often won't be able to heal on their own until the dog starts leaving them alone. So besides the halo, put on whatever ointment the vet says will be of the most help until he's healed.
Reply:My ex's dog once had some skin irritation on his ear. A friend recommended dabbing some milk on it, and, much to my suprise, it worked. Did it a couple of times a day, and within a week, it had cleared up. So, maybe give that a try....?
Reply:do you have SUDO CREAM where you live (its an antibacterial cream) it works wounder on my dogs sores.
Reply:maybe you should check his diet, do you feed him chicken?

also you can get a collar from the vet which is white in colour and stops ticks..also don't buy these things from the pet shops always go to your vet and I would also say do not get food from stores always go to your vet and they will reccomend things if your dog has an allergy..

good luck keep in touch

jeanettespets

p.s. this name only means i looked after dogs in my home.
Reply:Your vet may prescribe a steroid pill like prednisone (can't swear to the spelling lol) and a topical ointment that is also prescription only.

Some of the things you are putting on your dog may exacerbate the irritation, like cornstarch. Whose antibiotic ointment did you feed your dog? Sounds like it may be really bad for him, be sure and tell your vet what you have given him.

To help keep fleas out of your house and dog's bedding/sleeping area, frequently wash all household linens in Borax -- yes, the Twenty Mule Team Borax from the grocery store or, in my area, Home Depot. Borax kills flea eggs and fleas. Mix some Borax in water and put in a spray bottle, spray your carpets and the edges of walls. Vacuum frequently.

Do not put Borax on your dog, it will harm him.

There is a great natural product from Ark Naturals that repels fleas and sooths the dog's skin. It is a Neem spray:

http://www.arknaturals.com/products/inde...

There is also a shampoo. These products are safe for both humans and dogs.
Reply:Our puppy had a similar problem to this. I found that after bathing him in johnsons baby shampoo the scratching decreased. I did again a week later and now he hardly scratches at all. Sometimes the so called insecticidle shampoos can do more harm than good if your dog has sensitive skin. For flea control, I use a battery nit/flea comb twice a week along with a vet prescribed flea drops. So far, no fleas since this method. I think the fleakiller is called drontal
Reply:colloidal silver
Reply:I have been tried to improve the itchy skin on my 2.5 year old yellow labs belly, paws, and ears and found through trial and error over this time for over 2 years. I first fought off the symptoms of the allergy and unfortunately had to get one series of prednisone-Steriod which really changed her (Not recommended) but was necessary at that time doe to her problem which turned into a skin infection.

I found that changing my dogs food to (EVO -NO GRAIN) and adding "The Missing Link" with her new food she has been itch free with no ear concerns. Again this is what worked for me but I think many answers on this board all kind of point to your dogs food. Shampoos may slightly reduce the itch but to me are bandaids and are not treating the problem but the symptoms from the problem. I would contact your breeder or wherever you got your dog and ask if possible if his parents had this condition and his advice. Also, it appears the the summer time where its hot and allergies are at full strength it had been worse for my dog. I also use Advantix and I have found greater overall success than frontline plus. GOOD LUCK!

Dog fur clumping, dry skin? WEIRD yorkie?

2009-11-20T03:21:00.003-08:00

I'm getting a dog and talked to a neighbor about hers.(yorkie) I looked at him and he had wierd clumps. Not mats exactly, which are usually a big flat mess of fur... his skin seemed dry and flaking a bit. But the fur was like clumped into little hair blobs all over his body, little messy blobs that were sort of pulling away from his skin.. with regular fur on the outer ends. When I gave one a little tug on a blob, it fell out! (gag) Anyone ever seen a problem like this? I've never seen a yorkie in that condition. She just got him from the pound and is considering shaving him down.

Dog fur clumping, dry skin? WEIRD yorkie?
Sounds like he's got a bad skin condition and she'd better get him to the vet first. Since she just got him, it could be anything... diet related, parasitic, or a disease. The poor guy is probaby suffering.
Reply:hhhmmm, having a long haired dog I know their hair gets long and tangled and clumpy sometimes too, but that skin....doesn't sound too good. and for your dog breed check out the other question what kind of dog I should get. just research it first!!!
Reply:Dry skin is normal,clumping falling out hair is not.Did you notice any sores on the dogs skin?hair loss is a possible indication of mange.Depending on the type of mange,it can also be spread to humans.If I was you I would keep my pup and myself away from that dog,till she saw a Vet.

My dog has extremly dry skin, anyway to treat him?

2009-11-20T03:21:00.002-08:00

My bullmastiff dog has been getting really dry skin and itchy skin about a month ago, It Is clumps of dry skin, His hair Is falling out on his back.

I tried changing his diet and tried putting baby oil on his back but It did not work.

Anyway to solve this problem without bringing him to the vet?

Thanks alot

My dog has extremly dry skin, anyway to treat him?
If he's too the point of losing coat, he should see the vet to see if there's another problem.

After that, if he's on a top quality food, that'll help. Also, give him either a salmon oil capsule or 1 tablespoon of olive or vegetable oil on his food daily. Dry skin needs to be treated from the inside out, not by putting oil on him.

Also, over-bathing is the main reason dogs get really dry skin and coat. Never bath a dog unless absolutely necessary, and definitely not more than once a month at most.
Reply:go to vet
Reply:I give our huskies fish oil with every meal
Reply:Um the only advice I can give you is go to the vet, sorry. The vet may suggest something to help the dry skin. Then it may clear up. Good Luck!
Reply:The best and cheapest way is to get some cheap corn oil from the supermarket like Mazola or store brand and put a big drizzle of it on his food at every meal. Don't go too mad though as it can give him the runs.

Have had show horses and dogs all my life and have always done it. It is cheaper than Omega 3 oils from the vet and does the same job. Dogs and horses like the taste too. It will stop the dry skin and flakes and he'll get a good shine on his coat, takes about 2 weeks to start seeing results.
Reply:not quite the same but my baby had dry skin and the midwife said the best thing for dry sensitive skin is olive oil, it is a pure ingredient, I'd give it a go at least until you get an appointment with vets, it can't really do any harm i wouldn't think

and for prevention once it has cleared up my mum puts a small amount of sunflower oil in with dog biscuits, it also makes fur really shiny
Reply:You can either go to the vet or get some medicated shampoo.

Visit: doctorsfostersmith.com

They may have some medicinal shampoos to help.

It not just a diet problem right now, it is a medical issue.
Reply:Try dog food that doesnt contain grain or corn.. Like evo or origin (that may be a Canadian brand tho) Or even a raw diet. Most dogs are allergic to wheat gluten and corn, Try buying a moisturizing doggy shampoo and conditioner as well..I'm sure its something in his diet that's not agreeing with him
Reply:You may need a shampoo for ticks and flea besides there are some dog wipes sold for dryskin and they moisturize.You can find them in big markets like Walmart and other stores I think..
Reply:he should go to the vet but try what I do for my beagle who has dry skin, I use vitamin E I pour one capsule on his food, and sprinkle some wheat germ as well. I give her dry food and one chicken thigh with carrots in the morning...to make sure her dry is enough..she has stopped itching also make sure you brush her gently with a rubber mit
Reply:GET HIM TO THE vET ASAP... He has a bad skin condition, and it will spread. they will give him pill or shot or anti bio. to clear up the condition, don.t ever bathe a dog with soap or reg people shampoo, the vet will give u lotion, I a, sure, There is a shampoo for dogs with dry skin also, take to Vet about it....
Reply:Malaseb is a shampoo from the vets. Also get him some tablets, but the ones from the vets are very expensive. The ones I have are £55 and you have to give 1 per 10K and he is 14stone.

So other than that try giving him fish twice a week, makeral is good. This will help a lot

Question about my dog's skin?

2009-11-20T03:21:00.001-08:00

First i want to say it's NOT FLEAS we have checked and we use the fle comb and nothing comes up. Now here's the problem she keeps itching and bite'ing the ares right above her tail. She has done this SO much that she's down to skin and it's rashy looking and kind of bloody. What should we do till we can get her to the vet? Give her a bath loition? Please help I really feel sorry for her

Question about my dog's skin?
Your dog could very well have allergies causeing the itching try changing her diet to something with no weat, corn or soy in it. Also try putting some bitter apple sray on the area to stop her from biteing the area. There is also HOT SPOT medication that helps to.
Reply:It could be tics or go see a vet
Reply:Go to your local pet store and pick up some Oatmeal Shampoo for dogs as well as anti itch spray for dogs as well. Give her a nice warm bath and dry her really well. Once she is dry Spray the area with the Anti Itch Spray.

You will also want to put her on a good dog food. Natures Recipe is the best food. There is no Corn, Beef, wheat or fillers. Very healthy for the dogs.

My Springer has allergies and since I've switched his food it has helped with his itchiness a lot.

You can get that food at Pet Smart or Pet-Co.
Reply:you can go to the pet store, petco, or any place like that and explain to them what is going on and they will be able to help you find soemthing effective and safe.

home remedies or human safe lotions are not always safe .... and if licked by your dog.... it can make them very ill.
Reply:It could be a reaction to the shampoo,or mains you can use calmine lotion until you get it to the vet it will help the itching,it wont hurt your dog just help her to not licking it at first she will catch on that the itching is stoppen.
Reply:aloe vera, stops the itchyness and the redness goes down almost instantly.
Reply:Harley got it all over him, on his tail, under his arms and on his tummy. We tried antibiotics and steroid shots, but finally changed to all vegetable dog food from Vet and his thyroid was low and the Vet put him on thyroid pills.

His skin is back perfect and he has slimmed down and feels better than he has felt in a long time.

Kibbles and Bits is junk food and it really is important that they eat good quality Veterinarian specified dog food. Harley's food cost $36.00 a month plus $9.00 for his treats and $26.00 for his pills that he must take twice a day with a little cheese. Food allergies is quite common in older dogs as their immune system starts to suffer.
Reply:Hi--- I agree with the first person-who wrote to you--yes, its probably allergies. I know you say there are no fleas --but from where you are saying the trouble place is located (above her tail) that is common for FAD--flea allergy dermatitis. Alot dogs are very allergic to the bite of a flea (or I believe its the proteins in the saliva of the flea)--Anyway, your pet does not have to have a infestation of fleas to have this itchy condition--one bite--from one flea-is all it takes.So my advice is, find something to put onto the spot to make it less itchy for her. The vet could recommend something over the phone--The bitter apple is great--just make sure its around the area--to prevent biting--NOT on the spot. If she continues trying to get at the area before it heals--you might want an e- collar--(pet stores have them) --Maybe just put it on her for a few days --just to let the place heal--so it does not get infected-or -she doesnt lick off the meds --Good Luck !!
Reply:anti bacterial shampoo, or bag balm seriously it works i know i use it all the time, if he/she has black looking skin which is a sign of mange use white vinegar I used both methods, so the dog smells like salad it goes away shortly.
Reply:It could likely be due to the diet. Try to feed a food that doesn't have wheat, soy, or corn. These commonly cause allergies in dogs. I feed my dog Solid Gold. You can also give her a bath in a colloidal oatmeal shampoo, to ease the itching.
Reply:My dog has the same problem she lays by the heater and she does not stop she loves the heat but we just can't get her to get her away from it but let's not talk about my dog let's talk about your's anyway first thing's first please do not give he/she a bath loition thing because that can eritate her skin very badly. just go out and buy a product for dogs that is called hydro- cortisone spray it does not sting this is what i put on my dog when she is in that condishion.

hydrangeas

My Portuguese Water Dog's skin is dry and flaky? HELP!?

2009-11-20T03:21:00.000-08:00

I have a PWD and his skin is really dry and flakes when you pet him. It doesn't seem to bother him too much but he does itch a lot and its not fleas. What can I do to help him with this problem besides brushing him? Keep in mind Portie's have hair not fur. Is their cream? Home remedies? Conditoner?

thanks

My Portuguese Water Dog's skin is dry and flaky? HELP!?
The spring/fall dry skin syndrome. eh?

Since these guys don't have an undercoat, their skin takes more of a hit from elements - sun, wind, heat.... all very drying for the skin.

. Do a two-prong approach.

(1) DIET

(a) Up the fats in his diet. I use either fish oil or corn oil.

(b) You might consider switching foods. Solid Gold (one of THE CHOICES of serious dog show people) works very well on dogs with sensitive skin. Even works on Chow Chows who can really get going with the sensitive and dry skin so much that they literally look like they have been shaved in places beacuse they have blown the coat out completely. Can't buy it at Petsmart or the grocry but they have stores all over. Costs more than Iams but is so concentrated that it work out about even.

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

(2) Coat care

(a) Minimize baths. Unless they have rolled in something nasty, dogs don't need bathed except once or twice a year. They don't sweat through their skin.

(b) To soothe his skin on an immediate basis, go get some cortaid cream at the drugstore - the strongest they have which is 1% as I recall - and use it on the worst areas.

(c) GO here and get some medicated shampoo and condtioner for dry and/or sensitive skin. This is the supplier used by the serious dog show people. There are different brands they carry - all pretty good and all about 5 times better quality than the stuff at Petsmart.

http://www.petedge.com/

Here are the dry skin and anti-itch shampoos

http://www.petedge.com/jump.jsp?itemType...

You might want to do a hot oil treatment. If his skin is dry, so is his coat.

http://www.petedge.com/jump.jsp?itemType...

or a good conditioner (or both)

http://www.petedge.com/jump.jsp?itemType...
Reply:needs to be moistened
Reply:Okay, I know my skin gets dry around this time of year too, and one thing that has made a huge difference in our home is to use a humidifier. My Doxie has the same problem, but much better when we got the humidifier last year. Don't know if your dog resides inside your home, but if so, this may help.
Reply:Yep there is a cure for that! You can use head and shoulders for that (no really) and I know this is for horses but people use it as well as all kinds of animals. It is called maine and tail! It is a shampoo and conditioner and it not only smells really great but if you let the conditioner soak in for 5 minutes or so it does WONDERS! I have a cocker spaniel and he has skin problems as it is... his hair is much easier to manage and it cut itching and flakes out all together!
Reply:my dog happens to be a big swimmer and I think it does something to their skin this time of year because she has dandruff too. It's not a big deal, its not like it bothers her, I just brush her every so often.
Reply:You have to treat this problem from the inside out. This is probably some sort of skin / food allergy. First try a high quaity dog food such as "Natural Balance" they use different sources of protein due to th fact some dogs over generations, have become "immune" to the goodness in most dog foods of today. Another product that is guaranteed to work or your money back would be "Dr Maggies" this is a supplement that is added to food or given as a treat daily. It's benefits come from Omega 3,6 %26amp;9 fatty acids, Vitamins ADE and lethicin. This product is all natural and tastes like roasted chicken. It works for dandruff, dry skin, skin allergies, hot spots, excess shedding and just an excellent supplement to any diet. The best thing about it is the company guarantees that it will show results in 6-8 weeks or money back. Hope this helps.
Reply:It is either dandruff (most likely) or a skin allergy.

