NOTE: These are suggestions from a few of the 12,500 various dog owners who
subscribe to Justin Rudd's SoCal DOG e-newsletters.


*** ALWAYS consult with your veterinarian before trying any of these
suggestions.***


THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Justin: I will appreciate any input to help improve my dogs skin problems. The
scratching is nonstop to the point of bleeding. Try everything, 4 brand of
fleas, tick control, soft shampoo den bug spraying. Their fur is very dry,
coarse. Please, any ideas, forget the vet, already $600 wasted with him. -
Charles.

###

#1. Change the FOOD! A food that has no corn and little to no grains. Blue
Buffalo is a good brand. Or ask the dog food store that you buy the food.
Often dogs are ALLERGIC to corn/grains and/or chicken.
#2. You can also massage oil into their skin. Maybe even a Hydro cortisone
cream. (but that is a bit more toxic)
#3. They may be having an underlaying problem, like their joints hurt around
that area.
#4. Give them a fish oil tablet in the morning and evening with their food. For
1 week double the dose and then just the one in the morning and evening.
have them try this and then if not....My friend Sally Savitz works on Animals.
She does Homeopathy and acupuncture. (562) 421-4400 -Barbara Tapella

###

The dog may have allergies to food. Check out if he's allergic to wheat or corn
products in his food. My neighbor went crazy with this too. she cannot feed
her dog any dog food with corn or wheat in it and she never feeds him table
scraps. - DLGalvans

###

have Charles check this Web site. www.Nzymes.com I used their products and it
helped my dog's itching. -Case

###

Try Resicort by Verbac. It is only at a vet. When my dog was diagnosed with
pemphigus, it is the only thing that would give her relief. It was actually a
miracle for all of us. -Lynne

###

Dr. Marc Bittan on National Blvd., in L.A. is a holistic vet., who helped rid my
dog of his skin problems with homeopathic meds. It took awhile, but once under
control, it never returned. Before the treatments, he looked like he had the
mange!! email me for more info. mickey donahoe, mdonahoe@...

###

I work as a vet tech in the San Joaquin Valley (allergy central). Here are a
few products we use on a regular basis, perhaps you have not yet tried one or
more: Chlorpheniramine (antihistamine, over the counter), Relief Shampoo/Cream
Rinse (medicated shampoo), Derm Caps/3V (fish oils, helps skin/hair
TREMENDOUSLY), and Depo Medrol (steriod) injection. A newer one, Atopica, isn't
used too frequently, it is reserved for extreme cases. I'm not as familiar with
it but I believe it is also a steriod. It is given as a oral tablet. Some
procedures to rule things in or out would be a skin scrape (check for
mytes/yeast), a thyroid test (blood work); thyroid problems can cause skin
problems/hair loss, and allergy testing (usually sent to an external lab,
determines the exact allergens causing the problem, if it is indeed an allergy,
unfortunately it is pricey). Since you already spent so much I wouldn't be
surprised if you've tried all these already, but hopefully there's something in
there that might help. Also I'm curious as to the dogs' breed or breeds. some
are more susceptible to skin issues. If they are all different breeds perhaps
it is something in the environment??? -Rachel

###

My dog had very dry and flakey skin, and it has been almost eliminated with a
combination of "Derm Caps" (daily dose of Omega 3 fatty acid gel cap) and
Petco's "Hot Spot Soothing Treatment" for dogs. It helps stop itching, reduces
shedding and removes scales. It contains oatmeal and vitamin B5 and E and Kava
extract, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin A. They also have a
Hypo-allergenic Shampoo that I used before the Soothing Treatment which contains
coconut, aloe and oatmeal. I am very pleased with the results and so is my pug!
His coat is ultra glossy and no more flakes and almost no scratching! --Cindy W

###

Iv San Bernard are skin & coat specialists that have achieved amazing results
where vets have failed using natural based non-medicated, non-toxic products.
Call us for a free consultation at 1-877-589-8436. -Linda

###

First you have to understand that many things can be going on so there are
multiple fronts on which you will have to wage this war. You do have to make
sure that your dog does not have fleas or mange. Get one flea that bites-
allergic reaction - biting - raw skin - more itching etc. Mange can only be
determined by a vet and is not curable without their help. It is very serious
and can spread to people.

