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Thread: Bad Dog Dandruff and Hair Loss in NM

  1. #1

    Bad Dog Dandruff and Hair Loss in NM

    Help Anyone! Two years ago my 11 years old Golden Retriever / Black lab mix Jet, started getting bad dandruff and lost his hair. After losing his hair he developed scabs, which are still present. The hair grew back, somewhat.

    My vet didn’t know what it was so he sent me to a dog dermatologist. Over $3000 later Jet still looked the same .He checked for cancer and was negative. He had many blood tests, yeast tests, fungus tests, cancer tests stool tests, urine tests, mites, fleas, and on and on All negative. The only test that was positive was a bacterial infection. One month of Cephelexin, nothing. One month of Cipro, still nothing.

    After 6 months, I went to a recommended holistic vet. Over $2,000 later and more tests, the Vet didn’t know why Jet wasn’t responding to herbs.

    Then to a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and more herbs. Nothing.

    I went back to my regular vet and said to send the file to a vet school. The school had no recommendations. I read an article about Colostrum and am trying this. I am also shampooing him every 4-6 days with a mixture of 4% Chlorhexiderm and Betadyne. It works on the dandruff but his huge scabs won’t go away.

    Jet is a trooper. He has been through a lot. Thankfully, the skin problem doesn’t make him itch.

    If anyone reading this letter has had a similar experience please tell us what you did. Jet and the family thank you very much.

    Martin Wormser
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    Last edited by mwormser; 11-29-2008 at 10:04 AM. Reason: adding pics

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    12
    All I can say is that it sounds like my Katy (Welsh Terrier) but she gets the itchy part as an add on.

    Hers is due to a dust mite allergy but that took the skin specialist 18 months to work out. Thankfully her hair has grown back and she only has the occasional breakout and never as badly as the original one when she lost most of her hair. She was on a monthly injection to help but after about 2 years it appears to have lost its strength so we are back to the corozone injection once a month.

    I have found Aloe Vera gel helps in her ears when they are giving her problems, but it does make her skin lovely and soft and gets rid of the flaky scabs, which to me look like what we call "cradle cap" which you get on some babies heads shortly after they are born - I remember rubbing slightly warmed olive oil in my daughters head to help lift the flakes of skin off.

    Good luck with the search for an answer.

  3. #3

    Dandruff

    Dust mite allergy? Interesting since it stared when we moved to NM 3 years ago. Monday Jet had a cortizone injection and started Cephalexin. Tomorrow starts Prednisone.

    Thanks martin and Jet

  4. #4

    dust mites

    Now that I'm thinking about it, The bedding came from California 3 years ago.
    Even though we wash the cover once a week, the inside has never been washed.

    Time for new bedding. We'll try this. Thanks

    martin

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Windham, Vermont, USA
    Posts
    40,828
    Yes, and if you can, keep the plastic cover on the bedding, then put a washable cover over that. I am a human with a severe dust/dust mite allergy, and kept the "packing" plastic on my box spring by doctor's orders. We also regularly wash the mattress cover, as well at sheets and comforter.

    Also, if he lays on a certain section of carpet - vacuum that regularly with a HEPA filter-equipped vac. And scoot him out of the room when you're doing the vacuuming, too!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    2,614
    Since you said it didn't start until you moved did any of the vets do allergy testing or skin scrapings? I didn't notice those listed specifically in your post.

    Whatever it is I hope your poor baby gets straightened out soon.

    RIP Dusty July 2 2007 RIP Sabrina June 16 2011 RIP Jack July 2 2013 RIP Bear July 5 2016 RIP Pooky June 23 2018. RIP Josh July 6 2019 RIP Cami January 6 2022

  7. #7

    allergy

    Yes, the dog dermitologist did several scrapings and biopsy. I'm not sure there was an allergy test per se. Possibly, the vet who saw the severty of his skin, thought it wasn't. We did change his food many times. Was on a fish diet for a month, so it's not a food allergy.

    I'll ask my regular vet who is back treating him although all vets are stumped. He is being treated now with cephelexin and prednisone.

    Seems to be working. He looks OK. Although his scabs are large. Gross.

    I did go to Costco and bought all new bedding for Jet. Threw out all the old dog beds. They were a couple of years old.

    Thanks martin and jet
    Last edited by mwormser; 11-16-2008 at 09:17 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    2,614
    Quote Originally Posted by mwormser View Post
    Yes, the dog dermitologist did several scrapings and biopsy. I'm not sure there was an allergy test per se. Possibly, the vet who saw the severty of his skin, thought it wasn't. We did change his food many times. Was on a fish diet for a month, so it's not a food allergy.

    I'll ask my regular vet who is back treating him although all vets are stumped. He is being treated now with cepelexin and prednisone.

    Seems to be working. He looks OK. Although his scabs are large. Gross.

    I did go to Costco and bought all new bedding for Jet. Threw out all the old dog beds. They were a couple of years old.

    Thanks martin and jet
    I believe allergy testing is done by blood samples, and I'm pretty sure they have to be off all medications for a time period prior to testing. I would think that the dermatologist probably has done those tests but found inconclusive results, I just can't imagine a dermatologist not doing allergy testing.

    Good luck, hope the new bedding works to help.