If it is either of these, you need to go to your vet and buy a cream or tablets.

Remember, only bathe your PWD when necessary, do not do it every time he gets dirty as he needs all his natural skin oils to keep him in good condition.

It could also be his diet. Are you feeding him top-quality, premium dog food? If not, you may want to try out a more expensive brand, which can always be bought either at your local vet or local pet store.
Reply:I have a Jack Russell Terrier with the same problem...the vet told me to put some olive oil on her food and it would help... to be honest it made a world of difference..try it

Skin irritation problem from flea bites?

2009-11-20T03:20:00.003-08:00

about a month ago my dog was infected from fleas when he stayed at the kennel. I am quite certain that I have eliminated any fleas in my house but I was bitten. now a month later I can still see red bumps on my legs. I admit I have scratched when I 1st got them but they no longer really itch but the red bumps still remain. how long will they remain? anyone ever have this problem??

Skin irritation problem from flea bites?
Go to ( genniesalve.com ) This stuff is great! And all natural to.Its been helping other people alot.Go check it out, and see for yourself. You wont be sorry.
Reply:The insect bite page below discussed different types of bites.

Dog behavior problem?

2009-11-20T03:20:00.002-08:00

I have a pom-chi male un-altered(i do NOT want people telling me to alterhim because we breed pom-chis) My Question is whenever i come into my parents room or whenever there's food around he will come after me and bite my foot. It's not as bad though when my dads at work. Also he won't let me pet him.The thing is when we go out side he's a totally diferent dog, he will let me pet him usually.We watch The Dog Whisperer with Cerser Milan and have thied the "Psst" thing with him many times. He is also very posesive of food. We only give him 15mins to eat so after that is up if he is still eating I have to take the bowl up and he has broke the skin on my hand before. What should i do. If you need more details email me at dance_of_the_irish@yahoo.com. thanks

Dog behavior problem?
First of all, please do not "spank" him or roll him, contrary to popular belief, research has found that the "alpha roll" is mostly voluntary, not forced. A good leader rarely uses force-doesn't need too-he knows he's in charge. It doesn't mean he/she won't finish it if someone else starts something, they just do not need to start anything. Most of the squabbling is between middle dogs. Hitting him gives him a reason to fear and bite at the hand.

You are on the right track as far as not leaving the food down but you already have resource/food guarding. Start with holding his bowl up until he sits, when he does say Yes! Good Boy and put the bowl down, but with only three (3) pieces of food in it, when he is done with the three, put 3 more, and so on until he stops eating or 20 minutes is up (he actually might need more than 15 minutes and is still hungry which would make him more possessive, also toy breeds tend to have dental problems that can cause them to eat very slowly). You are changing his perception that your hand is a good thing because it brings more good stuff rather than take it away. After a couple of days, try dropping the next 3 pieces in while he is still eating the 3 in there, if no reaction, great, continue, if he growls or snaps tell him "Too Bad" and leave 2-5 minutes, come back try again, if he growls then leave again. If you bite the hand that feeds you, you go hungry. If it happen a third time go back to waiting until he is done before dropping the next 3 pieces in for a few more days. Feed him 2 times a day. Yes, this seems like a long process but you want him to respect you as leader not fear you, he will still bite you if he fears you. And do not worry that he is "getting" away with it. Continue until you can put pieces in while he is eating, then put additional pieces at the beginning (6 pieces instead of 3, etc.) Make sure he receives no other food from anyone else or any other place, i.e. the kitchen table, the counter, etc. He has to earn it from you. There is a great book about Resource/Food Guarding by Jean Donaldson called MINE!

As far as your parent's room, you are lower in the pack as far as he is concerned and have no right to be in there. Your parents have to take charge and tell him "No, too bad" when he goes after you and remove him from the bedroom every time he does it. Or better yet, have a tether in the room that you can hook him up to and when you come into the room, if he growls or barks at you -everybody leaves the room. Wait 2-5 minutes and go back in, keep it up until he figures it out that you in the room is a good thing and that being left alone is a consequence of his inappropriate behavior towards you.

If he is sleeping on their bed-sorry, but he has to come off. He can sleep on the bed placed at the tether spot or slowly introduce him to a crate.

You need to get in contact with a good Positive Reinforcement trainer, just because he is acting "dominate" doesn't mean he is an alpha male. There is a difference. Outside, is outside of his "territory" and he is probably fearful, contrary to how he acts, so he looks to you for reassurance, and allows you to pet him. Which shows he not an "alpha" just a wanna-be.

I hope this is of help, but I strongly urge you to contact a +R trainer, go and watch them work. If they understand the principles of Operant Conditioning, and the Counter-Conditioning and Desensitization protocols, then consider using them. Be prepared to get him a complete physical, sometimes physical ailments can cause aggression, such as Diabetes (actually had a case like that). Anyway, I wish you well. Remember, a good leader is benevolent, not a bully/tyrant that needs fear and force to lead.
Reply:Your dog thinks he is the boss of you, and you're letting him get away with it by not correcting his bad behavior the moment it happens.
Reply:after more training and the dog is still being dominant and aggressive then maybe this is one that will need to be fixed..

i say this because the point of breeding is to better the breed, that includes a better temperament..
Reply:We have 5 dogs and have never had this problem. We feed them in the morning- then always leave dry kibble out so they can snack at their leisure. To correct this problem, I think the previous person was right- your dog thinks he is above you. I would make him sit before he was fed, and hand feed him. If he snaps at you, yelp. Seriously, get loud so he realizes he has hurt you. As far as biting your feet when you go into your parents room, I would get aggressive with him. Pin him down on his back and make him be submissive. Hopefully this will help you.
Reply:I am no expert but next time you he goes to bite you hold him by the neck and pin him to the ground it shows your incharge and hold there untill he's calm if you ever notice when dogs fight they grab necks and pin the other to the ground so good luck i have a small mix breed and worked for me but I also have a huskey and shes still a stubin *****
Reply:As far as the food passiveness goes. I would try making him wait sitting for the food while you prepare it for him. and make him sit with you there waiting for it until you say it is OK for him to eat. You may also consider limiting the amount of food you give rather than limiting the time you allow him to eat. There is a dominance issue here. I sounds to me like he believes he is dominant over you but not over your parents. I also suggest you do some training with him. Not your parents. You feed him and make him wait, until you say it is OK. That may cure all your problems. Spend time with him by yourself and assert yourself. When playing fetch use a leash. throw the toy, and make him sit and wait until you say it is OK. No need to alter.
Reply:i would seek professional help if you can (training)

also i think that the dog is trying to get food....do you need to take his food away while he is still eating.....if not i would let him finish eating and then take it....if he is getting to eat he may not be so mad about you having food....i think he is hungry and is associating you with taking his food from him....i hope that you find something though.....good luck.....
Reply:spank him
Reply:first you let him know that you are the boss and not him, second you really should let him eat longer that 15 min. that could be a huge part of the problem, hes afraid that he will not get enough food before it gets taken away also forcing him to eat so fast is really bad for the digestion system.
Reply:spank him on his little bahooty andd tell him hes grounded
Reply:Sorry but I would not tolerate any animal biting. What if he attacks another person outside of the family. Not a good habit
Reply:Ceaser's website is http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

maybe you can get him to come to your home!

good luck!

My dog`s skin itches the whole time, what`s wrong?

2009-11-20T03:20:00.001-08:00

My poor Canela is always biting her skin. At first I thought it was only fleas, but they are not causing the problem, she has no fleas. And what`s worse, she`s losing hair in some spots. Somebody, please help!!!

My dog`s skin itches the whole time, what`s wrong?
She may need to get a cortisone shot. And there are soothing cortisone shampoos, and shampoos with oatmeal that are good...Our big dog was like that. He used to chew himself bloody and his hair would fall out. What it was is an allergy to fleas, even though he didn't show obvious signs of having fleas. We have kept Advantage or Advantix on him and he has improved a whole bunch, he will still chew himself, but it's more of a habit than anything. I have to tell him to stop it. This year he has only lost some of the bushiness of his tail. Good luck...
Reply:First off take the dog to the vet. Dogs can and will itch until the skin is rubbed so raw it creates a sore.

It could be that your dog is allergic to somethign in your house. Whether its laundry detergent or somethign the dog has diorect contact with its skin. They could also have a form of excema and you can get special creams and shampoos to help the dog. Its skin could just be dry too.

Either way have the vet diagnose and treat it.
Reply:Take your dog to the vet probably allergies.
Reply:lower humidity levels from season change causing skin being dry, rub some "tea tree oil" (drug stores-hair section) on her or lotion, or shampoo with moisturizers
Reply:the most obvious is that your dog may have fleas

you can tell if your dog is biting and scratching

and if you r dog began to loose hair in the particular place your dog is scratching.

if your dog has long hair it will be difficult to see the fleas, and even more difficult to get rid of them. but if your dog has short hair would should be able to notice them.

but just to be safe, take your dog to some one professional
Reply:It may be due to the food u feed her or the shampoo she used.Try to observe carefully.Did u recently change her shampoo or food?Try use back the original shampoo that u used.Dog can't eat salty food.They take in the salt more than human.
Reply:she probably has a skin infection you should take her to the nearest vet %26amp; get her checked out.
Reply:just because you don't see the fleas doesn't mean she doesn't have them or even allergic to a flea bite. if she is biting around the base of her tail and back by her butt it is more than likely fleas. use frontline on her. otherwise she could have allergies, does she bite all the time or during certain seasons? how long has she been biting? have you changed her diet recently? could be a food allergy if you are not sure I would recommend taking her to the vet to be checked out. for the time being though you might want to try an oatmeal bath to soothe the skin
Reply:Most likely it's allergies. Try a different food and see if that helps her. I honestly don't know how long it will take for her hair to come back, but the itching should stop fairly quickly. Don't forget that if her skin is irritated due to biting, she might continue messing with it even if the allergy is out of her system. So give it a little while before you switch to a third type of food. Sometimes it takes a long time to find one she'll be compatible with... you could always take her to the vet and have her tested but this is expensive... good luck!! I've also heard that putting a tad bit of olive oil in their food will help their coat and skin... might be a good idea if she's super irritated right now.
Reply:She could need a dietary supplement. My puppy was doing the same thing, and I added fish oil to her food. She's not itching as badly, but she's still scratching. The vet said it may be allergies.
Reply:She may possibly have allergies, both my dogs have allergies and when they come in contact with the allergen they will scratch and chew until they bleed. My one dog has food allergies and the other is allergic to certain grasses. They both go on Benedryl if they have a reaction. Take your dog to the vet to rule out any skin diseases but a lot of the times it is allergies. You can also try the anti itch shampoos I use Sulfodene Medicated shampoo on my dogs and it works great. It is sold at most all pet stores.
Reply:4 word for ya go to the vet
Reply:It's so weird seeing this question. I just had to take my Saint Bernard to the vets. Because she chewed all her fur off her tail, her but and down her back legs. Not one flea on her either and the vet flea combed her. He also did a skin scraping looking for mites and other lil critters. He ended up giving her a shot of prednisone. And gave ( ok, sold, lol ) me a two month supply of advantage. Well, she's not itching anymore and her fur is growing back in. And she's starting to gain weight back, She ate and ate but was loosing all kinds of weight. imagine... a saint bernard full grow only weighing 108 pounds. VERY THIN! Thankfully my vet finally agreed to take payments instead of all at once.

creeping

I have a black lap, With a skin Problem?

2009-11-20T03:20:00.000-08:00

I have a 4 year old balck lap, not to long ago I gave him a flea dip in the over the counter fles shampoo, about 2 weeks after that he started to break out really bad. He itches all the time, actually enough to form sores. Now he has puss spot forming around his eyes. he looks like a racoon. I have tried everything, i have even taking him to the vet and got meds for him, but it still seems to hang around. Is it true that him still having his Male Dogs Parts can be the cause of it?

I have a black lap, With a skin Problem?
No, severe rash would have nothing to do with his male parts. It sounds like eczema, aggravated by the flea dip..Here is a good site concerning skin problems.. If you read these, you might have an understanding of what is wrong with your dog's skin%26gt; http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dskin.html
Reply:i don't think so sometimes it could be in their diets what they eat if you give them treats or chocolate so be careful just wash him down regularly in Luke warm water no shampoos and see how you get on other wise ask the vet to take a skin scraping to see have your dog an infection or ticks etc? or take a blood test it must be uncomfortable for the dog to be itchy keep trying
Reply:Hon get your dog back to the vets asap. I can't see how you dog have his bits in tack could give him a skin allergy???!!!???!! If you are not happy that you dog is not improving see another vet.

It sounds like he has an eye infection that will need to be treated differently with eye drops. If he still has sores get some different medication or get another vets opinion. Also get the dog a cone shaped collar to stop him from bitting at his sores which some dogs do do to themselves.

Please take your dog today as it will be in pain if it has sores. He may need to have antibiotics as well but just get that dog checked by a professional.

And don't use that shampoo again throw it out!
Reply:We have an 11 year old lab/shepherd mix who develped severe allergies at the age of 2. So severe that he would scrape the skin off his face to get some relief. We finally had to see a skin specialist (it was BAD) because the cortizone pills he was on would kill him long term. Anyway, sounds like your dog has allergies. Change vet first of all and see if benadryl will help relieve his misery. You can also buy hydrocortisone spray at the petstore and that will help with the itchiness/hotspots. There is a lotion for the sore spots around his face area. He has mucus in his eyes from the allergy reactions. Feed him lamb and rice dogfood for awhile too. Keep him away from grass clippings too in order to minimize his allergies. My 11 year old dog is better now and just needs the occassional benadryl. Good luck.
Reply:I agree with NK... we had a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab X and she developed allergies. The vet put her on antibiotics and benadryl during her allergy seasons and she got much better. When you bathe your pet, don't use Hartz flea/tick shampoo as that will only aggravate your pet's condition -- use something with lanolin which will soothe and moisturize the skin. And under no circumstances use the flea/tick collars!

Have patience and good luck!

Dog with skin issues...?

2009-11-20T03:19:00.002-08:00

My pug is 5 years old and has ALWAYS been really itchy. He always licks his paws and his skin is so dry that when he itches his face, it scabs and bleeds. This is not an infection or anything because it's not a new problem...I'm just wondering what I can do to add moisture to his skin and make him less itchy so he won't itch or lick his paws.

