meluchja

Isn't Innova only available from that pet store chain that sells puppies and kittens? If so that counts me out because I won't buy anything from any pet store that supports puppy farmers. Everyone says that, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it sold at a pet store (that doesn't sell pets) in a SE suburb in Vic. It IS ridiculously expensive though. I'm not sure, but I think that could be Pet Goods Direct, which is owned by the same company as PP. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though. The Canidae I feed is $120 for 13.6kg, but I only need to feed about 1/2-3/4 the amount of other Super Premium Kibbles. I also feed the Grain Free Version, the ALS with Grain is cheaper again. I think it was $105 for 15kg (can't exactly remember though), but still a great value. Like I said it's still early days for my boy on Canidae Grain Free Salmon, but he is loving it.

I feed my guy Canidae Grain Free Salmon, he loves it. I think it a great kibble. I order mine online through their own website, it gets delivered for free for the big bag. You have to feed them less of it too than other kibbles. I looked into Artemis as well, but though I would try the canidae first as it's grain free and better value for money, as you have to feed less of it. But Artemis, looks like a really great food though. So I don't think you could go wrong either way, I guess it's just what your dogs will do best on.

I have read about this product, has some great success. I will be very interested to hear how you go with it. Where did you purchase it from?

Same here. I've tried flaxseed oil, fish oil and vitamin E but have found the Melrose Omega Pet to be the best as it's balanced I saw this one, is it in a liquid form in a white carton?? I almost bought it, I think I might try it next, as my boy seems to have trouble eating the capsules, and it's a pain to prick them and squeeze them into his food. The one I buy is in a black bottle in the refridgerated section of the healthfood store. If you're having trouble pricking the capsules try a 'splinter picker' thingie from the chemist. Really easy to prick a little hole in with one of those and squeeze the oil out into the dogs food Don't try to do it with a knife or a needle though ...been there, done that, not pretty :D Yep that sounds like it, think I may make the switch once these 200 capsules are gone Will give the splinter things a try. Thanks for the tip.

Same here. I've tried flaxseed oil, fish oil and vitamin E but have found the Melrose Omega Pet to be the best as it's balanced I saw this one, is it in a liquid form in a white carton?? I almost bought it, I think I might try it next, as my boy seems to have trouble eating the capsules, and it's a pain to prick them and squeeze them into his food.

A final rinse of Alpha Kerri Oil diluted in warm water, worked wonders for my puppies dandruff. I hope it isn't causing her any grief, it's very upsetting to see a puppy with itchy dry skin

Very cute puppy indeed

My puppy who is now 17 weeks old, has really dry, itchy and flakey skin. The Omega 3,6,9 blend is beneficial for relief of such skin conditions. It can also help for arthritis pain in dogs, however I haven't read into this, so can't comment on it for that reason.

Well this morning, he is a different dog. I think I have seen him scratch maybe only a few times, compared to this time yesterday, where it was uncontrolable. So that's a huge relief for us both. I think I will continue the course of the prednil for the ramaining 2 weeks and then book into see the derm. I'm not sure it is making him depressed but I think it may be making him a little on the excitied side, and he has starting humping everything. Maybe he is just excited the itch is subsiding, who knows :D

So how much to you give? Did the Derm. give you your dose? I read it is 1000mg of fish oil per 10kg of dog weight. What about the EPO? Same dosage? I'm going to ask the derm. about them when we get in, but just as usual I can't help but to do my own research before hand. Not sure on the dosage rate of either, my boy only weighs 34Kg and he gets 5 of each per day, I could be wrong but I think the dosage for the EPO may be at a higher rate ie more capsules per body weight but 5 per day is what we are on at the moment. I found a combination of Evening primrose oil, linseed oil and fish oil capsule. I gave him one to see if he liked it, and he scoffed it down :D So think I will start on 2 day and see how he goes and cut it back to one after a month or so. Thanks for you info everyone

So how much to you give? Did the Derm. give you your dose? I read it is 1000mg of fish oil per 10kg of dog weight. What about the EPO? Same dosage? I'm going to ask the derm. about them when we get in, but just as usual I can't help but to do my own research before hand.

Is that one made for humans or especially for dogs? Is it a pill or a liquid you add to their food? Does your dog like the taste? I have a omega 3,6,9 oil that you add to their food, but if I even add a single drop to my dogs food, he won't touch it, little bugger. I have been reading that some people dogs will just take an omega 3 pill like it is a treat.

I'm curios to know from those who give their dog an omega 3 supplement for itchy skin, which do you use? Would it be safe to use a human suppliment from the chemist?

I wonder if it has something to do with the cold, irritating them, maybe drying out and aggrevating their skin?????

fewww Does that mean they don't go away?????? No no, they do go away. It's like a trauma lump. Orbit's last one was really cool - it started off large and flat, but completely changed as it all organised itself and got smaller but taller. Then it just slowly went down. Can take a few weeks but they eventually go away. His first one took aggges - weeks. After about 3 weeks I started to get nervous so sent some cells off to the lab just to be sure. But still just trauma!