    RIP Dusty July 2 2007 RIP Sabrina June 16 2011 RIP Jack July 2 2013 RIP Bear July 5 2016 RIP Pooky June 23 2018. RIP Josh July 6 2019 RIP Cami January 6 2022

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Delaware, USA - The First State/Diamond State - home of The Blue Hens
    Posts
    9,321
    I had the same problem with my Pom. She had very bad dandruf - most on her hind quarters and on her back by her tail. It always flared up with the onset of Fall. She had huge dandruf flakes - some the size of a quarter - and then she would lose her hair and get the oily scabs. Her blood work showed that her thyroid was somewhat sluggish and she was put on meds for that, had cortizone and pred shots for a while, and I added Omega 3 fish oil to her diet, and all that helped. She no longer gets any shots on a regular basis - maybe just 2 or 3 times a year when needed - and all the nasty oil, scabby type dandruf has gone away. She still gets a little "regular" dandruf - but just tiny flakes - nothing severe like she used to. I still tell her that she's a "flake"!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wolfy ~ Fuzzbutt #3
    My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet

    Sparky the Fuzzbutt - PT's DOTD 8/3/2010
    RIP 2/28/1999~10/9/2012
    Myndi the Fuzzbutt - Mom's DOTD - Everyday
    RIP 1/24/1996~8/9/2013
    Ellie - Mom to the Fuzzbuttz

    To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
    Ecclesiastes 3:1
    The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power
    To know just when the hands will stop - on what day, or what hour.
    Now is the only time you have, so live it with a will -
    Don't wait until tomorrow - the hands may then be still.
    ~~~~true author unknown~~~~

  10. #10

    thyroid

    Thanks pom, He has been on thyroid for 2 years now. Got his cortisone shot, on prednisone and cephelexin. Dandruff down a little. Still has HUGE scabs.

    Interesting, a lot of the scabs are on his hind quarter. I shaved some of the dried ones off and the skin looks OK. It's so gross.

    m

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Drama Queen Rehab
    Posts
    6,984
    Have you heard of Shapley's MTG?

    http://www.shapleys.com/products_view.aspx?articleid=17

    I use it on my horse to promote hair growth (mane/tail as well as cuts/scrapes). And I've found that working it into her skin, also helps protect my hands from this dry climate. (I live in the southern part of NM.)

    It's a little oily so after application you might want to crate Jet (or, if he'll tolerate it, put a tshirt on him) to protect your furniture, carpet, etc. MTG has a strange smell - it's not unpleasant yet it's not exactly welcoming either.

    A 32oz bottle should set you back about $15.

    Good luck!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    6,335
    That sounds a lot like the problem I had with Zoey my flat-coat. She used to have really bad dandruffy skin, scaps, and would pull out her hair. I found out it was a food allergy.

    For the first couple years of her life she had no problems with food at all, and then when she started getting all the skin issues I switched her from kirkland dog food to a higher quality dog food. That didn't work. I have probally tried over 25 different dog foods until I switched her over to EVO innova at night and raw in the AM. Finally the dandruff and scaps went away and she also stopped pulling her hair out.

    I would look at what your feeding her as well. Just a thought.
    Thanks so much Ashley for the siggy!
    Zoey Marie NAJ NA RN (flat-coated retriever)
    Wynset's Sam I AM "Sage" RA (shetland sheepdog)
    T.j (english setter)

  13. #13

    food allergy

    Hi flat coat,

    The dog dermatologist made me give Jet fish for a month and there was no difference. I have tried several different foods. He now get cooked chicken,
    Delightly seasoned in a crock pot ) and Keen, similar to Force. It's a dry meat and grain powder which you mix with water. Nothing is working.

    His scabs are getting worse. He is on Cephelexin 500 mg 2Xday and Prednisone 1Xday. Nothing works.

    Here are some pics. Hope they work.

    Good thought though. I'll change his diet again. Possibly the kibble I was feeding him 3 years ago before this happened. I think it was crappy Pro plan.
    Just thinking (out of the box).

    martin and jet
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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    6,335
    Aww poor Jet, that looks a lot like what Zoey used to have and it bothered her so much. I also use a powder on Zoey's food in the pm called NutriVed O.F.A Granules (Microencapsulated) I got this fromthe vet and it has helped her skin and coat sooo much. Good Luck!
    Thanks so much Ashley for the siggy!
    Zoey Marie NAJ NA RN (flat-coated retriever)
    Wynset's Sam I AM "Sage" RA (shetland sheepdog)
    T.j (english setter)

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Delaware, USA - The First State/Diamond State - home of The Blue Hens
    Posts
    9,321
    Those pics look exactly like what my Pom used to look like. Has he had is thyroid tested lately to see if maybe his dosage needs to be adjusted? Just a thought.............
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wolfy ~ Fuzzbutt #3
    My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet

    Sparky the Fuzzbutt - PT's DOTD 8/3/2010
    RIP 2/28/1999~10/9/2012
    Myndi the Fuzzbutt - Mom's DOTD - Everyday
    RIP 1/24/1996~8/9/2013
    Ellie - Mom to the Fuzzbuttz

    To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
    Ecclesiastes 3:1
    The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power
    To know just when the hands will stop - on what day, or what hour.
    Now is the only time you have, so live it with a will -
    Don't wait until tomorrow - the hands may then be still.
    ~~~~true author unknown~~~~

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