Dog with skin issues...?
if he is fine %26amp; healthy, switch his food, he may not b getting what he needs in diet. heres my bit of info. ok w/ all this pet food recalls, it made me look further into my dogs food. i was concerned with the recalls, so i investigated other foods, organic/natural foods. well in doing that i learned ALOT about my dogs food--Eukanuba. I thought this was the BEST food there was. Thought my dog was better than other dogs cuz she ate this. I paid $40 a bag! Well to sum it up, it is filled w/ nothing but fillers %26amp; by products--its NOT a good food. boy was I fooled. so i did a bunch of research, asked a lot of people on here, looked at diff. info sights, reviews, customer comments, anyways I chose Canidae, some otheres were Wellness, Innova. Take alook around at natural organic stores. The food is sooo much better for your dog. My dog too was dry. she never bled, but a dry, flaky coat at times, like dandruff, alwasy itchy %26amp; licking. Only a month on the food, soo much better. %26amp; she was a bit on the overwieght side, needed to lose 5 lbs, she is really shedding the pounds. I even had 2 neighbors comment on her looking good. %26amp; she is a good looking dog to begin w/--point is people noticed the food change. Good luck. If not fleas, %26amp; healthy, make a food change.
Reply:He is probably allergic to his food. Are you sure there is not a flea problem?
Reply:There are shampoos you can get from your vet that will add moisture to his skin. I presume you have taken him to the vet to rule out various problems. If he is atopic a lose dose steriod may help but I think a visit to the vet is in order.
Reply:Your dog doesn't need a moisturizer, your dog has severe allergies, either from the food or inhalants. Schedule an allergy consult with your vet to determine which is the problem, remove the source of the allergy and your dog will have no more problems with itching.
Reply:Maybe you wash him too often? I was once told by a vet that this was a major cause for dry skin.
Reply:Diet and supplements may help. Adding capsules for skin and coat, like 3V Skin Caps with Omega 3, Vit A, D and E, plus something like NutriVed supplement may help. In addition, the food you feed your dog is important too. A high quality food that has not been on a recall list will help also. Avoid foods with wheat products or corn which many dogs are allergic to.

You might consider trying bottled water if your city supply has a lot of chemicals added.

Ask a Vet for a good shampoo and/or skin topical treatment to relieve the irritation, and use as directed, not more often than the Vet instructs.

Hope that helps.
Reply:Rub vasaline in the folds of his facial skin. Add bacon grease to his /her food at least 3 times a week . This will give the dog a chance to absorb the grease they would get from an all meat diet and the vasaline in the folds on it's face is recommended by my vet
Reply:i have a bichon frise with skin allergies. i took him to the vet. i was told to put him on eukenuba brand dog food because it has the omega 3 fatty acid (its the only one that does) . i also rub his belly with baby oil after a bath. anyhow...it works. he was chafing and everything, now he is good to go
Reply:I have a similar issue with my dog of 2yrs. Although her skin isn't so much the issue as the webbing between her digits is her favorite licking spot. I took her to the vet and they provided me with an antibiotic and clavomax to alleviate the irritation. The ointment I was given is called animax ointment by pharmaderm, and although she continues to lick it has made it less susceptible to her licking and has reduced the red and puffiness I 've always noticed. As far as her coat is concerned a good skin and coat conditioner is what I would recommend. DermCare offered at PetSmart, and possibly your vet is a great conditioner. Spray it on all over, avoiding the face and eyes, and work it through with your hands, and then brush him through so that it gets distributed evenly, spray it every two weeks and then determine on your own how frequently you need to use it.

Another issue might be how often he is bathed, if you don't bathe him frequent enough, dirt could be drying out his skin, or any outdoor allergens. Maybe bathe him a little more often and use both shampoo and conditioner on his coat, following up with the skin and coat spray on conditioner.

As well as all the afore mentioned things, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in his water dish provides a good, necessary nutrient and assists in the skin and coat of your animal.

Hope this helps, I'm not an expert just someone who has dealt with similar issues, be sure and contact your vet before attempting any of my care at home measures.
Reply:Paw licking(aside from grooming) is a sure sign of food allergy.Many dogs are allergic to corn glutin.Havwe you changed his food lately? You can slip fish oil inot his food,but it sounds more like a food allergy.
Reply:What I find most useful with this is adding a few linseed seeds into their food, works a charm. Just a bit to get some more moisturisation to the skin without affecting their insides, too much is a laxative for them.
Reply:ok a number of things can cause excessive scratching, ie:

food allergy

flea allergy

laundry detergent allergy

(the list is never ending)

It could also be caused by medical as well. There are some heredity issues that they can have.

There are alot of home rememdies but there is one that I use on my Peis and Pug that works and it's easy...

Oatmeal bath

Avveno Oatmeal Bath

You can also give a dog that weighs 10 lbs or more benedryl (child's dose) to help calm the itching. Also, baby magic baby lotion.

Please note...I am no vet and do not claim to be but I have 2 of the worst breeds for Skin Irritation and common allergies. This is what my vet told me to try.
Reply:SEE YOUR VET!!!!!!

The dog has a problem and I doubt it's the food.

Dog walking problem?

2009-11-20T03:19:00.001-08:00

I have a 4 mo. old puppy, that I have attempted to walk before, but everytime I do, he flips out, literally. I took him to the soccer park and he was flipping and flopping and at one point in time, he was letting me drag him while he lay on the ground. I dragged him for about 3/4 a mile (my arm is killing me!) At the end of it all, it scraped some of the skin off his pads. What can I do to solve this problem and will his paws be okay??

Dog walking problem?
You should be reported to the humane society and have your dog taken away. JMO
Reply:I can't imagine that you thought it was okay to drag the dog that far..

You need to teach the poor thing to walk on a leash. Dogs don't just know how to walk nicely on a leash.. They naturally want to check things out, and aren't used to being controlled...
Reply:Bring him to an enclosed area. Let him walk with the leash. Get him used to it. Hold leash and coax with treats to get him to walk with you. First couple of times out bring treats. Just little ones and continually give to him while walking. Eventually he will see the leash as a reward not punishment. Good Luck
Reply:while your puppy is in the house leave the leash attached to his collar or harness. this allows him to get use to the leash when you leave the room and he follows you quietly pick up the lead and let the puppy lead you. eventually you will be leading him
Reply:He is too young for that kind of treatment. Get a harness for him not a collar.
Reply:I hope your kidding if not you need help..
Reply:use the reward system. if not a treat use his favorite toy he cant resist. make him follow you little by little and eventually he will catch on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes his feet will heal but there must be some reason he is scared of going out in the open. maybe noises or something? are you his first and only owner?
Reply:you drug your dog? ....some people should NOT be allowed to have dogs.....I hope you joking..if not....I hope you get reported and fined!!!!!! and definately get that poor dog taken away from you.
Reply:I agree with the rest, that you shouldn't have dragged him for that far, you should have picked him up, instead.

When teaching a puppy to walk on a leash, the last thing you want, is for him to associate it with pain.

Put the leash on him, and let him walk around the backyard (or other safe enclosed area) without you holding onto the leash. Let him get used to it.

If he ends up just having a true fear of the leash (I have a dog who is that way), then you can try harnesses, since sometimes it's the pressure on the neck that scares them.

You can't FORCE a puppy to walk on a leash. It'll take patience, and try to associate it with good things.
Reply:The leash question is very common on Yahoo Answers. I suggest you do a search with the keywords "leash puppy walk" or something like that and you will find many, many answers. **It's not a good idea to drag your puppy ON SO MANY LEVELS! At any rate, I copied and pasted the link to the best answer I found. If it doesn't work --even if it does-- I think you should do a search like I suggested. Good luck!:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
Reply:This is a common problem for dogs that are not leash trained.

Let him wear the leash around the house for a few hours. Then pick it up and walk with him around the house. Then around the yard. Then out of the yard but not around others. Then go anywhere. You may need to bait him with treats during the training to keep his focus on you not the leash or his surroundings. I have some other training ideas on my website burdicklabradors.com helpful links page under training.
Reply:OK it was not fair to drag a dog that far comon sense should have told you to pick him up, but i understand it was a mistake and you wont do it again, so try taking him to dog training classes there are experts there and they will give better advice than anybody on here and you might meet some friends to give you advice but dont tell anymore people about how far you dragged him.Oh and his paws will get better but dont dragg him again.
Reply:Are you kidding?

Are you related to the sub humans that drug a black man behind a pickup truck until he died a few years ago?

How would you feel if you were terrified and someone put a rope around your neck and pulled you along faster than you could walk?

What is wrong with you?
Reply:First off.... a 4 month old pup should not be expected to walk on lead like an adult dog.

Second off.... It was completely WRONG of you to drag him. He may not ever want to walk on a leash because of that. Who could blame him for flipping out?!

You need to be waayyy more patient with him, he is just a young pup. Give him time. He will (if you havent already scared him too much) learn how to work properly on a leash.

Maybe you should sign up for an obedience course. Not only will it teach him general obedience but it will also show you how to properly train your dog.

Good luck... BE PATIENT!!

My dog's skin is getting worse!!!?

2009-11-20T03:19:00.000-08:00

I have a 3yr old beagel/basset mix and he is having skin issues out of no where. I have never had a problem before and I went to the vet but the allergy stuff they gave isn't working...I am trying to give him benadryl and that doesn't seem to be working either....he is all pink around his chest area and it is all dry. Anyone have any remedies they know of without having to spend a fortune or numerous vet visits???

My dog's skin is getting worse!!!?
my parents dog had something like this and it took the vet awhile to figure out what was up----try taking the dog to another vet for his/her opinion----it turned out that their dog gets this rash from the grass in certain seasons (so, the dog is basically allergic to something in the grass rubbing against its body)

some pink medicine (powder then water added) and cream did the trick---from the vet
Reply:It sounds like an allergy. Maybe it's the shampoo, maybe it's the food. I think you should take him to a vet, especially since the allergy meds didn't work.
Reply:I use oatmeal shampoo, add olive oil to my dogs food (1 tbls), and feed sensitive skin science diet food. my dog stopped scratching, and dry skin went away.
Reply:Oatmeal shampoo baths, and a capsule of vitamin e on his food.
Reply:allergies are very difficult to treat because without allergy testing to know specifically what the allergy is you are stuck with trying various meds until you hit upon the one that works. It's not the vets fault and unless you test for the cause it really is hit and miss. As you are trying the different meds it is very important to follow all directions and allow enough time for meds to take effect. a week of meds is sometimes not long enough to tell if it will work. this is often a long process but think of the dog.
Reply:maybe you should try baby lotion i put it on my little dog all the time because she got red bald spots and it cleared them up and they never came back and she loves for me to rub it into her skin my dogs hair is less than 1/4 inch long might not work if your dog has long hair but give it a try if its short haired
Reply:It does sound like an allergy of some sorts. Since the anti allergy from the Dr. has not worked, I would do a daily bathing routine with using: Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 10 vol. Then, follow up with: making a cup of "Chamomile Tea" use 2 bags and use when still warm (not hot) and gently, bathe him with it.

Do this 3xa week, it should get better, if not, change the Vet or call on you're State,Human Society and tell them including that you're short on funds but don't want your Dog to suffer.

True Animal Lovers, wont turn you down, the Dog has only you're Voice to get him help.
Reply:Okay - there can be quite a few things behind this.

Have you changed his diet recently or given him anything to eat that he hasn't had before including biscuits?? Have you had carpets replaced, cleaned? Have you sprayed your house with anything - deodarizers, insecticides? Don't know where you live but has the temperatures changed drastically in the time he developed the skin condition? Has there been any major changes in the house, new furniture, a new baby, someone going back to work - anything that has changed his/your routine or environment??

Is his chest itchy/painful? Try putting flaxseed oil in his food to help with the dry skin. Make sure you follow directions regarding weight or you'll end up with messes. Did the vet give you pills or cream because it sounds like he needs both?? You could rub aloe gel on his chest to help with dryness %26amp; itch %26amp; it won't hurt him if he gets any in his mouth.

Hope this helps........
Reply:Well thats not good!!!!!!
Reply:I use antiseptic disinfectant.The type used for people that you dilute with water.I find it works for grass allergies %26amp; fungal skin conditions.Fungal skin conditions can start if the dog has been bathed too much or the shampoo wasn't rinsed out.Fungal tends to have a smell that I can only describe as a mousey smell.
Reply:What are you feeding him? Put him on a good quality food designed for dogs with allergies (no wheat, no corn, no fillers)
Reply:I would recommend consulting your vet with regards to allergy testing. Although you may be feeding high-quality food and doing all the right things, you have to remember that, just like a human, your dog can develop allergies at any stage in the game. I wish that I had invested in allergy testing right off the bat with my little girl, who developed allergies at age 2 and is now 4 years old. My advice would be to have the dog allergy tested (skin testing, not blood testing as it can be inconclusive) and go from there.

If it's a seasonal allergy, you might try steroids, but only for short-term use (nasty long-term side effects). I have had success with using kenalog injections and Prednisolone - but, luckily, my dog no longer requires it thanks to allergy testing.

bougainvillea

What skin problem does my son have??? Been to three doctors... he is so itchy?

2009-11-20T03:18:00.003-08:00

My 10 year old started itching with lots of little bumps... the doctor said it was fleas or some type of infestation. We had our dogs checked (nothing) and cleaned his room... even removed him from it. Also, the other three of us in the family have nothing. It started getting worse so we took him to a walk in place on the weekend... they said it was scabies... treated him for that and still got worse. The small bite like marks became round flat slightly raised circles. They are on his arms, hands, legs, feet and just a little on his face and trunk. So, I demand to take him to a dermatologist. She really has no idea what it is... says a bacterial infection and ignores the way I told her it started... the little bumps were not a bacterial infection. He has been on an antibiotic for 6 days and creams, too. It does not look worse and maybe a little better.... He is very itchy and looks awful. There are NO other symptoms. It has been three weeks. Any ideas??? Please help!!!

What skin problem does my son have??? Been to three doctors... he is so itchy?
What ever the problem is, try to get him to use a warm, damp cloth to relieve the itching instead of just digging. My wife has the problem and has had it since youth and tears her body up with the digging. Does he have dry skin? He may have hives.
Reply:Is your son having a reaction to some new type of food he has recently stated eating. What you discribe sound alot like hives.
Reply:The only other likely cause you have not ruled out is some type of allergy. So maybe a trip to an allergist? They can screen him for all sorts of allergens. You could also try giving him benedryl to see if it helps. Benedryl makes most people very sleepy, so you would probably want to try this during a time when he is not in school.

Pitbull with sensative skin.?

2009-11-20T03:18:00.002-08:00

my dog has very sensitive skin, It seems like when we go to a new park he always gets hotspots and some kind of skin problem, is there a remedy for senitive skin on dogs? ( he is a pitbull, and I heard that pitbulls are known to have skin problems, is it true?)