Thanks for sharing. I will keep an eye on him over the coming days. I have noticed he isn't his happy puppy self today, but I think that may be more from the itch than the med. I'm just about to give him his second dose now, so will see what he is like tomorrow morning. Definitely going to get the tests done, no matter what. Going to ring the vet in the morning to get it happening. Like you said, I'll just wait until he is weaned of the prednil first. I just wanted some relief for him. I just read your boy is sensitive to the cold atm, I hope the jacket continues to help. P.S. I loovvveeee labs, just adorable. Was my first choice in a breed, but my husband has allergies. Dam allergies I swear are haunting me, grrrrrrrrr No worries, he seemed pretty good regarding me wanting to see the derm. I'm definitely going to get the referral tomorrow though, no matter what. But I think I will wait until a few days of finishing the Prednil until I make our first visit, as he did mention that it will stay in his system for a little while. So hopefully it gives him relief for now, and enough until the derm can assess things further. Thanks again everyone for your help. I would consider doing allergy tests that way you know for sure what he is allergic to, you will have to wait for the cortisone to be out of his system though. My boy gets incontinent and very very depressed on 5mg and he is almost 34Kg which is a very very low dose for such a big dog yet he gets the side effects strongly on this little amount.

No worries, he seemed pretty good regarding me wanting to see the derm. I'm definitely going to get the referral tomorrow though, no matter what. But I think I will wait until a few days of finishing the Prednil until I make our first visit, as he did mention that it will stay in his system for a little while. So hopefully it gives him relief for now, and enough until the derm can assess things further. Thanks again everyone for your help.

Thanks. I think I will make the phone call for the referral tomorrow.

What type of reaction did he have? That must have been scarey. I have been watching him all day, he seems to be o.k. I have also noticed the scratching has eased a little, but that could just be a coincidence as well, who knows I won't make my judgement until tomorrow morning. He didn't really seemed unwilling to write the referal. He did say at any time I want it he will have it ready for me to collect. So I'm going to wait to see if the Prednil works, then go from there. I guess going to the derm. with the info that prednil helps, might make it easier for them to exclude certain causes. But most of all, I wanted to give him as instant relief as possible, it was really breaking my heart watching him scratch so much. edit to add: no fleas here. But my mums place who we visit often, does have a small flea issue. Her dog get one or two every now and then. So it is a possibility it is flea bite dermititis. I guess time will tell. And I guess, no more visits to my mums until we find out. He won't be happy, because my mums dog and him are like best buddies.

Does that mean they don't go away??????

I took him back to the vet today, regarding something else, but mentioned this, and he said it can be a common side effect, and nothing to worry about. It still worried me though I wonder if it could have been the batch?????? It doesn't hurt him, which is the main thing, I'm definitely keeping an eye on it over the next couple of weeks, to make sure it doesn't get bigger, or start to hurt him.

Best of luck, I also wanted to cry watching my dog scratch his little heart out, post back later and let us know what happens Thank you. Well after a very long discussion, this is our plan of attack. I saw a different Vet than the other day. And he said before referring him onto a derm. that he would like to narrow down the cause of his itching. So he has started him on Prednil twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for another 5 days then every second day for 5 days. So after 15 days, if it hans't stopped his itching completely, then he said it's pretty safe to say it's not caused by Atopic ermatitis or Flea bite dermatitis, and that it is most likely a food allergy, and I can pick up the referal for the derm without paying for another consult. He also said that he should see some relief within 24 hours of starting the medication, so if after 5 days it's made no relief what so ever, I will be ringing and asking for the referal then without waiting for day 15. I will mean him off it earlier, to avoid side effects. Or on the other hand, if it does work we know it is some sort of atopic dermatitis or flea bite dermtitis. In that case, then I will use Capstar every day for 14 days, if he is still free of the itch, then he knows it is flea related. If not then it is an atopic derm. and he will refer me onto the derm. I'm happy with this plan of attack. At least we can narrow down the cause of his itch before going onto the derm (if needed). It also isn't going to waste me a lot of money if it doesn't work. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice. Fingers crossed we can narrow it down soon. Will keep you all up to date with his progress. Thanks again.

O.K vet at 9:30 hopefully will have the referal needed to book into the derm, not long after. Then hopefully we can get into the derm. asap. It's breaking my heart to see my baby like this.

Thank you for this, I might take him to see the derm guy and see what he has to say about his skin. I find a lot of conflicting advice on here. But I guess it just proves that all dogs are different. I don't think there's any conflicting advice. Just people who actually have had allergic dogs for a long time trying to help you not waste your money on something that's not going to give you clear indication. Go for the Derm It is conflicting, what is the cause for one, isn't the other, what works for one doesn't the other etc. Thats what I meant. All dogs are different, which is why maybe my vet thinks it could be chix only, who knows. But I will try and get into to see Mike at QLD specialist vets next week. Thank you all again for your advise and help it's all greatly appreciated. No one here can tell you what the cause is, you need to go to a Derm Your Vet is wasting your money having you try a Kibble for an elimination, sorry if that offends you, however people here who have been there and done that are trying to save you the money I agree, hopefully I can get the referal this morning, fingers crossed for my boy anyway, he is so aggreviated from the itchiness. Poor bugger

I'm off to the vet this morning, my poor little boy is scratchy like mad , I'm finding balls of hair everywhere, and it is really bothering him ATM. Fingers crossed we can get the referal today and see the derm. asap.