Bad Dog Dandruff and Hair Loss in NM

**Katy's Mum** · 11-13-2008, 03:33 AM

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.

**mwormser** · 11-13-2008, 09:33 AM

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

**mwormser** · 11-13-2008, 12:09 PM

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

**Karen** · 11-13-2008, 03:55 PM

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!

**Catlady711** · 11-14-2008, 06:09 PM

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.

**mwormser** · 11-14-2008, 10:32 PM

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

**Catlady711** · 11-15-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by mwormser

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.