Pitbull with sensative skin.?
Have you tried a diet formulated for sensitive skin? Science Diet, Eukanuba, %26amp; Nutro all make sensitive skin formulations.

Have you tried adding additional omega 3 fatty acids to his diet, like Derm Caps or Linatone? They help the body not respond negatively to skin irritations.

Have you tried bathing him immediately after exposure ti irritating substances? This will wash anything from the environment that may be irritating him.

Have you tried Benedryl? It does help in many dogs with allergies. The usual dose is about 1mg per pound (50 pound dog 50 mg) every 12 hours as needed for itchiness.
Reply:Sometimes it can be that you are bathing the animal too frequently or they are predispositioned to it. I use soap every two months for doggie baths that has oatmeal, it is really gentle on their skin. Also you can take the animal to the vet and they might suggest a vitamin or lotion that will help. If a dog is scratching it can be a number of things: Fleas, Dry Skin, Allergies, Sensitive Skin, the list goes on. I would suggest taking him to the vet, and making sure it isn't serious. If he tells you it is allergies than sometimes they will advise Benadryll or a perscription. Benadryll works great on my pups allergies.
Reply:its probably and itch to the grass make sure to bathe him more so he doest have that problem those dogs and labs get sensitive skin cause they are very gentle animals
Reply:I have a pit with the same proplem. You say when ever you take him to a NEW park this happens, if this is the case then I suggest you take him to a park where he doesn't have a reaction, and stop taking him to a NEW park.

He is either allegic to grass or something that the park uses on the grass(chemicals).
Reply:i feel sorry for a pitbull with sensative teeth

Problems with dog after she goes swimming...?

2009-11-20T03:18:00.001-08:00

My dog, Katydid, (boxer/bulldog mix) loves to go out into the lake at our house...every time she does, a few hours after getting out, the parts of her body that were in the water are very red and swollen...it almost looks like a rash of somekind. She doesn't scratch at it, but she does "clean" the areas a lot (very slowly). She acts as though it maybe stings, or is sore, but not really itchy. It doesn't seem to spread to other areas. The obvious response is to keep her out of the lake, but what I am really looking for is...Has anyone else had this problem? What could be in the water that would cause it (Other dogs that get in seem just fine)? Are there any type of skin problems particular to her breed that may be associated? Or maybe a deficiency that makes her succeptible? Beyond keeping her from something she loves to do, does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this (I don't really need common sense answers such as taking her to the vet)? Thanks, in advance, for your time.

Problems with dog after she goes swimming...?
Both both breeds she's mixed with can have skin allergeries.

It could be so many different things in the water causing this.

After she's done swimming rinse her off with regular water , just spray her down with the garden hose. you can try to wipe the red spots with Witch Hazel, it won't sting.

It would be too hard to keep her out of the water =)

and if she enjoys it let her be. She's smart enough to figure out if it's causing her too much harm.
Reply:hey how about some antibiotic cream on the spots.if it doest last too long i wouldnt worry about it.
Reply:I'm sorry, but I have to say, take her to the vet. Common sense being what it is, use it. A vet can prescribe something that takes care of the skin problem so she can keep swimming. Find the cause, please.
Reply:You are going to get a lot of answers that say this, but it's true - take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis.

She could have picked up something like a parasite from the water or it could have nothing to do with the water and it's just an infection or allergy that is more visible after she's been in the water. She could also be allergic to something in or around the lake.
Reply:It might be a combination of something in the water and she may have sensitive skin. Next time she gets out of the lake try hosing her off with clean, non-lake water.
Reply:my dog has the same problem. the vet told me wasn't really so much a breed thing but sometimes, they come into contact with things, chemicals etc in the water that irritate their skin. just like how you might get a rash from touching petroleum products or something like that. were it something serious like a rash or allergic reaction to something then you would know immediately from your dogs behavior. I've been letting my mutt in the pool and steams and such and doesn't really have that problem anymore so I assume he built an immunity to whatever it was that was bothering him or was probably just a bug bite or something. wouldn't worry about it too much.
Reply:Sounds like a dog version of the Hives, check with a vet and see if an anti-histamine is in order.
Reply:I would try to rinse her off with the hose afterwards, then dry her and see what happens. If she doesn't have anymore reactions it maybe something in the lake that is irritating her. Good Luck
Reply:I am just curious if you've been in this water and experienced this yourself? Do you know where this lake water comes from (ie. river, or a bay)? Is it salt or fresh water?
Reply:I really wish I had an intelligent answer for you. It sounds like she has an allergy.
Reply:Well, no I don't own a dog so that has never happened to me but I think That there is something the dog is obviously allergic too.How long does it take to go away? You might want to see the vet about it if it doesn't go away also I'll give you the obvious answer Keep Him OUT of the LAKE!!!!!!!! Oh, and I'm sorry for your dog
Reply:She could just be allergic or sensitive to something in the water. Or there may be insects or something that bite her.

Try hosing her down with soap and water after she swims and see if that helps cut the irritation down.
Reply:She must be allergic to something in the water. Maybe the lake has high bacteria levels...or mercury levels. I'm afraid you're going to have to ask a vet. You should make an appointment and let your dog swim 3 hours before the appt. so the vet can see the symptoms. Bring a water sample with you too so they can check it under the microscope.
Reply:My old Golden Retriever had the same thing she would swim and lay in the dirtiest water but would have the time of her life! When I would take her home she would always be licking the same area, and when i would look there was a rash...I took her to the vet and it turned out that the rash was actually caused by her Thyroid. Once I put her on Thyroid medication the rash never came back...It might be the same thing for your dog.

Or you can try letting her swim in the water, then try and dry her right after or give her a bath to get the crap off of her from the water...Just a thought.
Reply:Perhaps giving an allergie pill prior to swimming would help. Or rinsing the body right after. With any meds ask the vet for correct dosage.
Reply:OKAY...COMMON SENSE WINS!

Take the dog %26amp; a sample of the water to the vet. The water needs to be tested. Do you live in a high industrial area? (Remember Love Canal? they never even knew it!)

It can be an allergy, but it has to be determined what she is allergic to. I would keep her out of the water %26amp; tied up %26amp; see if she likes a sprinkler for a while to keep her cool.
Reply:I have dog similar to yours. She loves the water. Buit iI never had that problem , or my daughter her dogs boxers, go to the lake all the time. Maybe there is someting dumped into the lake that is irrataeing her skin. I would keep her out of it. It might be a wake up call. for you and others that swim there. Call the EPA have them ck the water. Won't cost you any thing. Good luck. Pem
Reply:You might wanna have the water tested to see what might be in there such as Mercury or other chemicals i would also suggest giving ur dog a bath as soon as she comes out of the water with sensitive shampoo for dogs (ask vet for best kind). you should also maybe have the dog tested for allergies. and if she is licking it means it hurts or she would be scratching i would defanitly suggest a trip to the dogie doc!!!

I have a Boerboel with a weird skin problem? What can I give him?

2009-11-20T03:18:00.000-08:00

I cannot bath the dog, One: he is to HUGE for me, Two: the water is causing more irritation.

I have a Boerboel with a weird skin problem? What can I give him?
What kind of skin problem? If it is dry, dull, and has dandruff, it could be a bad diet or because of weather. In colder months, their coats tend to be more dry just like ours because of spending more time indoors. If dryness is the problem, try slipping one 1000mg Fish Oil pill in its food each day. The vet recommended this to us--the Omega 3 in the pills works wonders and you can get it pretty much anywhere.
Reply:Take your dog to a vet if its skin irritation ther are things that he can be given such a quartisone cream for that but its best to take him to the vet and get him checked out.
Reply:well number one call the vet. without more info its hard to know what it is but i have found that many dogs are allergic to commercial dog food as it is full of starch and just generally poor quality. i have had 3 dogs over time that couldn't eat that stuff. the vets office should have food that will help alot if that's the problem. could also be that if the dog is too large for you to bath he may not be getting rinsed as well as he needs to be and the soap could be causing the problem. also too much washing will do it. also topical pesticides for fleas and ticks can cause alot of irritation and washing with warm water opens the pores and makes it worse. if that's the case and its not an allergic reaction to the pesticide it should go away. best thing to do is call the vet it should not cost you much to have him looked at and treated. good luck!
Reply:try calamine lotion, but just ask your vet first

shell flower

My Jack Russle Terrier has a skin problem?

2009-11-20T03:17:00.003-08:00

My 4 year old pup has a rash on his belly, we feed him porplan dog food, anything that can help? I had heard that and oatmeal shampoo would help?

My Jack Russle Terrier has a skin problem?
If you are looking for a good shampoo for you dog go to the vet and get a shampoo called efa HyLyt or Relief you can wash them 3 time a weak with the stuff it dont strip the oils that they need away.Helps with itching and dryness of skin.

Works very well.

The Relief has

Pramoxine hci

and Colloidal

Oatmeal for temp relief ofitching

Discomfort and Omega-6Fatty acids for dermal renourishing.

HyLyt has

Soap-free Hypoaallergenic shampoo for routine cleansing or normal dry or sensitive skin.it has fatty acids in it I fine this one to work for me.

Added answer.....................

He could have a allergy to frontline did it start when you started to use the frontline?If it started when you started to use it then its probably the frontline.
Reply:oatmeal shampoo is soothing to their skin. it dosent always work. Rashes are common to that breed. take him to the vet
Reply:If it's all flaky and dry then yes oatmeal would be good. But you can buy a shampoo at the pet shop or vet or a few dollars that's medicated for skin problems. Hope your doggy gets to feeling better!
Reply:He might have allergies. Call your vet and have them test. A lot of the time allergies develop after the first year, but they can appear later too. The oatmeal shampoo will help a little, but it won't clear up the rash. Good Luck.
Reply:There are lotions and roll on stuff you can buy. My dog itches her neck so much it hurts her. It is on a roll or you can get anti-itch stuff from the store
Reply:just go to your local store and look for a dog shampoo that says for a dogs skin and coat, it is usually not expensive it should help your dog

NOTE: Do not put regular lotion on your dog! it will make the situation worse!
Reply:There are several reasons for your dogs red skin.

Most of them allergies. Herein is the problem it could be a contact allergy (like to grass) or to food, fleas.....

I think the best thing to do is to go to your vet and get advice. Hopefully it is something simple.

Good luck.
Reply:If you haven't applied flea control, please do. Jack Russels tend to be allergic to bug bites %26amp; they can also get sunburned so you'll really need to watch him.

As for shampoos, there are several you can try. An oatmeal, tea tree oil %26amp; aloe or green tea %26amp; mint. All would be good for a dog with sensitive skin. If it is his food, try a lamb %26amp; rice which is usually good for a dog with food allergies.
Reply:try a dandruff shampoo . it should clear up nicely.
Reply:It could be an allergic reaction to something. Have you used any new detergents, cleaning supplies, dog food, treats, or really anything new. Dogs can be super sensitive to many things. If you can think of something new, you want to eliminate that from around your dog. If there is nothing new you may want to take him to the vet and see what is going on before you use any shampoos or anything that could make it flare up again or get any worse. Good Luck.

My black lab has skin problem?

2009-11-20T03:17:00.002-08:00

I have change dog food to hills prescription c/d I give allergy treatment shot once a mouth been on prednisolone for lasts 3yr notting seam to work spend alot of money on my buddy Can anyone help me please

My black lab has skin problem?
My moms yellow lab also had this problem,The vet we were taking him to was giving him shots and all it did was seem to make it worse and we had to go back more frequently each time,So we took him to another vet and they said he has allergies and that the other vet should have never been giving him thoes shots it shortens there life span dramatically.The other vet started giving him a lttle white round pill that worked wonders he has to take it everyday.Iam not sure what there called but I would see another vet and get a second opinion asap!

Vets favor steroids such as prednisone in the form of pills or shots. They're cheap, and usually effective. But they have very bad long-term side effects, including damage to various internal organs, and incontinence. I suggest using these only as an emergency "interrupt button" to shut down the immune response, temporarily. Use steroids only occasionally, then wean the dog off them by skipping days. This helps restart the dog's systems.

more info.on things you can try etc.

http://www.allergicpet.com/dog_allergies...
Reply:don't know if this will help or not, but my cat had a serious skin allergy to OUR laundry detergent - I switched to a more hypo-allergenic brand - gentle, no scent.. and he's been fine ever since..

I also give my cat 'skin sensitive' food - I don't know if there is such a thing for dogs, but the cat food includes Vitamin E, which is good for overall skin health.. you could try giving that to your dog - although I wouldn't know how much - it is an oil.. so maybe try a small amount at first? 200 IU capsule every other day? I can't say..

Ask a pet store worker - you'd be surprised what they know..
Reply:We had the same problem with our Shepard/dobie mix. The problem was made worse by the heat of Sacramento summers, flea allergies and certain pet foods. He was also doomed to Predisone shots on a regular basis. I think we have a good ability to work with the diet but the environment is a different story. You probably have tried just about everything but just in case, bomb for fleas regularly. Wash your friends bedding and give the medicated shampoo a try. We got better results when we moved to a cooler climate but is not the answer some are looking for. I sure hope that you are able to find a way to resolve the problem as I know how it takes a toll on the budget. Good luck to you and your pet!

Does anyone know about dog skin infections?

2009-11-20T03:17:00.001-08:00

I have a four year old pomeranian who I regularly wash and look after quite well, although recently I have noticed red scabs around one area on her back. They dont seem to be sore and I cant find them present anywhere else on her but I'm still a little worried. Has anyone else had the same problem with their pom?

Does anyone know about dog skin infections?
what do you mean regularly wash? you arent supposed to bathe your dog too often. it could be mange or a flea allergy or maybe just irritated or dry skin o would take her to the vet to be on the safe side if its mange it could spread quickly and it will be unconfortable for her. hope that helped :)
Reply:Hi,my girl is a cross she suffered skin problems turned out she is allergic to gluten.Take her to the vet has it could be a number of things.Good luck
Reply:Is she on a good quailty food and, most importantly, flea control that you purchase from a vet? If she has been in a cold environment with the heat on, like us-she can get dry skin and an overgrowth of bacteria can cause an infection. Oral antibiotics, omega fatty acids, not so much bathing in winter months are my recommendations!
Reply:I have one dog that has skin allergies that cause scabby sores. The allergies irritate the skin and allow normally harmless staph bacteria to take over.

The vet can do a skin scrape and figure out what is going on because there are many things that could be causing that.

My girl is on an antihistamine because her allergies are caused by pollen rather than food allergies. It has helped immensely.
Reply:It sounds like allergies. I have a cat who just had the same issue. Washing with regular shampoos will make it worse. A hypoallergenic shampoo would work best. But before anymore washing, have him/her checked out with your veterinarian and they'll most likely prescribe a medication for him/her on a trial basis.