At this time of year, the allergies kick in for my dogs. If this is what is
happening, once things have gotten a hold on your dog, you will have to be
aggressive to stop the itching and the chewing and the raw skin. I have used a
vet who specializes in dermatology for animals and it does cost me a bundle to
get through the first steps of diagnosis. I had all the allergy tests done. My
dog now gets antigen shots once every week or two (to decrease sensitivity to
the things he is allergic to) all year long. Over time this decreases the
reaction. And the antigens are expensive -- about $150 every four months or so.
But that is only part of the solution. The other part is using an
antihistamine. My veterinary dermatologist suggested that I also give my dog an
over the counter antihistamine called Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4mg. (I buy mine
at Rite Aid -- their private label brand -- in the 100 tablet bottle). It is
like Benadryl without as many side effects. During the winter months he gets
two a day. In the summer that increases to three. My dog weighs 17 pounds. I
also give them to my larger dog (37 pounds) starting at two a day and
increasing up to four a day if things get really bad. The way I give them is by
crushing them in the dog bowl, adding water, and mixing with breakfast. Later
in the day they can be wrapped in cheese (a soft kind works best) or even given
with a little peanut butter. If I can start the regimen at the first sign of
scratching, I can head off the worst of the scratching and the cycle above.
However, if your dog is covered in sores, it is too late and you will have to
first cure them. In the beginning of treating my little guy, it required a
steroid shot or series of pills which were tapered off to get the itching to
stop. It also required an antibiotic to stop the infection that had been
created by all the scratching and licking. Getting control and stopping it may
require you start with this. But then you want to stop it before it starts
again. That is where the antigens and antihistamines come in. Recently I did
not catch one of my dogs before she had chewed up her stomach. The vet gave me
a prescription for Genesis Topical Spray (solution of 0.01% triamcinolone
acetonide). This cleared up the lesions really quickly. They stopped itching
and started to heal and I got her right onto the antihistamines to prevent a
further outbreak. This might be a good alternative to the steroids.

For fleas I use Frontline AND Sentinel (includes heartworm preventative and
serves as a birth control for any fleas that lay eggs before the Frontline kills
them). That is one front.

For allergies for one dog I use antigens and antihistamines. For the other,
just antihistamines. I have recommended these antihistamines to others who have
used them successfully. In one case a woman I knew gave them to her dog which
had licked her backside completely raw.

If it gets away from me and they end up licking their fur off and creating
lesions, it is steroids or this new spray that seems to work well.

The point is you have to be vigilant, sometimes use a number of solutions
simultaneously, continually monitor your dog, and then be ready to step up to
the next level as soon as it starts to get out of control to prevent really
serious infections. Yeah it is a lot of work. But, hey. We love them. The
specialist I use for the diagnosis of allergies and antigens (and good advice)
is Animal Dermatology in Irvine (off Jamboree Rd.). - Annette Lohman

###

Please tell Charles, with the dog's skin problem, that he might want to try a
powder that we use for our bassett hounds. We tried everything too and
everything made the itching and rashes worse until we found Zeasorb-AF. It is
actually a powder for Athlete's Foot. We buy it at the Kaiser Permanente
Pharmacy but have also bought it at Rite-Aide. We first heard about it from a
pharmacist. It's about $8.00 and lasts a long time. It has been a life saver
for our dog and really works. In fact, it is the only remedy that we have used
that stops the rashes and itching under her armpits, plus it helps all those
other little itchy areas. Please try it and I hope it helps. -Debbie

###


Charles it sounds like your dog might have dry skin or allergies, not fleas. I
struggled for years with the issue with my older dog. If you are bathing your
dog too often thinking the itching is caused by fleas you are making the problem
worse. Give your dog a supplement for skin & coat that has omega 3 and omega 6.
Most pet stores sell a fish oil formula or other similar product that doesn't
smell. This is not an overnight cure but you should see results within a week.
In the mean time do not bath your dog. Get a good organic spray that will help
soothe the dog's skin and keep him smelling somewhat fresh. Make sure you vet
has ruled out a skin infection. Allergies are treatable with medication. If
you vet has not suggested the problem is dry skin or allergies I would switch
vets. - D.

###

Dear Charles, Perhaps too much stuff is the problem at this point. There are so
many reasons the skin can be bad from yeast infections to allergies. It is
necessary to give a treatment or new food or new shampoo at least 6 weeks to
work. From the dry fur statement it sounds like a food change may be necessary
in the long run and for the short term a good medicated shampoo and conditioner
will help you along until the new food works. If you are in the Long Beach area
you can stop by Wags to Whiskers and we can help to recommend a course of
external grooming treatments that would help. We don't sell food but we can
easily tell if a dog has bad skin because of a bad diet -- there are usually
tell-tale signs of this. If you see fleas and your treatments aren't stopping
the problem I understand changing the medications but if you don't see fleas all
that medication/bug spray may be doing more harm than good. Good luck,
Dara/Owner, Wags to Whiskers

