Everythings Shiny Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I'd try eliminating the canned food (as a trial in case there is something in the can thats not agreeing with him) I'd also try Comfortis as a flea prevention in case the liquid base of the top spots is something he is sensitive to. I'd also look into the t4 and free t4 testing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Thyroid test and then checking for food allergies, also over-vaccinating can cause skin issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Aswell as the advocate I'd also be bathing him in malaseb shampoo or at the very least, pantene head and shoulders anti dandruff shampoo. You possibly know better..but to me, his coat/skin look a bit dry , and I would be inclined to hold well off on any chemicals which may dry out remaining oils ... This ^^^^ That and possibly an over-taxed immune system which isn't going to be helped by experimentation with a whole host of chemicals which might actually not be required in the first place. I agree with the other poster before me - I'm not an advocate of over-vaccinating and even more against vaccinating a dog who is exhibiting the signs of ill health in other areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted December 27, 2012 Author Share Posted December 27, 2012 (edited) I bought some roo mince tonight for Rusty, so I gave him a bit less of the canned food and fed him about 1 cup of the roo mince, along with his usual sardines and fish oil capsules and I put a raw egg in too. I'll try to slowly reduce the amount of canned food and see how he goes. My brother is going to be away for a few days but he said to me he'll take him to the vet in the new year, so I hope he does (otherwise I will continue to nag). Thyroid test and then checking for food allergies, also over-vaccinating can cause skin issues. Thanks mixeduppup :), Rusty isn't vaccinated (neither are my dogs), so it can't be over-vaccinating. Edited December 27, 2012 by fainty_girl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 (edited) Does he have any dilutes in his breeding? It could be alopecia. although he looks red in his pics Edited December 27, 2012 by mixeduppup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted December 27, 2012 Author Share Posted December 27, 2012 (edited) Does he have any dilutes in his breeding? It could be alopecia. although he looks red in his pics As far as I know, he is purebred. His previous owner has a relative who is a kelpie breeder, so he came from there. I think he was the biggest puppy in his litter too, I hadn't actually seen a kelpie as big as Rusty until I saw him. The first two photos were taken last year, but just to show what he looks like and what his coat was like without the patches. The third photo is what he looked like around the time when my brother was first given Rusty, to give you an idea of how dull his coat was. Initially my brother was only meant to be looking after him temporarily in the evenings, so his previous owner provided his food for a couple of weeks I guess, until my brother was stuck with Rusty all the time. Rusty was fed dry food by his previous owner. 2011 2009 - his coat was dull and quite coarse, it wasn't silky at all. Edited December 27, 2012 by fainty_girl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I'm tempted to think thyroid or alopecia, although normally alopecia only affects fawns. Genetics people correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 It wouldn't be colour dilute alopecia which affects fawns and blues. Is there any fur missing around his eyes? The photo makes me think there might be but its probably just the light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 If he's from a Breeder then check with them if they have experienced anything like that before and if they've had any thyroid problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I bought some roo mince tonight for Rusty, so I gave him a bit less of the canned food and fed him about 1 cup of the roo mince, along with his usual sardines and fish oil capsules and I put a raw egg in too. I'll try to slowly reduce the amount of canned food and see how he goes. You would be better off staying with the natures gift because it is higher fat than roo. Roo is very lean and wont help dry skin. Natures gift is a good food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted December 29, 2012 Author Share Posted December 29, 2012 I bought some roo mince tonight for Rusty, so I gave him a bit less of the canned food and fed him about 1 cup of the roo mince, along with his usual sardines and fish oil capsules and I put a raw egg in too. I'll try to slowly reduce the amount of canned food and see how he goes. You would be better off staying with the natures gift because it is higher fat than roo. Roo is very lean and wont help dry skin. Natures gift is a good food. Thanks Greytmate, I am still giving Rusty his Nature's gift food too, just a little bit less...normally he has 3/4 of a tin each night, and the past couple of nights i've given him about 1/2 a tin with some mince (it is actually pet mince, but roo mince is the main ingredient with some other raw meats, vitamins and a preservative). Should I keep him on the same amount of tinned food (3/4 of a tin) and then just add the pet mince in as extra food, because it is lean? So today he had: - An egg in the morning - A couple of meaty bones in the afternoon Dinner: - 1/2 tin Nature's gift - pet mince - 1 tin of sardines in oil - half of a grated raw zucchini - fish oil, seaweed extract & glucosamine His skin is still pretty flaky where the patches are, so I've been brushing his coat really gently in the mornings to get rid of the flakes that have already fallen off. I just took these photos a moment ago, so this is what the patches look like about 14 hours after his coat was brushed: On his back near his tail On his back near his front shoulder blade: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) I wonder if it's a reaction to the fish oil as well as sardines.Do get him to the vet; but for now i would put him on chicken and chicken based food only with any vegetables he will eat. No red meat ;take the meat off his bones.No sardines or fish oil .If there is an improvement then introduce the red meat in small amounts.Do the sardines again only sometimes and and watch for any reaction.My last dog reveloped skin reactions when fed raw red meat .We switched her to chicken based with some cooked red meat sometimes and veg and had no more skin problems.If she ate raw red meat she would get gurgly tummy and itchy flaky skin. eta ...Also avoid dry food with artificial colours and presevatives. Edited December 30, 2012 by Purdie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Thanks Purdie, I've taken Rusty off of the sardines, fish oil and seaweed extract to see if that helps... The flakiness is nearly all gone and I think it has improved slightly...it will be interesting to see if his fur can grow back. When my brother gets back, I will still be pestering him to take him to the vet though... This is what the back patch is looking like now...just took this a couple of minutes ago: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Hope he continues to improve ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Just thought I'd update to say that the patches are nearly all gone :) ...I think within a couple of weeks they won't be there at all :) . So I guess the sardines and fish oil capsules every-night was way too much for Rusty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 :) :) Good news!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 :) :) Good news!! Thanks persephone :) and thank you to everyone who made suggestions :D . This is what Rusty's back is looking like now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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