Good luck :)
Reply:i've had this problem with a few of my dogs. switching to a non-wheat food a year ago did the trick.
Reply:sorry this is a long answer but went on internet because ther so many infections

Skin diseases are common in dogs. Although seldom fatal, many are chronic -- they can be controlled but not cured. Therefore, many skin diseases require frequent, if not lifelong, treatment.

Dermatology is the medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. The skin and hair coat in dogs have many functions and their condition can be used as an indicator of a dog's general health.

Because there are so many causes of skin diseases in dogs, diagnosis is often difficult and response to treatment may take time to evaluate. Allow your veterinarian to determine the cause by using careful case histories and modern diagnostic measures before deciding on a course of treatment. Many diseases cause similar clinical signs, making diagnosis even more difficult.

Bacterial, fungal, allergic, parasitic and hormonal skin diseases occur in dogs. Less commonly, numerous hereditary and immune-medicated forms of skin disease also affect dogs. many skin diseases cause intense itching and this leads to further skin damage from self-mutilation. Rare causes of skin disease include nutritional deficiencies, viruses and poisons. Skin tumors and cysts are common in older dogs.

--------------------------------------...

Bacterial Skin Infections (Pyodermas)

Causes -- Staphylococci (‘Staph bacteria’) are the most common organisms found in bacterial skin diseases (pyodermas) in dogs. Fortunately, these bacteria (S. intermedius) are not contagious to humans or other pets.

Signs -- Commonly itchy, yellow pustules are often observed early in the disease, and the dog’s skin can be reddened and ulcerated. Dry, crusted areas appear as the condition advances, along with loss of hair in the affected areas (lesions) and an odor.

All areas of a dog’s body may be involved, but most cases are confined to the trunk. The chin is one area commonly affected. Called chin acne, this condition is actually a deep bacterial infection. Obese dogs and dogs of the pug-nosed breeds are frequently affected by pyoderma in the skin folds on their face, lips and vulva.

Other areas where pyoderma may occur include between the toes and on the calluses of the elbows that mostly affects the abdominal area in young puppies

hope this help if not type in skin infections in dogs on google
Reply:it could possibly be a mite infection go to vets you will be told and treated properly its always better to let the experts see the dog than ask people
Reply:Do you flea treat her regularly? Fleas are the first thing to address when scabs appear on an animal, especially ones located around the back area. If you don't flea treat her regularly with a proper treatment from a vets (not a pet store) then it's likely she has fleas. Search her skin for black specks (flea dirts) to see if she has them.

If you're convinced it's not fleas, then there are a number of other things that could be causing this (underlying infection, allergies, mange mites etc) and you would need to go to a vets to find out which it is.

Chalice
Reply:I had a mutt named spottie, he had gotten mange. ya shud take em to da vet man ! mines turned in to red mange and he died!
Reply:Skin problems can be symptoms of so many different things that the only way to know for sure is to go to your vet. I've been in the same position as you and you will just go around in circles until your dog gets a proper diagnosis. Most of the time, skin probs are relatively easy to treat but occasionally they can be a symptom of something more serious.

What is an alternative antibiotic to Baytril for canine skin conditions?

2009-11-20T03:17:00.000-08:00

My dog has chronic skin problems and therefore is often prescribed Baytril. I would like to try some other antibiotic to see if the results might be better and hopefull more lasting

What is an alternative antibiotic to Baytril for canine skin conditions?
Ask your vet to try cephalexin,it's good for skin infections.You might also try fish oil,adding some raw meat to his diet;yogurt is good ,too.Malaseb shampoo and /or Sebolux shampoos are good as well.Also,has the dog been checked for thyroid disease? This can cause a lot of skin problems,yet it's simple and inexpensive to treat.Good luck.
Reply:Thank you for the ten points and I hope your doggy's soon feeling better. Report It

Reply:Drugs like Cephalexin (or maybe Antirobe) are good for skin infections, but this is something you should be discussing with your vet.

Given that it's a chronic skin problem though, has your vet ruled out allergy or parasites as an underlying cause of the problem? Anything that's compromising the integrity of the skin will allow entry of bacteria, and could explain why you're not seeing long lasting effects from antibiotic use. If there is something else going on that is maintaining an infection (if there truly is an infection there in the first place), it is unlikely to clear with antibiotics alone.

As Tammy said, thyroid problems- in dogs, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can contribute to skin problems, as can other endocrine disorders like hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's). Conditions like these do have other signs though, which your vet would be unlikely to miss if they're there.

alstroemeria

Emergency dog problem!!!?

2009-11-20T03:16:00.003-08:00

I picked up my 2 year old yorkie from the groomers at PETSMART. Shes been acting really wierd and when we clap our hands or reach to pet her she runs to her bed. She also is licking and biting her chest/neck area. her fur is plasterd to her skin in a nickel sized area. We cant get her into the vet till tommarow!!! HELP PLEASE!!!

Emergency dog problem!!!?
OMG something happened. I'm glad you're going to the vet tomorrow. Let PetSmart know how your dog was after you picked her up. Just keep her calm tonight and let her know you love her. Poor little girl. Please let us know what the vet says. Take care;~(
Reply:Did you try cleaning the area that's matted to see if there's anything there? She might have a spider bite or something there, or maybe she got injured somehow at the groomers in that spot.
Reply:something is wrong there you really need to find out what happend at the groomers and if they did something wrong to your dog on purpose SUE THERE@$$E$
Reply:I have been grooming for almost ten years and I've heard nothing but bad things about PetsMart's groomers. The fur that is plastered to her sounds like a matt which is tangled fur that is extreamly painful. Next time take her to a private groomer. PetsMart's groomers are told to groom the dog as fast as they can, and are typically rough on the dog. Sounds like she had a really bad experiance. I'm really really sorry! Sometimes the cheaper way is the worst way!
Reply:Sounds like she may have a mat that is very close to the skin, or she possibly could have been nicked by a clipper.

I wouldn't panic if I were you - just take her to the vet tomorrow and go from there. In the meantime you could try putting some aloe gel, or an anti-itch spray on the area to keep her comfortable.
Reply:Sometimes a dog will have a hot spot or something that is not evident until the dog has been groomed. It is also possible that somehow the dog was injured while at the Groomer's. A good groomer is going to SEE that something is wrong and point it out to you, whether they did it or it was something pre-existing. I'd take your dog back to that PetSmart and ask to speak to the Store Manager and explain what happened with your dog when you got her home.

They should have the Vet at their store check your dog at their expense and if it was even POSSIBLY caused by the groomer, they should cover Vet costs and reimburse you for the grooming. I'd say even it it was pre-existing, the groomer should have pointed it out to you! That was bad practice.

There are some good groomer's at PetSmart and some that aren't good. Get to know the groomer you like and stick with that one. I am a former Groomer that worked in a private shop and have had some excellent grooming done for my dogs by some PetSmart groomers and I make sure to request them or someone they recommend if they aren't available. I mostly groom my own dogs though, but on occasion I like to have someone else do it.
Reply:Sounds to me like she got nicked with the razor, and the groomer tried to cover it up. My daughter worked at a kennel, and witnessed a groomer cut a dog by accident, smack it on the nose with a brush when it snapped at her, then put a dab of superglue on the wound to close it. And of course, the groomer never told the pet owners that they had injured the dog. Or wacked it with a brush. (When my daughter's protests to the boss went unheeded, she quit,...)

Give her lots of love and approval, as it was pro'lly traumatic for her, and just leave it be for now. For one night, it will be o.k., and the vet will be able to help.

Poor puppers,...
Reply:NOT an emergency!!!!

NOT!!!

Just "clipper burn"-NOT real heat-just MINOR skin irritation.

LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!

Leave the g-d DOG alone!!!

GET A FREAKING *GRIP*!!!

DOESN'T need vetting tomorrow either!

sheeeeeeeeesh,what would you do in a REAL emergency?

"OMG"! My house is FIRE!! I better get on-line!!!"

LMAO

Dog problem, I need serious help.?

2009-11-20T03:16:00.002-08:00

She has dry skin and the ichy areas she has are bitten raw. I've tried using Neosporin,but that does nothing. And its getting worse each day.Help.

Dog problem, I need serious help.?
She could have allergies, rash, fleas ... all sorts of things but by putting Neosporin on it you just encourage her licking it and the bitten raw areas are subject to secondary infections. If an infection takes hold, it can be very stubborn to get rid of... and then you really have a messy and expensive problem.

Take her now to the vet before she gets to that point. It not only must be driving her crazy, it must hurt alot too. A vet visit cost is about 10? tubes of Neosporin and that's not going to help her anyway.

Take her and you both will be more happy.
Reply:call the vet, they will be able to help you.
Reply:she may have allergies take her to the vet asap
Reply:you should take her to the vet and see what he thinks. it sounds like she needs a perscription.
Reply:Don't use Neosporin on it.

Call your Vet first thing.

Could be food allergies. It could also be environmental, or air born allergies.

Feed a high quality diet, and avoid anything from a grocery store, drug store, or gas station.
Reply:To the vet you go! ASAP. It could be something very serious or it could be something very common. But definetly, to the vet!!
Reply:have u tried using special skin shampoo for dogs
Reply:It could be allergies in which case you could probably just solve the problem by changing her food or whatever your vet says.

or it could be hot spots. hot spots usually ooze some type of fluid. In this case your vet could prescribe some type of ointment for her.

Ask your vet.
Reply:Get her to the vet asap - could be allergies, could be a skin condition. In either case, you need to find out what it is and treat it with the proper meds.
Reply:it sounds like your dog is suffering from allergies. i would(as the others have) recommend you take your dog to the vet. if it will take a while to get an appointment you might want to try bathing in an oatmeal shampoo and conditioner and applying cortizone cream to the affected areas! it will help with the itching until you can get to a vet! but please take her to the vet (they have different ways to find out her allergies..hypoallergenic foods, vitamins or pills to help with the itch!) my dog is going through it all now!he had an allergy test done($270)still waiting on results!

Help with itchy pooch: Dog skin infection...?

2009-11-20T03:16:00.001-08:00

Is there anything I can do for her on my own. We are broke and the local vet is an expensive crook. She has had some antibiotics before, but as soon as they run out, she's all red and itchy again.

Will she recover eventually on her own? Will anything ever get worse/ health problems. We can't afford to have her on nonstop antibiotics. Is there anything natural or over the counter? Would benadryl help, I know people have used that for dog allergies, but the vet said this was an infection.

How about an anti-yeast cream for baby butts?

Gimme anything useful....thanks!

Help with itchy pooch: Dog skin infection...?
Change her food.

Get one without corn, wheat, milk, soy, beef or chicken.

Innova EVO is best. It's a little on the pricey side, but you save money in the long run.

Really! It's doing great things for itchy dogs.

California Natural Skin and Coat Formula is also great. Wonderful for itchy dogs.

Find both at www.naturapet.com
Reply:There are oatmeal baths soaps that you can use and that might help with the dry skin. You can buy them at any pet store.

After a flea problem my dog nibbles on my arm all the time whats going on what is he telling me .?

2009-11-20T03:16:00.000-08:00

my dog shatzee is nibbling on my arm and hand all the time what is going on we had a major flea problem well the fleas are gone yet he nibbles on me and scratches rollingon his back do i take him to a vet or his there something for dry skin Ithink he has dry sking ? have you experience any thing like this before please share what happend and what you did?

After a flea problem my dog nibbles on my arm all the time whats going on what is he telling me .?
If he is chewing on your arm, it is a sign of affection. He is cleaning your fur.

I tend to discourage this from my dane as it bruises my skin.
Reply:it is most likely a "hot spot"...my dog had one once and they can get pretty serious so you should definately have him looked at.
Reply:He is telling you that Timmy has fallen down the well and wants you to bring help.
Reply:He's helping you take care of your own fleas, in his own way. My dogs don't have fleas, but one of the chihuahua mixes thinks she's everyone's mom, and constantly "fleas" the other dogs.

She fleas me, too, up and down my arm. The occasional nip, too, but it's not lethal, just love, chihuahua style. She also makes shrill noises while she does this. Weird, but being normal isn't a requirement around here.

As for the back scratching, they all love to do that. Heck, I love to do that. It doesn't indicate a problem unless they have ongoing redness and the fur falls out.

elephant foot

Best way to tighten skin on dog's neck?

2009-11-20T03:15:00.002-08:00

My dog has excessive skin around his neck area. My vet says it's a little too much and I should exercise him to tighten it. What's a simple way to tighten it? I feed him Solid Gold, so I don't think his food is a problem. I walk him for about 1-2 hours every other day and always on the weekends. When we play, we play tug-o-war and I let him hang about 2-3 inches off the ground. It just seems like it'd work out his neck. Any other suggestions?

Best way to tighten skin on dog's neck?
Loose skin isn't really going to tighten up thru exercise, unless you are building muscle. So you do muscle building exercises like climbing, swimming, running etc.
Reply:A bulldog clip.
Reply:Is he otherwise overweight? If so if he is over 6 yrs old feed him something like dry Science Diet Adult Light %26amp; a small amt of wet food.
Reply:I'm not sure why your vet is concerned with excess skin, as long as it's kept clean and dry. What does he want you to do, have a little cosmetic surgery for your pooch??

Just keep on playing and exercising with your pup, and he'll be fine.
Reply:Call Dr. 90210 - K9

How much is an average vet consult fee for a dog in California?

2009-11-20T03:15:00.001-08:00

Hi! Our dog has a skin problem that we couldnt get control of. Plus she seems to have developed allergies since we moved to the area. Im almost certain she can get better if she got some treatment, and we'd like her to be in the best health that she can be. I'm hesitant though because I'm afraid that the vet prices would be exorbitant... could anyone give me an idea how much it would cost to see a vet in the Central Valley, CA area? Any recommendations for the Modesto/Ceres/Turlock area?

How much is an average vet consult fee for a dog in California?
Well it depends. Some are $25 - $50.
Reply:So far, my experience has been with Vets in the N. Valley- Sacramento region of California. Non emergency fees range from 30-45 $ for the office visit alone. Then expect to add to that w/ any diagnostic tests (allergy skin testing), medications, etc. Emergency fees on the other hand can be outrageous depending on the time of day/night you go. Fees for ER visit start at 85.00 and above just for an exam. You may want to consider purchasing a Vet Pet Insurance plan that would cover costs incurred with a deductible or copay. I understand you reluctance to spend a huge amount of money, but then again- Your animal is counting on YOU to be responsible and humane. Good Luck.
Reply:You should just call around to different vets. They will want to do a skini scraping most likely, to see if she has parasites. If she does, they are usually easy to treat. If it isn't parasites then she could have a fungal infection, a bacterial infection, allergies, or allergies with a secondary bacterial infection or secondary fungal infection. The same could be said for parasites.