###

all the flea control items are probably irritating the poor dog's skin. do you
see fleas? if so, something like advantage should put a stop to them. if no
fleas, could the dog have mange? or it might be allergic to something, perhaps
its food. there are allergy formulas of a lot of foods now. you could also try
a whole food supplement like Missing Link. I'd definitely quit the flea
shampoos. - dg

###

To Charles re:dog's skin problem:I have a shepard (5yrs. old) He has had skin
problems, severe at times since he was one. Tried changing food, had alergy
tests,also spent 100's on vets...then moved to New Mexico for 2 years & he never
once had a problem, beautiful coat,never scratched,ever, healthy as could be.
Then moved back to LB & started all over again. I know now that it is
environmental (grass, pesticiede & 4 sure fleas. We were at an elevation of
8000' so there really were no fleas or grass in NM. We have found some relief
though, as much as I hate the flea meds it is so important to keep up with the
monthly regime here. I was using frontline & a vet put him on comfortis (tabs by
mouth, u need a perscription) & it has helped alot & is about the same per
application as frontline, which was wearing off too quickly from dog
beach...Lastly, the only thing I have ever found to work for the bleeding
hotspots is Sulfodene, skin med for hot spots, scratching, redness...I believe
one of the only places u can find it locally is pet friends (I think there
called) over on Broadway. -Shelley

###

Dear sir:
1) Vets are not a waste of money. They provide an invaluable service and save
countless lives of dear family members. There are good ones and bad ones. I
recommend you see Dr. Dominguez at City Line Pet Clinic in Downey. He is
fantastic and will help you. Expect to pay a fair price for his expertise.
Tell him I referred you.

2) Skin problems are very difficult to address. There are many etiologies. In
order to cure your dog, you need to diagnose what the problem is: is it a
pathogen, is it an allergy, is it diet, is it environment...etc.

3) Are you feeding your dog a high quality diet? I don't care what brand, but
it better be good and stand up to scrutiny. The ingredients are listed in order
of percent contained, the highest percent first. If you change diets, then you
won't see any effects for a month or 2.

4) You said you dog has a dry coat. An oil supplement to the food on a daily
basis can help this. Fish oil tabs are good. This will also take a month or 2.

5) You said you tried different flea meds, does your dog still have fleas? If
so, you must address this. If there are fleas present, then the fleas will
cause itching, and the bite of the flea can cause an allergy.

6) What shampoo are you using on the your dog and how often are you grooming? A
good hypoallergenic shampoo once or twice a month is fine for maintenance.
However, your dog may need a medicated shampoo, especially if there is a
pathogen or allergy present. How often do you brush your dog? A brushing
removes excess hair, exfoliates, and distributes skin oils throughout the coat
to relieve dryness. It's great for your dog and you get to examine your dogs
skin on a regular basis to prevent small problems from becoming big ones.

7) Has your dog been tested for yeast and bacterial infections of the skin, or
skin allergies? Meds may be required to cure your dog of these infections.
Does your dog roll around on the grass? This is a potential source of yeast and
bacteria, and allergies.

8) Some dogs itch because of behavior issues. Have you discussed this with your
vet?

- Michael W. Hughes, Department of Pathology, University of Southern California

###

Charles with the itching dog: This time of year, I'd suspect allergies. I give
my dog an adult Benadryl (she's 50lbs). - Denise M. Kiss

###

The only two things I can recommend for dog's itching is one the vet can give
your dog an allergy shot-don't know if you have tried this and two the at home
remedy I use for my Bulldogs when they start itching is plain over the counter
Benadryl (suggested by a vet). -Tammy

I also have a WONDERFUL vet in Lomita Dr Mike Zareski at Western Vet Group.
(310) 539-3112.

Annie had skin problems, but ever since I switched her to EAGLE PACK, Holistic
Select (Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Formula - dry) she hasn't had any problems.

Link: Eagle Pack Holistic Select Pet Foods I also add NaturVet Brewer's Yeast &
Garlic Powder

Link: NaturVet.

###

Charles, have you tried putting your dog on a raw diet? A lot of dry dog food
has preservatives in it that can irritate sensitive skin. I have a bulldog who
never once has had a skin problem and has been on a raw diet for about 2 years.
There are two really good companies out there, Bravo and Natural Choice. Our
dog eats Bravo and never has to go to the vet. :) -Summer

###

Charles, I'm sure your vet knows more than I do about nearly every aspect of
canine health. However, if he's never lived with an allergy-ridden pit bull, I
may be one up on him. (See Brewski's Dogster page, link below.) Although I have
no idea as to the cause of your dog's problem, it's possible that one or more
actions mentioned in the following might help him (her? name?) even if allergies
are not the cause. Please excuse the copy/paste and some redundancy.

