Loraine

Thanks Poodle Wrangler and Blacklab. I do think it is part of the detox. I will try Malaseb. The poor lad is so miserable, and so am I as I hate to see him this way.

Zedley is on a course of herbal remedies from Robert McDowell for itchy skin. I am running with the instructions but now Zedley has itchy ears. I do use a cleaner and keep them as clean as I can. If I take him to his regular vet she will possibly give him antibiotics and/or steroids. Now obviously I can't do this and give him Robert's stuff. Please advise me how I deal with this. Maybe just an email to Robert, just don't want to be a pest (so I'll just pester you guys )

Any news on the visit to the Specialist????? We need to be informed

Zedley is getting bathed twice a week at the moment. He has skin probs and within 24 hours you can smell his coat and it is also greasy. He is a Wire Haired and should normally need to be bathed every couple of months - unless he finds something stinky to roll in

I have Zedley on stuff from Robert McDowell for his itchy, red skin. His skin is clearing up, but I have noticed that he is getting more black spots on his skin [pigmentation is changing]. These changes are not itchy or anything, but I am curious as to why thei may be happening. I have emailed RMcD and they want me to send a pic of Zedley. The main areas of change are under all four armpits (sorry don't know what they are called on dogs) and a few more on his back that before the treatment. Does anyone have a clue what this might be? I am not bothered about these new black marks, but I am very curious. Zedley's skin is mostly white/pink with black areas (his fur is mainly white with black patches and a tan face and ears. TIA

Most of those symptoms can indicate Cushing's disease. Ask your vet to do either an ACTH or an LDDS blood test to at least rule it out.

I would not have my dog on cortisone for very long. It does other internal damage to the dog (messes with their adrenal glands etc.) I also have a bou who suffers from skin problems, and I have now gone the holisitc route via Robert MacDowell (he has a website and does a free email consult).

Her real foster carers gave her the coat. I am just caring for her until Sunday, they are getting all the info I have gleaned here written out for them. I have a little more knowledge about poodles and sick dogs than they have, and offered to drop and collect her from the vets, and to do the initial caring for the wee one. I must admit that I had no idea that this little one was so emaciated, and I had planned to groom her, but that can wait until she fattens up a bit. I have cut and paste all the info I have been given here into word, and copied the recipe for Satin Balls for her F/Carer's. She is not too matted now (all large matts have been clipped off, and her coat has been brushed to clear other knots. She is a fiesty little beggar when it comes to putting the drops in her ears . I am feeding her little and often treats of cooked chicken breast aside from her breakfast and dinner in which I have included cooked porridge oats, rice, egg and raw chicken mince (from Lenard's, that is the frame and meat ground up). Nah she is not being spoiled

Here she is on a bed

This is the little gal. So much knowledge and help around here, you are all fantastic peeps!

She is a small dog, but all of her bones are sticking out - I mean she is really emaciated, not just thin. She is literally just skin and bone. She is deaf and almost totally blind too! Poodlefan - she was very matted, and we have managed to comb most of them out. I am not going to clip her until she has a bit more meat on those bones (I am scared I cut into her skinny skin).

She is de-sexed (thank Dog for small mercies). Whilst at the vet's yesterday they shaved her feet and found a huge piece of chewing gum stuck to one of her rear paws I have noticed that she lifts her rear paws in a strange fashion (hard to explain, but almost as if she is worried about them touching the floor), I am guessing that she may not have had the hair removed from between her toes for some looong time!

Thank you all for your information. Thanks Anniejac, I am so sad myself about this poor wee thing. Seems like she has been totally neglected for a long time. All of her bones poke out which is a sad sight to behold.

A mini poodle has been surrendered to us and she is probably over 10 yrs. She is really very, very skinny. Can any of you advise which foods would be best to get some weight onto her as soon as possible. She has been to the vet today to have really bad ears cleaned and a few rotten teeth removed. TIA for your advice. She has been desexed, spent her life in the back garden in a kennel, and I doubt she has ever seen a vet until today. I would really like to get some weight onto her.

I was fostering an Aussie Terrier who was around 19 kilos should be around 7 or 8! I continued to feed raw, just cut the quantitiy and upped his exercise, also had to watch he didn't get to the other dogs bowls. Over 4 months we manged to get his weight down to 12.2kilos. He had no snack foods, only the odd chicken wing once a week for his teeth. He has now been rehomed and is of to Weight Watchers for Dogs at his new vet clinic.

When I did the roo bit he was only on meat and no bones Now he is on chicken mince (minced carcasses and meat) he also gets chicken wings to keep his teeth clean. I have just added cooked pumpkin to the mix of rice and carrott. He is on herbal stuff from R. MacDowell and he got way worse and his skin is just starting to clear

My Zedley is on an elimination diet too. My vet said to cook the roo in case of parasites. He is now on chicken, carrot and pumpkin.

Thanks D&D I shall get a couple of cans for emergency times, great price Can also be handy for fosters who can be picky at first.

PM Margaretdazzler she is south of the river and I know she grooms and has a hydrobath - won a prize with her owned groomed collie at the last Royal Perth Show.

Has he had an ACTH test for Cushing's disease? Or has he been on meds that would give him atypical Cushing's (ask the vet) - like steroids for too long!

I have a similar problem with my Wire Fox. I find that he is worse after using Malaseb Right now he is on cortisone and a diet of roo meat and boiled spuds, this diet is for 3 weeks, and then we start looking at introducing other foods. My boy is nearly 4 and apparently has had this problem all of his life, but it is not thought to be caused by seeds and grasses. I have just been given some Neem soap to try on him.

It didn't work on Zedley who is scared stiff of thunder! It did help my very sick mini poodle with Cushing's disease. I would not recommend it on my experience.

Thanks pugsnfrenchies, I will try that shampoo and see the vet about trying Advance Turkey and Rice, although Zedley is not keen on kibble type foods.

Thanks peigirl - appreciate that! No supplements for him, but I will continue to feed them to the foster boy

Thanks Showdog, I forget to say I give him Fishoil and kelp mixed in with his raw meat.