Allergies are the most difficult to treat because it can be hard to figure out what's causing them. Some dogs will out grow the allergies but if the skin is infected also it needs to be treated.

I am looking for a small dog with not too many problems (ie..skin, eye, hip), what is a good breed?

2009-11-20T03:15:00.000-08:00

like the other person said, get a mutt. they honestly have fewer health problems. the only "breed" i have experience with is a beagle. they don't have as many problems as some other breeds, but they shed a lot and are prone to hip dysplasia (it can be treated, though not always successfully). also depending on the climate, as with any long-eared breed, you have to watch out for ear infections. chihuahuas also seem to have few health problems, but they can be yappy.

I am looking for a small dog with not too many problems (ie..skin, eye, hip), what is a good breed?
jack-russell terrior
Reply:i love the beagle!!!
Reply:A well-bred one.

Look at the Toy breeds.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/toy_group.cfm

When you find one that you like, click on the link for the National Breed Club to find out more about it. Most National Club websites will also have breeder referral links.

Good luck!
Reply:How small? A beagle is the healthiest you will get in purebreds. I have chihuahuas, and even they have problems within the breed. Mine have been fine, but I know there are issues in the breed.

If you want a healthy small dog a mix is going to be your best option. All purebreeds have issues within their breed.
Reply:You need a mutt or heinz 57.

Visit a shelter or a rescue society. There are a lot of factors to consider besides these with any dog.
Reply:I have a yorkie-poo (mixed breed) that is absolutely adorable and in perfect health. He is agile and very fast, jumps unbelievably high and loves being with people. No problems at all except maybe being too loveable.

What I'm sure folks would say though is that with a mixed breed there is no guarantee what the dog will turn out to be like. Guess I just got lucky.

Whats wrong with my dog?

2009-11-20T03:14:00.003-08:00

my dog has a skin problem alwayz chewing and scratching. we take her to the vet and they keep giving her steroids and anitbiotics but it keeps coming back.

Whats wrong with my dog?
clean your dog alot and be sure to rub the shampoo into her skin very well. get a plastic collar thing that makes it so they cant chew at them self
Reply:My dog had the same problem, he had allergies he was allergic to grass, plus he has dry skin.
Reply:well the chewing and scratching can be due to many different things. her skin could just be sensitive. is there a rash on her or something?
Reply:bugs living right under the surface of the canine's skin, causes it to lose hair and be very itchie and dry....poor puppers...just keep taking it to the vet for treatment and with a little luck it will clear up...
Reply:Have you considered that he might be allergic to something in his food?

I switched mine to Canidae chicken and rice and there are no more skin issues.
Reply:We don't know what's wrong with your dog, what does the vet think? Keep working with the vet. You won't find better answers on here, if you're not happy with the results so far then try another vet.

Chalice
Reply:You've paid for all those appointments and they don't know? It could be many things, It could be hormonal; a sensitivity to something (soap/grasses/stress); a bacterial skin infection; parasites; boredom. Phone up and ask them what their diagnosis was/is and get a treatment plan/care plan to stop your poor dog doing this. Bathing too often or with a product she's sensitive to can make it worse. Find out from your vet what you should be doing to prevent this from re-occurring. Sounds like you've been there often enough with this condition, to have it resolved. My parents went through years of this with their vet, to end up having her diagnosed with the bacterial skin infection! She's always behaved as you describe your dog, but she's much more comfortable now. Vets are expensive, get a straight answer from them. Your dog deserves to feel better and to be able to relax a bit. Good luck!
Reply:My dog does the same thing. The vet was offering me fish oil supplements, I've decided that I am going to feed him 1 egg a day. I know people who do that, and their dogs all have shiny and soft fur.

Now I just need to get to the grocery store...

Give it a shot...
Reply:Go to a dermatologist and have them run allergy tests. He might be allergic to something in his food or in the environment. It will be expensive to test, but save you money in the long run since you won't have to put her on steroids all the time (steroids are not healthy in the long run)
Reply:A lot of skin problems are due to the diet. Check to see if his dog food contains corn, wheat, gluten, etc. If so, switch to a fodd that doesn't contain those things.
Reply:Oh I hear you! Aint it expensive having a pooch with a seemingly endless itch! I've been listening to various vets over the years and finally I've come up with a treatment that is completely safe and my dog is no longer itchy...requires regular application:-

2 heaped T of either table salt or even better Epsom salts into hot water to dissolve. Add to luke warm bathwater. Make sure you bathe your dog in this solution for at least 10 min's.

After bathing, gently pat dry, put on elizabethian collar (on the dog that is...) and apply the coritsone cream. Now, I'm not a great fan of using corisone on my dog but it's the only thing that seems to relieve the itching for him.

Every second or third bath, don't use the cortisone - replace it with Aqueous lotion. This is important as it's nourishing for your dog's skin - allowing it to heal quicker.

I hope this helps. All the best

agave

My mastiffs have a skin problem I cant seem to get rid of!!?

2009-11-20T03:14:00.002-08:00

I have 2 mastiffs one is 1 and the other is 1and a half. At first one started to shed really bad then the other did. Then they one started to get bumps all over like swollen sists,some with a white head, then the other did. They itch like mad! Then one day when I was brushing them to help with the itch I found dog lice that you only find I guess on wolves and foxes. So like the vet said bath them in flea and tick shampoo and revolution them every two weeks a month, so I did, I shampood 3 times in one week then started on the revolution, the bumps got worse so I did med baths after the treatment becasue there skin was soo dry and more flea baths. More bumps and itching!!!! The bumps then pop, scab go away then 2 weeks or soo we are back to square one, it has been an on going thing for 5 months now and I cant see it being lice any more!! I even gave them an ivomech shot with more revolution. I have done skin scapings and blood work, the vets dont know anymore and I am out of ideas!

My mastiffs have a skin problem I cant seem to get rid of!!?
wow, i feel for you... you have tried tons of stuff.... so here is my thoughts %26amp; maybe i missed this in previous posts... stop all additives %26amp; treatments... keep them outside or at least away from all carpeting %26amp; beds (including dog beds-use airmatress or straw or foam pad instead)... give them Canidae dog food if you can ( good for skin %26amp; hair but may cause runny stools - messy but ok).... give them ONLY distilled water.. try this for 2 weeks... if you see dif you can slowly change ech thing to see exactly what it is but i would guess it is either a fabric detegent or more likely in the water.. good luck %26amp; best wishes
Reply:one part lysol--three parts water---NOT stronger.
Reply:maybe a....no

ummm I really dont know vet would hve check for all the major issues that popped in my head

get on fosterandsmith.com and get them some skin vitamins start adding it to there food

did you change there food? maybe its something in that
Reply:Have you changed your dog food lately? They could have a food allergy. Also, I would recommend taking the dogs to a professional groomer, because it is very important to rinse the dog properly. It is very important to get all the shampoo out and you have to rinse them from the neck to the tail.
Reply:Have you tried changing their food? I have a friend that breeds French Mastiff's and they had a similar problem. She ended up changing their food because they were allergic to wheat and corn...I think to something that was like Venison and Potato or Duck and Potato (not sure exactly). But the vet also sells allergy food for dogs and cats that have skin allergies. It might be worth looking into.

Also, you might try adding fish oil to their food. That seems to help with itching.

Another option (though on the expensive side) is to see an actual veterinary allergist. They will sedate your dog and shave an area on their side, where they will pierce the skin with a bunch of needles that have a variety of common allergens on them (they will leave black marks so that they can identify them). Than they wait to see which marks react...and they can figure out what your dog is allergic to specifically. A lady I pet sit for just had her dog tested and it cost $130 for the consultation and $350 for the actual procedure.

You haven't said anything about prednisone (steroid)...which is usually what vets use to treat skin problems when nothing else works. It's not the best option, but if they are as miserable as they sound...it can help.
Reply:It sounds like a skin allergy. It could also be parasitic and/or bacterial lesions. Consider all new products ingested topically or orally by your dogs prior to the symptoms. Allergies can also develop at any time during the life of a human or animal. I would talk to your veterinarian about antihistamines and possible allergy laboratory testing.

There is blood work that can drawn and tested to determine allergies of both humans and animals based on the region they live in. It is called "RAST" and "ELISA" testing. If your veterinarian's findings are inconclusive, you can always consider getting second opinion. This is definitely a skin reaction therefore, it is a release of histamine in the body of the animal. Look into that allergy determining laboratory work. Look at this site for more information on it:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...
Reply:Intruder's lysol reciepe, antibiotics if the vet agrees. Change to a high quality food with meat and omega fatty acids. It may take several months to calm things down. I also use a product called "Show Stopper" that I add to my Doberman's food. It really helps with the coat.

Dog problem with fur?

2009-11-20T03:14:00.001-08:00

My greyhound seems to be loosing her fur from her thighs..these patches are appearing on both side of her back legs on the the thigh muscle,the skin can be seen..It's winter here I am hoping it is just a winter coat problem

Thanks for any suggestions

Dog problem with fur?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds/... seems to indicate this might be a "greyhound" problem. As long as the skin is not red and she is not biting at it or licking at it she may be ok. If she seems lethargic and gains weight or has other signs of hypothyroidism (like ear infections, allergies, dry skin, etc) get her thyroid checked. You might give her a fish oil pill on her food to help her coat but it likely won't help the fur come back. Make sure she is getting a good food that is hypoallergenic as food allergies will also cause skin problems.
Reply:Gee... coats usually thicken in the winter.... I'd call a vet... it could be an allergic reaction to something...
Reply:um she has a skin condition best to take her to the vet for treatment, it might get worse if you dont

best wishes with your dog=]
Reply:I think that ur pet has fleas. Or maybe he just is shedding a lot. I suggest u see a vet just to be sure. And if he does have fleas, u should get some medicine. GOOD LUCK!
Reply:how old is she

it could be due to her just being an old dog

or she could have a skin problem

also fur lose could be due to her rubbing them on something

do u put those silly lil dog clothes on her???

if so they could be the cause

xxxxxxxx
Reply:Does she sleep on or close to the heat vents, or the fire place.. something like that?? That'll cause them to lose fur in the winter.
Reply:You should take him to the vet. Sometimes things seem so small but can lead to something so much greater. My dog seemed fine one minute and then the next he has cancer. I am not sure what is wrong, but it is probably a skin condition. Take him to the vet just to be safe. I hope for the best!

-Audrina
Reply:It depends, since it's a greyhound.

If you got her from a shelter/greyhound rescue org. It may have to do with being raced and abandoned thus developing a skin condition.

But I'd take her to the vet either way.
Reply:first vet the dog. Might be mange or an allergy or illness.

What exactly is this Jack Russells skin problem & what can I do?

2009-11-20T03:14:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I am house sitting a friend of a friends house and dog, a Jack Russell.

I noticed he has some reddish raw'ish looking skin on his chest. He spends allot of time deep in garden 'hunting' stuff, but one thing I am a little concerned about is a patch under is front paw as shown here in these photo's:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22580574@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22580574@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22580574@N0...

While the owners are nice people, I don't think they truly appreciate the needs of pets and besides this skin issue, this Jack Russel (which has an amazing temprament) also has some greenish whitish, quite thick puss'y looking stuff leaking from tip of his penis.

I can't really take him to the vet, but would appreciate some advice on what to at least tell owners, cause a simple 'you need to take your dog to the vet' wouldn't work.

Many thanks

What exactly is this Jack Russells skin problem %26amp; what can I do?
I believe that the armpit irritation may be an allergy.

The stuff coming from the penis is definitely an infection and he need to be taken to a vet before it becomes serious.

Call the Humane Society.
Reply:Greenish white pus is almost certainly some kind of infection. Are your friends going to be away for a long time? Maybe you should take the dog to the vet on their behalf (with their permission, of course).

What are the best ways to bathe & care for my Maltese dog-Her skin and coat?

2009-11-20T03:13:00.003-08:00

She is small-4 lbs. and get dirty outside. I hate to continually use dog shampoos on her. Can I use human hair conditioner w/o shampooing her to keep her skin from drying out? She has gotten fleas from the outside dog-I feel so bad for her. I bathe her is warm water and conditioner to get rid of the fleas. What can I do to make her comfortable while I battle this flea problem? We have used Frontline Plus on her all summer, yet now she has fleas! What should I do? What about mineral oil to smother the fleas? I don't want to irrirate her skin, and I love to hold her. But I don't want fleas myself. I just want to make her comfortable and happy! HELP.....any advice will be appreciated!

What are the best ways to bathe %26amp; care for my Maltese dog-Her skin and coat?
I'm so sorry for you and your pup. Fleas are miserable, for both of you!

First, Frontline Plus must be used year- round. Fleas are everywhere. You can also use Advantix or Revolution- both are good as well.

Second, try getting a soap- free shampoo from your vet. You can get one that is hypoallergenic and very mild to her skin. If you bathe frequently, soap- free shampoo is a must:) My maltese/yorkie mix gets more baths than normal, we love the shampoo!

Lastly, try tying up her pretty hair, or getting her a cute shirt/sweater. She won't get a sdirty outside and when she comes in, you can simply wipe her paws, take off her shirt and she is good to cuddle with on the couch!

Best to both of you:)
Reply:Front line plus is to be used all year round. fleas get into carpets, pet bedding , and furniture. You can go to your local health store and buy pure lavender oil, spray bedding's, carpets and furniture, it will kill off fleas and their eggs. You can also spray it directly on your dog or rinse her with it after her bath and it will not irritate her skin.

snake plant

Dog is losing weight without reason?

2009-11-20T03:13:00.002-08:00

Ok, so back in December my dog had some skin problems and I took him to the vet. He put him on an antibiotic and gave him a shot of cortisone. It cleared up the skin problem but now I have another problem. He seems to be losing weight and I'm not sure why. I can feel most of his bones which I could not do before. I mean, he was chubby before this treatment. Even on a second visit they said he only lost two pounds. Anybody else have this experience with their dog? He seems to be acting fine and not having any other problems. Could he have picked up something at the vet? One friend said to check into a tapeworm.

Dog is losing weight without reason?
Losing weight suddenly with no apparent reason can be a symptom of something serious. I would take the dog back to the vet with your concerns. they will probably draw some blood for testing and do a fecal exam.Good luck
Reply:Tape worm.
Reply:Definately talk to your vet. If you don't like the answer you get from him/her, go to another vet for a second opinion.
Reply:if you are still treating this dog with the medicine than the medicine might be doing something to his health by any chance.
Reply:Many reasons, he could just be getting old. Or if he was chubby he could just be losing some fat, which isn't bad, just watch how skinny he gets. If he dosn't seem weaker or anything I wouldn't be too worried
Reply:If yourdog is eating and is still losing weight it sounds like tape worm. If your dog is losing weight cause he is not eating it could be the food he doesn't like.
Reply:Sounds like tape worm, better have him checked, he could go downhill fast.
Reply:have you checked his thyroid?

