I've noticed one of my dogs, Holly, seems to be scratching at the moment. It doesn't appear to be anything walking or jumping as it's just the one of my dogs with itchy skin.
I don't think it's the diet, which is already hypoallergenic.
Is there anything gentle I can try to calm things down? Her skin is a bit pink, but that could be with all the scratching. It has just started since the weather warmed up. She's a shaggy collie cross, would getting her clipped help? Am just loathe to go down the steroid route which my very conventional vet seems to resort to in the past whenever we've had unexplained itching.
Is there anything I can try that will gently ease this problem?
Diane Hawkins, Chester
Non-specific skin problems can be hard to get to the bottom of, but in most cases an improvement can be seen using herbal medicines.
I would highly recommend Dorwest's combination of two herbal medicines (Garlic and Fenugreek and Mixed Vegetable) which is licensed for the treatment of skin conditions and is extremely effective.
The tablets are available over the counter from vets, pet shops as well as direct from Dorwest.
Why not give our advice line a ring and they will run through diet and herbal medicines to suit your dog. Call 01308 897272
Roly Boughton, Dorwest Herbs
www.dorwest.com
Hi Diane, have you thought about a referral to a holistic vet? (they are qualified in the conventional sense too).
ReplyDeleteYou can find a list of homeopathic vets here:
http://www.bahvs.com/findavet.htm
One of my dogs has allergies and we had a referral to a holistic vet. She has a homeopathic remedy and I add local honey to her food each day.
I also give her (and my other dogs) Higher Nature Almost Human Superdog Ultimate Nutrition (tablets) and she has Yumega Plus (http://www.lintbells.com/page/yumega-plus) which is for dogs with itchy and sensitive skin.
I feed her Naturediet which is free from artificial ingredients etc and I am careful about what treats she has too.
Just a few things that have helped my dog :)
Angela
I recommended Yumega plus to a client of mine whose dog has been very itchy for years. We tried it as an experiment as I'd never seen it work, just heard it was good. Four months later and although he has still had a small course of steroids this is the the first year he hasn't been on them constantly, and he's had no anti-histamines at all. Yumega also recommended that his leather collar was changed, and he's stopped getting yeast around his neck.
ReplyDeleteCan't recommend them enough!
Feeding a food which is described as "hypoallergenic" does not rule out the possibility of diet being responsible for this problem. If only it were that easy! In that particular food there may be an ingredient to which your dig is allergic or intolerant. You need to try other foods with slightly or very different ingredient profiles. But again, this is not so simple as it sounds. To do this properly it needs to be done with professional help. Burns Pet Nutrition has a team of nutrition advisors for that purpose. As an example, if skin condition did not improve on Chicken and Brown Rice recipe we might try Duck and Brown Rice. That would mean that the only change would be from chicken to duck as all the other ingredients are the same. A more radical change would be to our Pork and Potato as this has a completely different set of ingredients. In our experience it is also important to feed the correct amount and this is where nutrition advice can be vital.
ReplyDeleteOn a slightly different note, I have found that emptying the anal glands can help with itchy skin, even when the glands themselves are not causing irritation. Lastly, I think it is a good idea to have her clipped as this will help to keep her cool.
John Burns BVMS MRCVS
Burns Pet Nutrition
Feeding a raw diet and adding extra Omega 3.All those processed foods, even hypoallergenic are still cooked, not a raw natural food, dog need to eat
ReplyDeleteI have had a couple of German Shepherds who have had skin problems, one we spent quite a bit of time at the vets trying to get the situation resolved, especially as his hot spots were causing him a lot of discomfort. In the end a simple case of reducing the level of protein in his diet fixed the problem very quickly. The hypoallergenic diet was expensive and actually made things worse. For him a greyhound working maintenance was the way to go.
ReplyDeleteFor a bitch we had who was itchy, suffering with boils and had a poor coat, the situation was resolved using Forever Aloe. She was given Bee Propolis Tablets and Aloe Vera Gel (60mls) daily and on the very sore patches of skin she had Bee Propolis and Aloe cream. For just the itchy skin I used the Vet Spray which has a fantastic cooling effect. Within 3 weeks the problems had gone and her coat came back better than it had ever been.
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteWe're getting a lot of enquiries from dog owners with similar problems to you at the moment. The hot weather is causing a massive surge in pollen levels, and coupled with a cold, late spring, I think all flowering plants have been flowering together this year, creating a lot of pressure. Pollen, grasses and other environmental triggers can make your dog itch & scratch both through direct contact with the skin, and when they breath them in (a doggy version of hayfever).
Several people have already recommended Yumega Plus to you, but in case you've not heard of it before, its a natural omega 3&6 supplement developed specifically for dogs with sensitive and itchy skin. It's made from cold pressed golden flax, starflower and fresh salmon oil, providing the omega 3 EPA to calm sensitive skin, omega 6 GLA (which works with the omega 3 to reduce itching and scratching), and omega 6 LA to support the skin's underlying health.
You could also try brushing them and wiping them down with a damp towel after they've been out for a walk to get rid of any bits & pieces lurking in the coat. And give their bedding a quick vacuum to keep it clear as well.
If you'd like more information on this, take a look at our articles section on the website, or drop us a line at info@lintbells.com. We're always happy to help if we can.
Best wishes, John Howie. Lintbells Ltd
Itchy dogs not only drive their owners to distraction they do a huge amount of damage to their skin. Constant scratching, licking, nibbling and biting cause thickening of the skin, lick granulomas, open weeping sores and hair loss.
ReplyDeleteAn alternative approach to this problem is using Camrosa Ointment – a truly multi-purpose ointment that stops the itch, soothes the skin, promotes the natural healing process and encourages the hair to grow back. We have used it successfully on thousands of dogs over the last 12 years and are happy to advise and help customers. Why not give us a ring on 01892 783240 or visit our website at www.camrosa.co.uk.