Lab with skin issues

[cristina33]

Another thing you can try is a grain free food sometimes that works wonders in a dog Call of the Wild is a good one but $$.

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
I understand money being tight, but sometimes it can be the less expensive route to take. I had a dog with skin problems for many years. His was controlled by periodic antibotics use. I'm not a big fan of using medications, but this was the only thing that worked on him. Does your dog start lapping to the point that the area smells different? is it scaley? Once the vet looked at the skin, we didn't do any further testing. He was put on meds for 10 days, and my vet gave me an open prescriptions to use when the lapping, itching started again. (my dog's breath would also get bad when the itching was going to get bad....it was almost an early warning that the skin problem was going to return.) About once every 3 months he would need to go back on the antibotics for 1 week. I did work on his diet to see if I could rule out any problem foods, but never found any real difference in his skin problems.

I'm know your lab's problem could be totally different, but a quick trip to the vet, may save you time, aggravation and money in the long run.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
I understand money being tight, but sometimes it can be the less expensive route to take. I had a dog with skin problems for many years. His was controlled by periodic antibotics use. I'm not a big fan of using medications, but this was the only thing that worked on him. Does your dog start lapping to the point that the area smells different? is it scaley? Once the vet looked at the skin, we didn't do any further testing. He was put on meds for 10 days, and my vet gave me an open prescriptions to use when the lapping, itching started again. (my dog's breath would also get bad when the itching was going to get bad....it was almost an early warning that the skin problem was going to return.) About once every 3 months he would need to go back on the antibotics for 1 week. I did work on his diet to see if I could rule out any problem foods, but never found any real difference in his skin problems.

I'm know your lab's problem could be totally different, but a quick trip to the vet, may save you time, aggravation and money in the long run.

Yep she does. Last night I was petting her and I noticed that the area where she itches stunk to high heavens. Guess I will be making a trip to the vet... She laps at it until I have to speak to her and tell her 'leave it'.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Can you explain why she is scratching? Also, how old is she?

Hi Rusty's. She just started itching about 4 months ago. Rubbing herself against anything and everything. I've had to block off the sofa as she rubs against that and gets it all funky.

She is about 5 years old.

 

[mener6896]

we had a dog that did this at certain times of year. Once this starts, our vet would give him a shot (cortisone, I think) this would stop the problem until the following year.

 

[cmb19]

I understand that Taste of the Wild dog food is used by alot of people with dogs that have allergies. It's around $40 here, but if it saves you from all sorts of vet bills it's worth it. http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/

If you do try it out, you may want to avoid the Pacific stream in case he's allergic to fish as well.

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
I can so identify with you. Mine would lap until I wanted to scream, but he wasn't doing it on purpose. Body surfing the couch and side of the bed was also a favorite pastime. I'll be hoping for a quick and easy(and not wallet draining) solution for you and your buddy.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I was wondering if it was Mange. I had some dachshunds who had mange (demodectic) and nothing I would do for them got it to go away permanently.
I researched online and finally found a breeder who wanted to remain anonymous and who gave info for a very unusual treatment for mange. I was desperate so I tried it and it did go away and did not come back.
But it sounds like your girl has allergies not mange. I wish I could help you with that but I don't know. The cortisone sounds promising.

 

[Countrywife]

If she is that old, and this is a new behavoir, what has changed? All the allergy dogs I ever had were always like that, from birth. If this is new, its entirely different. Benadryl helps the symptoms, but is not the cure. Something new happening is causing this, new food? new cleaners in the house? New pet? I don't know, but its worth looking at.

 

[EweSheep]

We had a female collie with skin issues and man, she was allergic to almost everything. Found out it was heritetary and we finally had to put her down because she was not getting the attention from people that she adores and her skin would weep. It was the smell of dead flesh. Happened when she was not even a year old when my mom had to take her to U of I to get the tests and many shots for years took a toll on their pocketbook. So the kindest thing to do was to put her down. She was about six years old if I remember right. Her siblings and their offsprings had it and it was because of ONE Champion sire dog that started it all. It was a mess that very few people now has his lines. Thank God!