Also my dog had cortisone and it made him wired for weeks before it finally wore off
Reply:this sounds like something can't be diagnosed over the computer. He could have something as simple as intestinal parasites or something more serious that will require bloodwork , xrays etc. Get your dog back into the vet .

Our dog has skin allergies, any holistic remedies?

2009-11-20T03:13:00.001-08:00

we have a pitt mix who get little bumps all over his back every so often. they are itchy, he chews them, loses his fur, the skin gets infected, he ends up wearing an e-collar, what a pain!! the vet said it's skin allergies and when he breaks out we wash him with a special shampoo that keeps it from getting infected but it still itches and he still chews. we can't figure what the trigger is, it happens every few days to twice a month. has anyone with pitt-mixes had this problem and what did you do to solve it? i'm not keen on the idea of steroid shots so are there any more natural things to try? (the vet wants to give him steroid shots, that's her solution)

my itchy dog thanks you for any suggestions...

Our dog has skin allergies, any holistic remedies?
Does the dog food contain corn or corn meal? Canines are generally allergic to corn. You see it in dry patches on the elbows.

Have you tried a different dog food? One more natrual, with no rice or fillers?

I have been feeding my dog a brand called Hundenflocken (I love the name, eh). I also make homemade beef soup with celery, carrots and sweet potatoes for her.

Steriods are very hard on their liver.

Have you tried putting aloe vera (pure) on the bad spots? This will moisturize and sooth. But I would try a new diet first before steriods.
Reply:Make a pyramid out of clothes hangars and sit him under it for 20 minutes. Turn and repeat.
Reply:Try changing his diet. Corn (corn meal) is a common dog allergy. Find a food that does not contain it and try to feed him that. Nature's Recipe is a good one as is Innova. Good luck
Reply:What kind of food do you feed? Treats? Is this happening year round or certain times of the year? Has your dog been allergy tested? Have you moved? Do you have carpet? Wood floors? When did it start? How old is your pet? I have seen a lot of allergy problems in my life so far and my own dog has severe allergies. I may be able to help you but I need more info. I don't prefer steroid shots either and I believe and have seen many pets be helped without it. Allergies is a VERY controversial subject with vets and owners so you will not get answers that very many people agree with eachother on. However, there are a lot of things to try out there before steroids. Don't give up yet.
Reply:Do you know what your dog is allergic to? Removing that from his environment will help tremendously. I don't blame you for not being thrilled about giving your dog steroid shots.

Now, my parents have a beagle who is allergic to a lot of the additives in dog foods such as Gravy Train. So they have to get him another dog food- Not Beniful, but one like it. As long as he eats that and not the other, he is fine.

Good luck!
Reply:I'll bet that your vet also gives annual vaccinations too.

Dogs have been over vaccinated for many years now. Dr. Ron Schultz of Wisconsin University published his duration of immunity on vaccines in 1999.

http://svmweb.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/6...

There's a lot on the net about this, so do some research! Vaccines can cause skin problems and a whole lot more. Food allergies usually cause the dog to lick his feet until raw, but this could also be your problem. The first ingredient in a good dog food is meat, not corn.

If you are looking for natural things, there is a Pets 4 Homeopathy group at yahoo.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Pet...
Reply:It could be as simple as a flea allergy. If he does not wear a good flea collar get one. We took my daughters dog last year, she was bald and sore on her rear end. We bought her advantage..no fles, and hair grew back. She is now a beautiful dog.

sorrel

Skin problems with boxer, thinking about changing his food.?

2009-11-20T03:13:00.000-08:00

Our dog is almost 9 months we noticed he had some bumps on his head because they look white, its not bald up there (yet) so we took him to the vet and i asked if he had mange mites or something of that sort and she said no she said he had some other kind of allergic reaction. i have been thinking about giving him canidae and i have read some reviews how it helps the skin and the eyes when dogs have problems. so i asked the vet if she would suggest changing his food (we give him science diet) she said that we were giving him good food and she wouldnt suggest canidae for they havent really done studies on the food. i have been reading about science diet and see that their main ingredient is corn and all this other stuff that doesnt seem so healthy. I want to feed my dog something that will provide more nutrients and is better for him. Anyones opinion? suggestions? should i just keep giving him science diet? she said to buy him science diet for sensitive skin. oh yeah they gave him

Skin problems with boxer, thinking about changing his food.?
if your Vet says you are giving him good food by feeding him Science Diet, i would change Vets immediately, very SERIOUSLY !!!....SD is garbage, especially if corn is the first ingredient, like Purina, LOTS OF CORN, despite major advertising, is junk also !!!....Canidae has been rated as a 5 star dry dog food, out of a possible 6 stars, as best !! canidae also has rated 112 points or an A+, out of a possible 100 points, on another dry dog food survey !!! this proves that your Vet is uninformed, and biased, because she sells Science Diet, and is therefore BIASED, BIG TIME !!!.......i am a retired CPA %26amp; CFP, and researched the HECK OUT OF DRY DOG FOODS, AFTER ALL THE RECALLS STARTED, and in my OPINION, CANIDAE DRY DOG FOOD, ALL LIFE STAGES, IS THE BEST DRY DOG FOOD AVAILABLE ANYWHERE, AND IT IS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL DOG OWNER'S !!!!......CANIDAE DRY DOG FOOD, ALL LIFE STAGES, is terrific because it is an ALL NATURAL, ALL HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS, NO BY-PRODUCTS OR CHEMICALS, NO CORN OR WHEAT OR FILLERS, NO SALT OR BEET PULP, ALL USA INGREDIENTS, and Canidae has lots of vitamins and enzymes that are good for dogs !!!!!.......go to Canidae.com for more information, and dog owner's testimonials, and a list of dealers near you, by Zip code !!.......MANY BREEDERS RECOMMEND CANIDAE, and many Yahoo answer people, HAVE USED CANIDAE, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WITH MUCH SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION !!!!!.......Canidae has a money back guarantee, if you are unhappy, for ANY reason !!.....so try it, you will like it, what have you got to lose !!!......my 2 dogs, a JRTerrier mix, and a Great Pyrenees mix, have loved switching to Canidae !!.....my daughter in law, switched her 3 BIG dogs, a Golden Retriever, a Great Pyrenees, %26amp; an English Mastiff, all to Canidae, and they ALL love Canidae also !!!....MANY dog owners have said that Canidae has relieved their dogs of allergies %26amp; skin problems !! go to Canidae.com, and read the dog owner's testimonials !!!....if i can be of further help, with questions about Canidae, or the research i did, please email me !!...good luck to you, and your Boxer !!!...best wishes to y'all, from Fort Worth, Texas, USA !!!
Reply:science diets main ingredient is corn, the #1 food allergen in dogs.

vets get paid to push specific brands. sci-die is simply ut a terrible food and similar in terms of nutritional value to us eating a diet of mc donalds and cardboard.

canidea or timberwolf would be GREAT foods for a boxer, avoid anything with corn in and see if that mkaes a difference.
Reply:buy holistic dog food.
Reply:They have allergy shampoos and vitamins to help with the skin. Give him stuff with OMEGA 3 Fatty Acids. They help with the skin and coat. I wouldn't change the food. It really is one of the best out there. But if you do I would try Royal Canin it's also another good one. Also you might want to try allergy food too.
Reply:You need a new vet, your old one is really clueless about nutrition -hope she knows more about vetting.

Lots of money hungry vets sell Science Diet, which is why they recommend and defend it.

Read the ingredients for yourself, corn meal and ground meat meal (bones, beaks, feet, yuck)

terrible stuff, no better than supermarket or Walmart junk.

Try Canidae chicken and rice - it has done wonders for the skin and coat of 2 of my dogs, major improvement over when I too believed my old vet and fed science diet.
Reply:I have two boxers currently - one who I rescued from a family in NH she is deaf and they stated they didn't have time for her.

She is also white which made it easier for me to spot the 'hotspots' she had when we got her. As soon as I took her off the purina they sent her home with her stools tightened up and her fur grew in soft and shiny, she was so bad, it took about a month for complete restoration of her coat. But with in a day or two the constant itching and licking had slowed down.

We free feed Nutro Natural not sure if your pup is gettin better but a small bag of Nutro will only put you out 10 dollars and as long as it isn't an 'environmental' allergy you should notice a difference pretty quick.

By environmental I mean, changing your laundry soap, shampooing the carpets ect.
Reply:Soooo many people think Science Diet is healthy food. It's NOT! Don't ever base your opinions on dog food according to what other people say or what the "brand" advertises, like "#1 dog food recommended by Veterinarians." First of all, vets make their money by fixing what health problems the pets have. They're not nutritionists.

I've done TONS of research on dog foods and which is the most healthy. Here are my top picks...

1) Evo made by Natura

2) Innova made by Natura

3) Solid Gold

The important thing is to read the first few ingredients on the packaging. There SHOULD NOT be any corn or by-products. The first few ingredients should also contain high quality meat (like chicken, turkey, lamb, etc.) As you seem to already know, corn is just a filler. Actually, some of the fillers and grains they use in dog food could ne causing your dog's skin problems. He might be allergic to them. That's why I use holistic or natural dog foods. They contain no preservatives, fillers, or by-products.

A few other things to consider are the amount of protein and fat contained in the food. Adult dogs for example require a specific amount of protein and fat in their diet as do puppies. Not having enough protein or fat in their diet could disrupt their energy level and overall mental health.

Hope this helps and I hope your dog's health improves! =)
Reply:a little know fact about dogs is that plastic allergies are quite common, when my border collie mix was younger she had a terrible skin rash and the vet and i tried everything it took almost a year for the vet to suggest we removed her from all contact with plastic, we did and she hasn't had the rash for eight years.
Reply:I own a Doberman that has some skin conditions, I use a veryyy mild shampoo that is oatmeal based, found at almost any pet store or vets office. I also dont wear perfumes or use spray scents like lsyol or febreeze in my home. I switched him to a lamb and rice based diet, which I cook myself instead of buying. Its actually cheaper to cook yourself and much healthier. Its not necessary to switch him from science diet, try getting a lamb and rice flavor instead, I happen to suggest to a lot of clients to look around before switching completely, compare the ingredients, the top 10 are usually the most important, watch out for any type of additives. Also there has been large studies that alot of people dont know about but do NOT feed your dog any food that has onion or potato in it. It can make the animal very ill and sometimes some animals dont show anything for years. Its best to switch to a oatmeal based shampoo, and if the spots dont go away you might be looking at Alopecia in your boxer. This is a skin condition found in many breeds but it is usually inherited by bad breeding. I dont doubt your boxer is probably very beautiful but try not to stress to hard on the bumps. He is probably very sensitive and is having allergies to certain things in or out of the home. I hope this helps and if you would like more information please feel free to message me or email me at

jessicabiber@yahoo.com
Reply:well, i don't think i need to add my two cents on Canidae, (which i feed to my dog) Morris the Cat said it all. Nice work! go with the canidae, your dogs skin condition will clear up. that is the main reason i switched my dog, and her skin condition is gone. good luck.
Reply:Try to avoid foods with a lot of grains in them. Grains are the biggest cause of allergies in dogs. Go with something that has a lot of meat in it. Or better yet, raw feeding.

Eagle Pack is a holistic food and very good for dogs with allergies: http://www.eaglepack.com/

You may also want to consider adding N'Zymes to his diet: http://nzymes.com/
Reply:On choosing a good dog food:

Read the ingredients on the food you buy. Go with a high quality dog food. A grain should not be in the first couple ingredients ingredient (corn and such are mainly fillers, dogs don't digest it well). Avoid foods that have a lot of "by products" listed.

Here is an article about byproducts:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?...

And an article on what ingredients to avoid:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?...

---

There is no single food that is "best". For example, some dogs thrive on grain-free foods, while grain-free is too rich for other dogs. What you want to find is the high-quality food that *your dog* does best on. (I recommend feeding dry food instead of wet. It's healthier for the gums and teeth.)

Some GOOD foods are :

* Merrick - http://www.merrickpetcare.com/

* Solid Gold - http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

* Canidae - http://www.canidae.com/

* Timberwolf - http://timberwolforganics.com/

* Orijen - http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/o...

* Wellness - http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/

* Chicken Soup brand - http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssou...

* Blue Buffalo - http://www.bluebuff.com/

* Innova - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.a...

* Innova EVO - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

Or check this website for good foods: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_...

(I recommend only feeding foods rated 4, 5, or 6 stars. Anything 3 stars or less, I would stay away from.)

---

Stay away from grocery stores brands. They are low-quality foods chalk full of fillers, preservatives, dyes, etc.. (Grocery store foods are those like Beneful, Old Roy, Alpo, Pedigree, Purina, etc.)

Beware "premium" foods. "Premium" does not mean good nutritionally, and is not a nutritionally high quality food. It has the same types of ingredients as grocery store foods, just a bit better quality of those not-so-good ingredients. (Premium foods are those like Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc..)

Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that's why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don't focus a lot on nutrition. It's not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told "this is good food", so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it's good as well.

---

Higher quality food may seem more expensive at first, but it evens out. The higher quality the food, the less fillers eaten (and therefore the less poop comes out the other end). Your dog eats more to try to get the nutrition it needs, and most of the food just passes right on through. Also, it will make your animals healthier, so you save money on vet bills in the long run.

---

"Big box" petstores like Petco and Petsmart rarely have quality foods. (I do believe that PetCo sells "Solid Gold" and "Natural Balance" brands and Petsmart sells "Blue Buffallo", which are all quality foods, but most of the foods aren't.)

Also, grocery stores and Walmart aren't good places to buy food either.

Your best bets for getting quality dog food are:

- small, locally owned petstores

- dog boutiques

- farm supply stores

---

When switching foods, do it gradually. I do this over about a two week timespan:

25% food A, 75% food B

50% food A, 50% food B

75% food A, 25% food B

100% food A

=== === ===

Most commonly, it's ingredients such as corn, wheat, dyes, etc. in low quality foods that cause the allergies. Typically, buying a high quality holistic dog food helps.

There are foods that have a fewer number of ingredients that will decrease the risk that your dog may be allergic to something in it, here's an example:

* California Natural - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/californ...

.

Dog's skin irritation, please help?

2009-11-20T03:12:00.002-08:00

My dog is about three years old, she's a siberian husky. She's always shed a lot, but recently, I noticed, that the hair that she's shedding has the follicle attached to it. I called the vet, and they said it was probably just shedding, and nothing to worry about. But now, my dog has scabs on her back, I don't know where they came from, and when she sheds, she sheds in clumps, and there'ssometimes a scab on the chunk of skin. We bathe her frequently, and she's never had a problem with the types of doggy shampoo that we use. I was wondering if anybody could help me out here. I have no idea what could be causing this, and if it could be serious. Please, any help, would be greatly appreciated.

