Recommendations For A Good Vet In Sa

[lovemymutts]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd ask in here if anyone knows of a vet in SA that is good with skin conditions in dogs? I have a usual vet but I've found they're pretty clueless as far as skin issues go.

My girl Elsa has been scratching her face quite hard for the past 2 or so months. I have tried giving her revolution, Malaseb washes around her face, Cort-hex cream, antihistamines & natural stuff. I have added/subtracted things from her diet & nothing

She has never had any issues before now & it's got to the point that she has now scratched off her beautiful long eyelashes & the hair around her face is extremely short. She had little scabs on her head but now it just seems to be around her eyes that is swollen. She rubs her head on the lounge & even on me to itch it. When she scratches she does it so hard that I think it must be painful.

I just don't know what else to do, because it's obviously not diet, there's no plants in the yard, it's just dirt at the moment. Nothing has changed really.

I would like to be able to chat with someone who is experienced in this field & for them to be able to have a look at her.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Edited December 4, 2011 by lovemymutts

[brighton]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd ask in here if anyone knows of a vet in SA that is good with skin conditions in dogs? I have a usual vet but I've found they're pretty clueless as far as skin issues go.

My girl Elsa has been scratching her face quite hard for the past 2 or so months. I have tried giving her revolution, Malaseb washes around her face, Cort-hex cream, antihistamines & natural stuff. I have added/subtracted things from her diet & nothing

She has never had any issues before now & it's got to the point that she has now scratched off her beautiful long eyelashes & the hair around her face is extremely short. She had little scabs on her head but now it just seems to be around her eyes that is swollen. She rubs her head on the lounge & even on me to itch it. When she scratches she does it so hard that I think it must be painful.

I just don't know what else to do, because it's obviously not diet, there's no plants in the yard, it's just dirt at the moment. Nothing has changed really.

I would like to be able to chat with someone who is experienced in this field & for them to be able to have a look at her.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Would be interested to know what you feed her.

[persephone]

has she been on anti histamines? While not a 'cure' , it may ease the irritation enough to let some healing happen I sympathise , having had a similar problem with my old mitch.

[lovemymutts]

yes she has been on antihistamines.

She is fed quite a varied diet. Supercoat dry, chicken frames, beef heart, sardines, beef soup bones. Occasionally eggs. Sometimes dog rolls, scraps & whatever really. I don't have a strict diet for my dogs, never have.

I have tried feeding her just dry or just frames & nothing changes. No changes have happened for her to be so itchy, it seems to be more so at night too & when she's been in my caravan. They live just on dirt but mostly always have so not sure if that could be causing it.

Would just like to get more advice & preferably from a vet who has experience with skin issues.

[persephone]

Ok.. so what is in the van?

cleaner/insecticide/air freshener/....

I think any diet changes take several weeks to have an effect ..

I hope you can get to see someone soon - poor girl

[lovemymutts]

Ok.. so what is in the van?

cleaner/insecticide/air freshener/....

I think any diet changes take several weeks to have an effect ..

I hope you can get to see someone soon - poor girl

nothing, no harsh cleaning products, no airfreshener or insecticide. I'm just taking a guess that it could be that, but she's been sleeping in there with me & my other dog for ages now.

I've attached a couple of photos, first pic is what she normally looks like & second pic is of her about 2 months ago, you can see she has lost some hair & her eyes are a bit puffy. Now she has pretty much no eyelashes at all & very short hair all over her face.

I thought the antihistamines would at least have a small affect, but nothing

[persephone]

Itching is often not present, but did she have skin scrapings done for demodex mites?

[westiemum]

Hi LMM,

Suggest you try Dr Peter Hill, who is a veterinary dermatologist out in the new Companion Animal Health Centre at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide at Roseworthy. Yes its a way away but worth the hike in my opinion. Link here,

Contact details for the Centre here. Please note though this is not a free clinic - funds are re-invested back into teaching and research.

And just so you know, yes I do work in the School - I have recently started a temporary contract in HR so have no financial interest at all - apart from being highly impressed with the clinicians they are gathering out there.

Hope that helps.

[Guest Arcane]

hmm, LMM wasn't I just saying something about a skin scraping today! & good suggestion WM, I'd forgotten about the new Roseworthy clinic

[Leebag]

Hi LMM,

Suggest you try Dr Peter Hill, who is a veterinary dermatologist out in the new Companion Animal Health Centre at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide at Roseworthy. Yes its a way away but worth the hike in my opinion. Link here,

Contact details for the Centre here. Please note though this is not a free clinic - funds are re-invested back into teaching and research.

And just so you know, yes I do work in the School - I have recently started a temporary contract in HR so have no financial interest at all - apart from being highly impressed with the clinicians they are gathering out there.

Hope that helps.

must agree he saw my dog within the day, all tested and consulted. within a fortnight i had answers to what it may be causing the issues and now all i do is use a cortizone spay daily(ish) to prevent my dog from lciking his feet apart. so nothing but praise for the uni out at roseworthy

[Sayly]

Hi LMM,

Suggest you try Dr Peter Hill, who is a veterinary dermatologist out in the new Companion Animal Health Centre at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide at Roseworthy. Yes its a way away but worth the hike in my opinion. Link here,

Contact details for the Centre here. Please note though this is not a free clinic - funds are re-invested back into teaching and research.

And just so you know, yes I do work in the School - I have recently started a temporary contract in HR so have no financial interest at all - apart from being highly impressed with the clinicians they are gathering out there.

Hope that helps.

Beat me to it. Dr Hill is awesome and a lovely guy too. Don't expect it to be cheap, he is a specialist, but worth it.

OT: Westiemum - are you on the Roseworthy campus?

[westiemum]

Yep Lyndsay, - 4 days a week for the moment and having a lot of fun - unlike my last job! The people at Roseworthy are fantastic.

Hi LMM,

Suggest you try Dr Peter Hill, who is a veterinary dermatologist out in the new Companion Animal Health Centre at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide at Roseworthy. Yes its a way away but worth the hike in my opinion. Link here,

Contact details for the Centre here. Please note though this is not a free clinic - funds are re-invested back into teaching and research.

And just so you know, yes I do work in the School - I have recently started a temporary contract in HR so have no financial interest at all - apart from being highly impressed with the clinicians they are gathering out there.

Hope that helps.

Beat me to it. Dr Hill is awesome and a lovely guy too. Don't expect it to be cheap, he is a specialist, but worth it.

OT: Westiemum - are you on the Roseworthy campus?