________________________________________

The question about controlling allergies comes up often. The following are
copy/pasted from some past posts. I'm too lazy to start from scratch, even
though there's quite a bit of redundancy.
________________________________________
My Brewski had significant side-effects from prednisone {treatment for
allergies}. In addition to the usual problems, excessive thirst and appetite,
his skin began to thin, or so the vet told me. Brewski lost all the hair on the
tip of his tail, and it would bleed whenever he wagged it against something. We
had no choice but to discontinue the prednisone. However, for short-term (only)
relief I would consider using it again.
Luckily he has had no major flare-ups.

I credit Genesis spray for quelling localized itching before Brewski has time to
turn an itch into an array of secondary infections -- smelly ones, at that.
Genesis contains a steroid, but it is not processed through all the internal
organs as pills are. In almost two years { now three+ years} of use no side
effects have occurred. See
www.virbacvet.com/virbac_dermatology/product/genesis_topical_spray/27/ . In
spite of a regimen that includes about a dozen elements, Brew will occasionally
have a bit of reddening on his throat, armpits or legpits. Usually one quick
spray to the affected area brings overnight improvement and subsequent
disappearance of the irritation.

I also use Allermyl shampoo, from the same company.
www.virbacvet.com/virbac_dermatology/product/allermyl_shampoo/27/

Because of the lack of side effects we've experienced with Genesis, I wouldn't
hesitate to try Cortisoothe shampoo if Brewski were to show signs of a general
outbreak.
www.virbacvet.com/virbac_dermatology/product/cortisoothe_shampoo/27/

Lately Brew has had irritation in the visible portion of his ear canals -- first
one, then the other. He flaps his ears so violently after a cleaning that I
gave up cleaning them regularly. I keep Otomax on hand -- liquid for the ear
canal, cream for the flaps. www.medi-vet.com/Otomax.aspx

Not to make light of a troublesome and costly matter, but I'm going to attach a
rather humorous, post-op photo of Brewski from last year. He had shaken his
head so hard that his right ear developed a hematoma roughly the size of a
bratwurst. {As of 1/21/2009 he's recuperating from surgery on a second
hematoma.}
________________________________________
I'm no vet, but I've lived with one allergy-prone dog for four years. Every dog
is different, but I'll share what I've learned and let you decide how or whether
it relates to your dogs.

I can't cite a source, but I recall reading online that food is an allergen in
about 20% of allergy cases. A way to test for food allergy is to feed the dog
only unique protein and carb sources for several weeks (eight, IIRC). However,
the result may not be conclusive. It's possible that an environmental allergen
could decrease during that time, causing the owner to believe that changing the
dog's food caused the improvement. It's even possible that the dog could be
allergic to the withdrawn food but still show allergic symptoms because of the
onset of environmental allergens during the test period.

My vet tells me that skin testing for specific allergens, followed by
desensitizing injections for any allergens so identified, will cause some
improvement about 50-75% of the time. Not a very appealing payoff considering
the expense, effort and time involved. Testing the dog's blood for antibodies
(by one of several technologies) is less costly, at least on the diagnosis end,
but is less accurate.

Many actions on the part of a conscientious owner may have some beneficial
effect. I use several even though I have no idea which ones work. There is one
exception regarding the uncertainty, but I don't think it helps a dog with
advanced skin irritation/lesions. Genesis spray is quite effective, however, in
quelling itching and inflammation on Brewski's skin whenever I catch it before
he breaks the skin by scratching. One spray on two successive days has always
worked so far.

Here's what I presently do for Brewski:
Feed a combination of Nature's Variety frozen, raw lamb and Natural Balance fish
and sweet potato kibble (in a ratio of about two to one).
Add salmon oil and safflower oil to each of his twice daily meals.
Give two, generic Benadryl capsules with each meal. (One mg./lb twice daily is
the guideline.)
Wipe him frequently with a wet washcloth or aloe wet-wipes.
Bathe him with Allermyl shampoo whenever there's a noticeable increase in skin
irritation
Wash bedding with allergen-free laundry soap weekly.
Leave his collar off when he's indoors -- to avoid allowing metal to contact his
skin.
Gently clean goop from his eyes twice daily or as needed. Watch for
inflammation. Apply ophthalmic antibiotic cream if needed. (Prescription
only.)
Gently clean goop from ears as needed. Apply Otomax ointment if inflammation is
present.
Note that we don't have fleas in central Arizona. Elsewhere allergy to flea
excrement is a major culprit. After killing all the fleas and the new hatch from
leftover eggs, the furniture and any carpeting must be thoroughly cleaned to get
rid of all traces of flea matter.
I strongly doubt that any one of the above is responsible for Brewski's
improvement over the last four [now five] years. However, I would bet that some
of them, working jointly, have done so.