Dog's skin irritation, please help?
They may have changed the formula of the shampoo you are using, or she may have developed an allergy, or you may not be rinsing well enough. Siberians tend to have very thick coats and need A LOT of rinsing.

If you are bathing frequently, it's best to use a very mild shampoo (puppy or baby shampoo) or an oatmeal shampoo.

You need to be brushing her frequently too, it helps to stimulate the skin to produce natural oils and will help remove dead hair so that the air can get to the skin better.
Reply:Go to your local vet and ask them for a skin shampoo for your dog. Malaseb, Sebomild and Seleen are all very good. Your dog may have picked up mange, if her back has scabs on it, but take your dog to the vet and have an examination done.
Reply:ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS YOUR PET MAY BE DEALING WITH A SKIN IRRITATION IS BECAUSE SHE COULD BE ALLERGIC TO THE SHAMPOO ( I DOUBT ) OR YOU BATHE HER TOO MUCH. A DOG SHOULD ONLY BE BATHED 1-2 A WEEK. DOING MORE THAN THAT COULD DRY OUT THE DOGS FUR. BUT IT MAY JUST BE BETTER FOR U TO CALL UP THE VET FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR A CHECK UP... JUST TO SEE WATS UP.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:My dog did the same thing the first two years of her life, every spring and fall. She had bald spots in her fur. Vet did a skin scrape to rule out mange and parasites. She figured it may have been allergies, gave her an antihistamine, plus omega fatty acid pills. Seemed to help, her coat has been great for the past 11/2 years.
Reply:Sound like mange (get a skin scrape from the vet - - about $55) or allergies (talk to your vet about food/environmental allergies). If the dog has no other symptoms (vomiting, etc.), it may not be "serious," but any time a doggie is in pain, that's serious enough to get to a vet asap.
Reply:First, does your dog free range or is she yard contained. If she is fenced in and not exposed to other dogs around the community the chances of her exposure to sarcoptic mange is minumized. She could suddenly have a hyper allergic reaction to flea bites. Use a veterinary recommended flea control, frontline or alike, once a month flea control, feed her a type of food formulated for sensitve skin. Bathing a dog too often could cause very dry and itchy skin. She could be suffering from hotspots. You did not mention what US region you live in. The south central part of Tn. has been extremely hot and dry and Huskies are cold weather dogs. As a precautionary measure if you can afford it get a second opinion from another vet and have him do a skin scraping that will rule out the sarcoptic mange for sure. She may even have a case of mites. Do you live on a farm around chickens. Maleseb and like shampoos are antifungal shampoos, unless she has ring worm or other fungal type problems that might not do the trick. Bathing a dog more than once a month is even too much. Take her to another vet is my best advice
Reply:Sounds like a staph infection. Some breeds can be prone to them. She will need to see the vet and if it is staph, antibiotics. The hair will grow back though.
Reply:she could have an allergic reaction to flea bites or she could have mange or possibly a thyroid condition.I would take your dog to the vet so they can see for themselves if there is a medical problem going on

Skin problems in dogs?

2009-11-20T03:12:00.001-08:00

which breed the west highland white terrier(westie) or maltese have a worser skin problems?

Skin problems in dogs?
From my experience, Westies tend to have more allergies while Matlese get more skin infections. Skin problems can be avoided by making sure you buy from a reputable breeder that is willing to guarantee all health problems for a couple years. It seems like it is the badly bred dogs with the most problems. Of course, you could always adopt :)
Reply:In my experience, neither one of these dogs is particularly prone to skin problems, although I have seen some westies with allergies. The most important thing is to go to a breeder who really knows their breed. They will be working to produce the best quality puppies with the least amount of problems that they can. They will also be there to help you out if you have problems in the future, and they may have a guarantee that covers certain inherited skin disorders. Other than going to a good breeder, the other things you can do to help are to feed your dog a high quality diet, make sure it is clean and well groomed, and lives in a clean healthy environment. Allergies are something which may or may not be genetic, and you can't really control those if they are environmental, but doing all of the above things will go a long way to having a healthy puppy.

Chicken in dog food?

2009-11-20T03:12:00.000-08:00

Someone told me that their vet said that chicken in dog food causes skin problems in dogs. I thought this was the craziest thing and I'm not sure if that's right. Isn't chicken in pretty much any dog food!? Is beef better??

Chicken in dog food?
my vet told me to give my dog chicken and beef. that it is good for them.
Reply:dogfood is bad for dogs in my opinion. it is primarily made of corn and wheat products and contains very little real meat anyway. i feed my dogs a diet of raw meat including chicken and they are doing better than i have ever seen them do before. dogs who live in the wild eat the meat that they can kill or forage. nobody has ever heard of wild dogs attacking and ravaging corn fields right?
Reply:chicken can cause allergies even with humans, some humans when they eat chicken their skin will be itchy...

beef or pork is better...
Reply:Chicken will not harm your dog, even in pet food. Lol its weird your vet said this because if chicken harmed dogs wouldnt chicken necks and wings harm your dog??? Maybe some rare cases are found were chicken causes skin irritations but i dare say your dog isnt one. Beef and chicken are both good for your dog, a variety is good as both have different nutrients in them. Well i feed my baby necks all the time and hes alive so theres somthing fishy about your vet.... I know pork in large amounts, fat, salt, sugar and CHOCOLAte all harm dogs but definately NOT chicken.. (chuckle) Best of luck Angel. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Reply:It might if the dog is allergic to chicken.
Reply:I'd find another Vet and soon!
Reply:Chicken in dog food is perfectly fine, as long as it is a good quality food. you will find however the dry dog foods that contain no wheat or allergy producing aditives etc usually contain turkey and rice not chicken. this is only because chicken has a higher amino acid content, but thats all.

Hope this helps
Reply:That's crazy. If one could afford it, it would be better to feed your dog meats only and no dry food. Think about dogs in the wild, they don't eat dry food.
Reply:This sound weird - but some dogs can be allergies to chicken. I am given my dogs chicken - the Pug if he does not get chicken in his food he will not eat at all. If your dog is sick as well - my vet told me to give chicken and rice. It is very strange to me. Maybe you must tell that someone to seek another vet.
Reply:dogs love chicken,come on
Reply:unless your dog is allergic to chicken, it won't harm him. I have a dog who can only eat poultry in his dog food as he is very allergic to beef and lamb so I would tell your friend to get another opinion from a different vet.
Reply:Chicken is a perfectly acceptable source of protein for a dog but occasionally a dog will develop an allergy to the protein in a certain food. Anything with protein can cause an allergy and allergies generally show up in the dog's skin.

The vet that said this was probably talking about a specific incedent or talking about dogs with allergies should try foods without chicken to see if they are allergic to that specific meat source.
Reply:Dogs can be allergic to pretty much anything. Inlcuding chicken, corn, wheat, soy, and I've even heard rice. The more common culprits to allergy issues is corn, wheat, and soy. If I suspected my dog had a food allergy. Also artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives can also trigger allergy reactions. I'd try an elimination diet. Start with a single protein and grain (Chicken and rice) and feed that for a few days. You may want to get a multi-vitamin for your dog while doing this. Add ingredients one at a time to be sure your dog isn't allergic to them.

If you can't homecook, look at a single protein food like Natural Balance, Wellness Simple Foods, or Blue Buffalo. Natural Balance and Wellness both have several single protein / grain foods; Blue has single protein but multiple grains. If they still have problems, try a grain free diet like Evo might be the solution. This will help you get an idea of what ingredient is the problem.
Reply:It could be that their dog is allergic to chicken.

In any case, bad quality dog food can contribute to skin issues.
Reply:I've never heard of this. My vet recomends feeding my females chicken and rice when they are prgnant

I suppose if they have proven the dog has an allergic reaction to chicken maybe.
Reply:My dog gets all organic chicken kibble and raw chicken. She has NO skin problems. For my girl chicken is better, she has a very hard time with beef. She has not been tested, but we believe she is allergic to beef. In fact, we have pulled all beef and beef byproducts from her diet. I would not feed strictly beef as it can be very high in fat.

shamrock

Help!!!! dog problem?

2009-11-20T03:11:00.003-08:00

I have three dogs, A female german shepard (doja) , who is in heat. A mastiff and boxer mix who is a male (rocco). and a Pug ( mercury)who is also a male. they all usually get along good until lastnight, The boxer mix is fairly new to the home we have only had him for three months. Lastnight Rocco decided to grab the pug by the side of his neck and shake him and growl. i got them apart and kept them from each other the rest of the night. Then this morning he did the same thing both times mercury was "sniffing" doja. Rocco has NEVER done this he usually plays well with smaller dogs, his best friends is a miniture pincher. My question is, Is this all becuase Doja is in heat?? Should i be concerned that this will continue? ( he did break the skin on mercury last night :( but not this morning ) my pets are like my children. i dont want to get rid of him. Like i said before they usually play in harmony, no problems until now.

Help!!!! dog problem?
Yes it's because she's in heat. Do you not know the health benefits of spaying and neutering? Also neutering the males alleviates aggression. here is some info for you in case you are not aware of the facts.

Are you not aware that there are 15 dogs born for every one human? http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cf...

Are you not aware that there are millions of dogs killed every year because of not enough homes? http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost/voices/v...

Are you not aware that only 1 dog in 10 gets a permanent home? www.safehavenforcats.com/main.htm

Are you not aware that one female and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just six years? http://www.metroplexanimalcoalition.com/...

That coupled with the health benefits of spay/neuter WHY would you not spay/neuter your dogs? www.sniksnak.com/benefits.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/myths_...
Reply:Yes, it's because your girl is in heat. They are fighting to mate with her. Why don't you get her fixed to stop this problem? That will also ensure no pups are born leaving many others to die in shelters.
Reply:Are the males fixed? If not, they are demonstrating male sexual agression toward each other over the female in heat. There really is no reason the the mixed breed needs to be intact. If you plan on breeding the purebreds, please either do it responsibly, or get them fixed. Each heat that your female goes through increases her risk for mammary and uterine cancer. The males will also be prone to testicular cancer.
Reply:you're going to have to separate them while she is in heat......even though they usually get along right now it's dominance rules when it comes to that
Reply:Any more than 2 dogs creates a pack mentality in dogs and thus can result in shows of domination. It could very well be linked to the dog being in heat. I have 3 dogs as well, and they tend to get a lot more rambunctious when one of them is in heat. I don't think you have anything to worry about, especially if all the dogs got along well before the estrus cycle started.
Reply:Its Because Shes In Heat ... She May Be Having Babies !!
Reply:As the other posters have stated, if your dogs are not fixed, and you have no intentions of breeding them, get them fixed immediately. That will take care of those problems.
Reply:Sex is the answer to every problem mankind has ever known.

Seriously, that would be my best guess. I'd bet my next paycheck that if you removed the female from the mix ( like another house, these boys can smell her aloooooong way off )the 2 males would go back to getting along
Reply:if the puppy have alredy formend in her tummy then let her have the puppy but if it did not form then go get her spaid
Reply:Yes the bigger male dog is fighting the smaller one because the female is in heat. And if let go he could go as far as to kill the small dog. Male dogs go for miles to mate. So he will do what ever it takes to mate her. I would keep her a way from the males and have her spayed. or you are gonna have a litter of pups then what?? And german sheperds can have up to 12 pups or so. BIG dog BIG litter.
Reply:Yes, its because the female is in heat, can you get them spaded so they wouldn't be so aggressive over the female. Its a natural behavior for animals to fight over a female.
Reply:You will have male aggression problems as long as you have a female in the house-especially if she's in heat. You need to seperate all 3 dogs and have all three spayed and neutered asap.

edit: Unles your dogs hve been evaluated by show judges and tested for problems that can be passed genetically don't even think anbout breeding them. You can't base breeding stock on outward appearances alone.
Reply:The problem with the male dogs is indeed due to having a female in heat. The problem will only get worse and possibly fatal. You can nuter the big or both dogs or spay the female to stop this growing agression. I have 3 males and had 1 female and their aggression grew until now none of the 3 males can be together so they have crates and they have to take turns to come out and play or socialize otherwise they will fight. This has been like this for the past 9 years. Now the female dog is gone they still do not like each other. This is typical male behavior for many animals including humans lol ;-)
Reply:The males have the tendency to fight over the female. You sure better keep her away from the males or you will have unwanted babies and a dead dog. Why don't you get your female fixed as there are a lot of unwanted animals in the world trying to find homes. You sure better do something or one of your dogs will be dead.
Reply:you'll have to keep them all seperated until she is out of heat. it sounds like he's trying to keep the little guy away from her and he could seriously injure your poor pug or in the worst case kill him.
Reply:If the only time they did that was while she was in heat then that is probably the reason. Either keep them seperated when she is in heat or get her fixed. It shouldn't matter how old she is, but you could always call the vet and see if they will do it.
Reply:The problem is your girl is in heat. You need to keep all three apart before one of them gets hurt. Crates in different rooms is your best bet and only allowing one out to go potty at a time.

Please consider altering your pets----and I don't think 6 years old is a problem for the girl. Ask your regular vet, but it shouldn't be a problem. Rescue groups take in intact females this age and older and spay them.

I am sure Rocco and Mercury are normally the best of pals and the way to help them stay like this is to have them fixed. Ask the vet if it makes sense to do both at once you so can have them recovering at the same time and you won't be struggling to keep one rambunctious guy from playing rough with the other.

Although Rocco is probably very handsome and people have asked you to breed him, think about how and why you got him. There are lots of unwanted dogs out there, why help make more? and with the increase in dislike of certain breeds---and even breeds that look like a "certain breed"---mean any pups he makes could face uncertain futures. Why not increase his chances of having a longer, healthier life? and decrease the chances he could get in a fight with another dog?

I love boxers and mastiffs--I grew up next door to a boxer that owned my heart from age 6+. In today's world where dogs that have a certain "look" are discriminated against, a boxer/mastiff mix has a strike against him. If another intact male dog comes after him and Rocco defends himself, Rocco might end up taking the blame.

No matter how handsome Mercury is and how wonderful his temperment, coloring, coat and tail, you might want to alter him too. You've said that you haven't found the right mate for him yet which sounds like you've given this some serious thought.

I understand the significance of his tail and coloring, but have you had him assessed by a knowledgeable breeder? or showed him? Just testing him alone for health/genetic defects would cost a bit, and then it sounds like you're the kind of caring person who would want to make sure his pups end up in forever homes.

Altering Mercury, Rocco, and Doja should mean more harmony in the future and longer, healthier lives for all three.

Peace