Off To See The Derm Tomorrow

[meluchja]

My 19 week old puppy is off the derm for the first time tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that after the consult, we will finally have some sort of plan to treat my puppies very dry, dandruffy, and very itchy skin. He is starting to go patchy under his belly, the inside of his legs, and around his throat now as well. It's so upsetting to watch after all that I'm doing to try and avoid it.

His itching is breaking my heart. So hopefully we can get some help.

I'm still optimisitic, that he just has a bad case of Puppy Dandruff, from underactive sebaceous glands. And that the specialist will say, that the Omega blend I have started already, along with the Aloveen and Alpha Kerri Oil, will be enough to help it until he out grows it, preying anyway, I'm still hopefull. :p

Thank you to all of you that have helped me with your own experiences, advice and ideas. My boy "bobby" says a big thank you as well.

I will let you know how he goes tomorrow.

Edited July 15, 2010 by meluchja

[Guest choice_brandy]

Hope you get some answers and your dog is feeling better soon :p

[meluchja]

Hope you get some answers and your dog is feeling better soon :p

Thank you, so do I. It's very strange, there is no rash, just flakey, itchy and now patchy skin. My vet wanted me to try a few more things before going to the derm, like an Elimination Diet on the Eukanuba Salmon Kibble (but someone told me on here, it's almost impossible to dot that on any kibble diet) but I have had enough already, and want a specialists opinion, after all they know best in this area.

[Babesmum]

hello,

I was wondering how your puppy went with the dermatologist today?

Cheers!

Lis

[Mas1981]

Yes please let us know what the derm has said. My boy bubble boy has an ear infection again ( related to his allergies) and is off all antihistamines etc as he is booked in for allergy testing soon

[meluchja]

Sorry that it has taken me so long to let you know, internet problems.

Well to cut a long story short, we didn't end up at the derm. My DH wasn't impressed at the idea of spending more money, (yes it ended in a big fight) but we decided that I will keep going with what I had started for a few more weeks, and if we still haven't seen success then or if he got worse again, he would then be happy to pay for derm visit.

Anyway after doing yet some more research I found out that it not uncommon for puppies to have puppy dandruff. Or also underactive sebaceous glands, its called Seborrhea Sicca. They usually out grow it. But until then there are a few things I could do to control it. Using a Sulfur and Salicylic acid based shampoo with help to remove the scale and reduce the scale production, it will also help reduce itching. I read that it wouldn't dry out the skin like other medicated shampoos, I was told to avoid, and it was cheap, so we gave it a try and to my surprise, it seems to be working for him. Huge difference really, no more dandruff, less itching, only rarely now, which is such a relief to see. However his skin on his belly does still seem to a little dry, but much much better.

I have discovered a product called Groomers Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo. I have just ordered it today, the lady I ordered it through is fantastic, very very helpful with selecting which of their products would be best for Bobby's condition, and how to often to use it, etc. They weren't that expensive so I thought I might be a good option to try improve his skin condition, now that the dandruff seems to be under control.

So thank you all for your help and support. I was so upset when my DH cancelled our appointment, but feel so much better now that I see him itching less and his skin improving. Fingers crossed it is just this Seborrhea Sicca and it will continue to get better and he will eventually out grow it.

My gut feeling had always told me, it is just a dry skin issue, and not a food allergy or contact allergy etc, he just seemed to young at 8 weeks to be suffering from either of these. I don't know, I'm no expert, but I hope I'm right about this one....................

Thanks again for all your help.

[Babesmum]

sorry to hear about you and your DH. Mine isn't all that impressed about the amount I've been spending on our girl either. I hope that it is something that will be easily recitified to give your boy some relief.

Cheers!

Lis

[meluchja]

sorry to hear about you and your DH. Mine isn't all that impressed about the amount I've been spending on our girl either. I hope that it is something that will be easily recitified to give your boy some relief.

Cheers!

Lis

Thanks, I agree. My DH does mean well, he just got a bit of a shock when I told him about the costs involved. Even though I thought they were very reasonable and a small price to pay for his relief. But at the end of the day, as long as he improves that's the main thing.

[sas]

Don't delay going to the derm too long though.

If puppy has allergies not just some random weird thing that means it's not a good sign to have it so early so you want to see a Derm as soon as possible.

[gsdog2]

Don't delay going to the derm too long though.

If puppy has allergies not just some random weird thing that means it's not a good sign to have it so early so you want to see a Derm as soon as possible.

I recently had my 20mth old GSD visit the dermatologist. In the end it would have been cheaper to have gone there right from the beginning instead of persisting with the vet for the last 18mths and spending $2000 on drugs, special diets, creams etc, guessing whether it was skin, food or environmentally related

[Mas1981]

Don't delay going to the derm too long though.

If puppy has allergies not just some random weird thing that means it's not a good sign to have it so early so you want to see a Derm as soon as possible.

I recently had my 20mth old GSD visit the dermatologist. In the end it would have been cheaper to have gone there right from the beginning instead of persisting with the vet for the last 18mths and spending $2000 on drugs, special diets, creams etc, guessing whether it was skin, food or environmentally related

Yip I agree, paid the vet loads of money and the dog got no relief until we saw a derm.

What I would do is just go to the derm for a diagnoses and then take it from there, you dont have to do all the testing etc all at once.

[meluchja]

Don't delay going to the derm too long though.

If puppy has allergies not just some random weird thing that means it's not a good sign to have it so early so you want to see a Derm as soon as possible.

I recently had my 20mth old GSD visit the dermatologist. In the end it would have been cheaper to have gone there right from the beginning instead of persisting with the vet for the last 18mths and spending $2000 on drugs, special diets, creams etc, guessing whether it was skin, food or environmentally related

Yip I agree, paid the vet loads of money and the dog got no relief until we saw a derm.

What I would do is just go to the derm for a diagnoses and then take it from there, you dont have to do all the testing etc all at once.

I agree, I have given up on all the vets ideas, suggestions, I'm over the guessing game.

DH and I have already decided that if he gets worse again, or if doesn't continue to get better, we will take him to the derm. But for the moment, he seems to be getting better fast. That's why I'm holding off.

To be honest, I have always thought it was just a case of puppy dandruff. It wasn't until I started reading this site, that I thought it was anything but dandruff. Then I spoke to the vet about it, allergies etc. I swear their eyes went bling bling with dollar signs, because that was when the 'ideas' for a cure started. Anyway during all this, the treatment for dandruff got over looked, and now I'm treating it, it seems to be getting a lot better. So that's why I'm hoping that's all it is. It's not costing me anymore money now, I'm just to continue on with what we are doing now and see if he continues to get better until his skin in normal.

If not it's off to the derm we go, if DH likes it or not. I'm refusing to spend any more money on trial and error products.

thanks again for all your help.

But like I said, I'll give it another 3-4 weeks, if it hasn't fixed his problem all together or if he shows any signs of getting worse, I will make the appointment for asap.

[Spitzbabe]

I would def recommend Dr Rob Hilton I know he use to work at Flemington Vets and I think he does a couple of days at Lort Smith quite a few of us have seen him and had excellent results and it's cheaper than paying $3000 at the referal hospitals.