One note of caution: Oral prednisone effectively eliminated the itching, but
caused unacceptable side effects. It was discontinued after a few months.
________________________________________
Yes, I use Genesis spray on Brewski (see Dogster link, below) as needed (which
is different than the label instructions, IIRC).

Whenever the dozen or so other measures that I employ continually fail to hold
skin inflammation/itching in check, I lightly spray the affected area. Usually
the redness diminishes in 24 hours. On the rare occasion when it doesn't, I
spray again. Daily or more often inspection is necessary because the active
ingredient (a steroid) may inhibit healing if the skin has already been broken
due to scratching.

The small amount I use doesn't seem to worsen Brewski's drying. Then again, in
Arizona I don't know that it _could_ be worse. Our two-month monsoon season,
currently underway, is the exception; relative humidity sometimes rises as high
as 70%. The rest of the year it's so dry that fleas can't breed here.

At one time Brewski's skin was so bad that I considered testing for specific
allergens, but I kept putting it off. For the past year or two his problem has
been manageable, so testing is now on indefinite
hold.

Here in the outback of central Arizona the nearest vet dermatologist is a
two-hour drive distant. That fact would have affected my decision as to whether
to go with the interdermal (skin test) method or one of the growing number of
blood tests.

I'm skeptical of the whole business because of human experience in our family.
My wife took the desensitization shots for years when we lived in Kansas. She
didn't improve until we moved to California. I had blood testing done, and my
number one allergen was cattle dander, which is strange 'cuz I ain't never been
no cowpuncher. Number two was legumes; eliminating soy (including its
derivatives), peanuts, peas, lentils, alfalfa sprouts, etc. from my diet for six
months made no change in my chronic nasal congestion.

I want to hear some success stories before I pursue testing on Brewski.
________________________________________

Here is one source of information regarding Genesis.

And another.

Note that it must be kept away from the dog's eyes. It can retard healing if
the dog has lacerated her skin. If it is only reddened, then some improvement
should be apparent within a day.

I use it only as needed -- differently than the label advises. However, a
serious inflammation may warrant a 28 day regimen, per the label. Talk to your
vet.

I've also found Allermyl shampoo to be of some value (slightly reduces
scratching).during a flare-up.
________________________________________
There's a lot of duplication in the following links, but each article contains
at least one unique bit of information.

www.marvistavet.com/html/food_allergies.html
Click on links at bottom of page re: itch relief and inhalant allergies.

www.medi-vet.com/canineallergy.aspx

www.discountpetmedicines.com/antihistamine-dog-cat-pet.htm
Gail: Note reference to triamcinolone.

www.1800petmeds.com/Genesis+Topical+Spray-prod10681.html

www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2&aid=137

www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/canine-allergies.html

www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1535

http://priory.com/vet/vetatop1.htm


Yours truly, Dave Morefield

###

Hi, My brothers dog has the same problem. Its allergies! I'd Try a gluten/wheat
free diet and they use a dandriff shampoo once a week. Or even better. I have
an intuitive healer that's located in Encino. He can work with you over the
phone because he's intuitive. He will tell you exactly whats wrong and what the
dog needs to fix it. He's always right on. I use him for MY health. He mainly
works on human's but love's dogs and works with animals too. He is faster and
less expensive than a Doctor or Vet. If you believe in this. let me know I will
give you his info. - Connie A Peterson

###

For skin problems I found that regular fish oil vitamins that you can get at CVS
keeps my dogs skin from being dry. The dogs just eat the vitamins like a treat.
I have a 35 lb dog and a 75 lb dog and I give them both 2 vitamins a day. They
are much cheaper than the "skin coat" pills you can get from the pet store and
they are the same thing. Watch for the sales at CVS - Buy 1 get one Free when
purchasing the vitamins.

###

In reply to the dog's skin problem, my dog has sensitive skin too. Part of it is
because he is allergic to things that get on his skin so when the plants are
blossoming we have to bath him every other week with benzoyl peroxide shampoo
(you can buy online). This causes his hair to dry out so the vet gave us a cream
rinse that keeps his hair and skin moisturized after the special shampoo.

###

END

*** ALWAYS consult with your veterinarian before trying any of these
suggestions.***