Bad Dog Dandruff and Hair Loss in NM

[Flatcoatluver]

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.

[mwormser]

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

[Flatcoatluver]

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!

[pomtzu]

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.............

[mwormser]

Thanks, going to the vet next week. He will get a throid test. He is on a low dose. He gets .6 mg L-thyroxin. Maybe he neds a higher dose although he was on a higher dose last year.

Will try Nutrived OFA Granules for Dogs. Looks great. Maybe I'll take some too.

Thanks for the replies. Something has to work.

martin and jet

[shepgirl]

Those pictures look identical to my what my cousin's dog had. They tried everything on her with no results. One vet suggested it was caused by the immune system and said to try the dog on raw food diet. It took about a month and she has no sores, hair loss or dandruff. Has beautiful skin and shiny coat. Don't know if it would work for your dog, might be worth trying.

[mwormser]

SHEPGIRL, just switched to raw food yesterday. I'll tell you, if Jet isn't hungry, then there is really something wrong. What a pigdog he is. He loves his duck.

FLATCOAT, Can't find anyone in town that sells Nutrived OFA. Am ordering is online today.

ZIPPYCAT, Can't find anyone who sells MTG in town. Am ordering it today.

Jet's scabs are growing. I also believe his immune system is down. I will try anything.

Thanks for all the replies.

martin and jet

[mwormser]

CATLADY711, I went to the Vet and he did an allergy test. It takes 2 weeks to get back. If allergic, the company makes a serum.

SHEPGIRL Still on raw food. He loves it.

FLATCOAT The vet said stick with the raw food diet for a couple of weeks. If the condition still doesn't change them try the Nutrived OFA.

ZIPPYCAT The vet said to hold off for now the the Shepleys MTG.

All of you thanks for your input.

Jet is still on Cephalexin and Prednisone.

I just hope something works although all the Vets say he has a chronic problem and he will not be entirely get cured.

Jet will be 12 next year and he is still a happy go lucky buddy. The skin condition really doesn't seem to bother him much. He's a trooper.

Martin and jet

[polarpooch]

Sounds similar to what our old poodle had when he got to his senior years-around 11 or 12. He was scabby, flakey, had lots huge patches of hair missing, and all the hair on his tail fell out. He was a mess. And he smelled awful. After many tests (including cancer tests and allergy screening), lots of money, lots of drugs, it turned out to be his thyroid that was causing most of his problem. (which had been tested before, by the way) The vet put him on a dose of medication for the thyroid, and it helped him quite a bit. He never did totally recover from the condition, however. It was something we just had to manage. He required baths in a special treatment shampoo, and an Rx salve for his scabbies when he'd scratch open a sore (which happened less frequently after the thyroid meds). Sometimes he'd need to be on a course of antibiotics, because his sores would get infected. We also gave him benedryl and a low dose aspirin occasionally, on vet's recommendation, just to make him feel better. But he never seemed to mind any of it. He lived till he was 16. Don't know if this helps. But I can say, it sure was a maddening process trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Best of luck.

[mwormser]

Thanks Polar,

Jet went to the vet yesterday. He did an expensive allergy screening and a thyroid test. He has been on thyroid pills since this horrible experience started. Maybe his thyroid has changed. Maybe a higher dose. One vet lowered it from .8 mg and is now getting .6 mg.

martin and jet

[flip195]

Did they check for cushing, that is how my dog started then her coat started to lighten.

[mwormser]

4 vets can't figure it out and don't know what it is. I find that very odd.

The only thing that apperars to work is the 4% chlorohexaderm shampoo.

It keeps the dandruff down but does nothing for the scabs. I end up using my fingernails and scraping them off. It's gross. If I could wash Jet every day, I think it would keep the scabs down but that's not possible. I end up doing it once a week or less. Seems like 4 days is the best.

Cushing? I'll have to look that up.

Good luck with Snerfu. And yes thankfully, it doesn't itch him.

One other thing I didn't mention is that his toenails are pithy, curving and thin. Another side effect of his dissability.

martin

[mwormser]

Just put in a call to my vet. Chushing sounds almost like what he has.

Thanks martin

[abbyfischer]

hi i hope that your dog is doing better sometimes a change in food to a natural raw meaty bone diet can help really helped a friends spaniel when she tried it. just a thought!!!