Terrier/cocker mix w/skin problem...Ideas?

[thebritt]

Hi. My 7 month old terrier/cocker mix, Solomon, has been treated for skin lesions (that's what the vet called the bumps, but no pus/blood at this time) with antibiotics and medicated shampoo. He gets his bath 3X/week for the 1st month, and once a wek for the rest of his life

.He's an amazing pup, and my best friend, so he's worth every minute and dime, but this skin thing is driving us both nuts! The antibiotics helped a lot, but the bumps returned w/in about 2 weeks after the meds were done. Any experience with, or advice for this ridiculous terrier skin?

 

[herefordlovinglady]

have you thought about food allergies? My springer had food allergies really bad -- the only food I could feed her was a brand of Eukanuba (if I remember correctly is was for sensitive skin).

 

[thebritt]

I was thinking about that possibility. When I first got him (from a "box O puppies on the 4th of July), I was feeding him TOTW, but canged to the Kirkland chicken & rice because that's what I feed our other 5 dogs and haven't had any problems. Guess it's time to see if TOTW is a better idea...?

 

[TLWR]

So many things could be causing it. Food allergies or environmental allergies.
Figuring it out will be a crap shoot and will take forever.

My greyhound had issues with wheat, chicken and lamb. I fed raw for a while to determine what they could eat and then found a kibble that worked for the both of them.

Could be a grain, could be a carb, could be a protein, could be anything, or a combination. Good luck with narrowing it down.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I would guess food allergy as being number one - environment number two. I swithed all my dogs to TOTW and my dry, flaky, itchy aussie is ok now.

I would be careful with baths, shampoos, fufu sprays, snacks, people food.

 

[sourland]

Have they done scrapings to assure that he doesn't have a mite problem. That being said, my first guess would be food allergies. TOTW would be my food of choice for him. Did these problems initiate after you switched feed? If so that would strengthen the probability.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Allergies likely food or maybe even something as simple as fleas. my dog was allergic to fleas, and broke out in bumpy scaly patches and would scratch the hair off. Get his skin tested to see if it is parasitic or parasite allergic reaction.

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

My dog has major allergies that are evident in her skin. She has scaly red patches on her stomach, consistant ear infections and black scaly patches under her arms. I have switched to raw food, hypoallergenic shampoo and cortazone shots. So far nothing seems to be helping. She doesn't seem to be suffering but she isn't very playful so I am thinking she just isn't comfortable. I'm not sure what to do from this point. The vet is willing to do allergy testing but isn't very optimistic about that. It's very frustrating!
'

 

[True Grit]

My rescue collie, Romie has dermatomyositis and then we thought he had allergies so I was giving him shots and then we put him on prednisone. Over the course of a year he got worse and worse and when I finally realized I should take him to a dermatologist, he took one look at him, diagnosed him with Canine Discoid Lupus and now Romie takes 3 Tetracycline and 3 Niacinamide per day and does much better. This isn't what your dog has but if you can't find out what is really wrong I strongly encourage you to go to a specialist and actually sooner rather than later. My original vet was even consulting the dermatologist and couldn't figure it out.
On the other hand, my one year old mini schnauzer had typical schnauzer skin problems but when I found him a best friend, they subsided and never returned.

By the way what is TOTW?

 

[Whispering Winds]

Going through this again with Onyx my little Shihtzu. I thought it was the frontline, he was a MESS and took him to the vet three times, and all three times everything they thought it was, wasn't. I think I am going to give him some penicillin injections, going to call Dr. tomorrow to get dosage because he is bloody this time. I put tea tree oil ointment on him pretty lavishly and that did help the itch and calm it down, plus its disinfecting and eases that itch for a little while. His food hasn't changed, but they are combining like you wouldn't have it around us, and I am all snotty and choked up and wonder if it might be allergies to the bean dust. He has been fine every since I switched to Advantage, so this just has me baffled what could be the real issue. Good luck with your little guy, I feel so badly for anything or anyone who has an itch they can't stop. Misery for all concerned!