Itchy Smelly Staffy Pup

[persephone]

39 minutes ago, NikkiandKane said:

I am going mad!!

Nope..you have an itchy dog  Undiagnosed cause.

Been there, Done that. Frustrating, upsetting, annoying, costly, worrying.... 

the thing with skin rashes is that they can often relate to things which are INHALED and /or EATEN . It can be a very long and tedious process if it is an allergy .Elimination diets etc .... And it can often be the most minute trace of a substance which sets off a reaction ..that then takes a couple of days to resolve itself ...
( I have allergies as well) 

BREATHE .

Write down a comprehensive list of every ingredient in dog food, treats/and scraps he gets.
what fabric/s does he sleep on/walk on?
what grasses are in the yard and seeding? (ask at a nursery maybe) 
Any trees/shrubs flowering? next door? 
Do you use any air fresheners/insect sprays ? 
Did you/ do you spray anything on yr carpets ? 
With what do you clean the areas on which he sleeps most? 
all that sort of thing.....  *sigh* 

 

[tdierikx]

A friend of mine had to rip up all the carpets in the house because their dog was allergic to them... expensive!

 

T.

[Boronia]

18 hours ago, NikkiandKane said:

Oh, I believe it is from the same family as wandering jew? In any case I may have been wrong about it worsening after contact with Scout. Today and yesterday I have kept them apart, Kane has been by my side in the crate or inside generally. His rash looked improved this morning and then worsened so far through the course of the day, without having any contact with Scout. The most he has been outdoors is to go to the bathroom and he has been promptly hauled back inside. 

We are back to the vet on Friday, I have maybe eliminated a few possible causes but I am none the wiser 

Just get rid of ALL of it, it is such a menace to dogs.

here is some info  (sorry about the long copy and paste)

https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/wandering-jew

 

Wandering Jew

Tradescantia fluminensis, T. pallida and T. spathacea

Herb

Alternate

Simple

White

Pink

Variegated

Green

Purple

Spreading fleshy leafed plant with leaves culminating in a point. Differing species have either a long or extremely short internodal stem.

Common names 

Also known as: rhoeo, Moses-in-the-cradle, Moses in a boat, boat lily, oyster plant, , purple heart, spiderwort ,

Family 

Commelinaceae

Deciduous 

No

Flowering time 

Spring to Autumn

Native/Exotic 

Exotic

Origin 

various species native from Southern Mexico to South America

Notifiable 

No

State declaration 

Nil

Council declaration 

Class R – Reduce populations

Known distribution 

Widely naturalised in southern and eastern Australia (i.e. in eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, south-eastern South Australia and south-western Western Australia). Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island.

Habitat 

A weed of forests, forest margins, urban bushland, open woodlands, riparian vegetation, roadsides, ditches, waste areas, disturbed sites and gardens. It prefers damp and shaded areas in temperate and sub-tropical regions, but will also grow in more open habitats and in tropical regions.

Habit 

Sprawling plant with relatively soft and fleshy leaves.

Impact and control methods 

Complete removal

or

Foliar spray

All species can be found growing in the understory of disturbed forests, along roadsides, riparian areas and coastal forests. They are also common in old home sites. Once established in these habitats, they have the potential to grow forming a... Show more

Stem and leaves 

T. fluminensis - The stems are somewhat fleshy (i.e. semi-succulent) in nature, branched, and produce roots (i.e. adventitious roots) at each of the swollen joints (i.e. nodes). The glossy leaves are alternately arranged and their bases form short sheaths (5-10... Show more

Flowers and fruits 

T. fluminensis - the flowers (about 2 cm across) are borne in small clusters near the tips of the branches. Each cluster has two small leafy bracts at the base and the individual flowers are borne on stalks (i.e. pedicels)... Show more

Reproduction and dispersal 

Easily grows from vegative fragments, garden waste

 

[tdierikx]

My friend's staffies were getting an unexplained rash for a while a couple of months ago, and she  and the vet were perplexed at what was causing it.

 

A good search of the entire yard found a very small amount of wandering jew hiding under some ground cover grasses that the dogs like to lie in when the weather is warm... removed all of it including the roots, and no rashes since.

 

It doesn't take much of the darned stuff to cause a reaction... grrr!

 

T.

[sandgrubber]

1 hour ago, tdierikx said:

My friend's staffies were getting an unexplained rash for a while a couple of months ago, and she  and the vet were perplexed at what was causing it.

 

A good search of the entire yard found a very small amount of wandering jew hiding under some ground cover grasses that the dogs like to lie in when the weather is warm... removed all of it including the roots, and no rashes since.

 

It doesn't take much of the darned stuff to cause a reaction... grrr!

 

T.

Yup.  Doesn't take much. And dogs like staffies that don't have much hair on their bellies are prone to belly rash. Feet are often itchy too. 

[NikkiandKane]

Ill report back after tomorrows vet appointment. I doubt we will have any sort of answer unless a skin scraping shows something. Ill let you all know. Thanks for all the advice and support. I think this will be a long road.

[tworotts]

Have you considered the food as the cause of allergic reaction ?????

Try ProPlan Salmon for Sensitive pups.

 

Yes it is a dry food AUSSTRALIA PRODUCT MADE IN NSW.

 

Any store will give you a money back guarantee if you don't see positive results in 2 to 3 weeks.    Give it a try please

[tworotts]

Vets will not often look at food as a cause of skin conditions.    That would be a simple and reasonably cost effective answer.  They would rather do skin scrapping etc  The skin is the biggest organ of the body think about what goes inside when you get a  reaction on the outside.

[tdierikx]

9 hours ago, tworotts said:

Vets will not often look at food as a cause of skin conditions.    That would be a simple and reasonably cost effective answer.  They would rather do skin scrapping etc  The skin is the biggest organ of the body think about what goes inside when you get a  reaction on the outside.

It all depends on the history the vet has with the dog in question and the information given by the owner. If the owner wants allergy testing done, then the vet should give them a referral to a specialist to have those done.

 

A lot of vets may try the dog on hypoallergenic formula foods to rule out food allergy issues too...

 

T.

[NikkiandKane]

Morning everyone,

 

After much reading, one of the things I decided to change on Wednesday was to change Kanes diet, again. Not a very good complete food for a pup but I have been feeding him nothing but kangaroo mince and potato with some omega 3 supplements added in. This morning, by some small miracle his skin had really settled down. The rash is still there but not inflamed and sore looking.

So we went off to our vet appointment and the vet marvelled at the improvement and we currently feel hopeful that the allergy may be a chicken allergy.....

He had his vaccination, so after 10 days he can see some of the big wide world.

I need to consider food options which are appropriate for a puppy, the vet suggested SPD rolls might be a good option. I am yet to investigate since we just got home. Any advice?

 

 

I will keep you all posted.

 

Nikki and Kane

Edited May 8, 2020 by NikkiandKane

[tdierikx]

@NikkiandKane... did the vet not give you the option of hypoallergenic kibble... Royal Canin, Science Diet, etc? They would work out cheaper feeding in the long run...

 

T.

[NikkiandKane]

1 hour ago, tdierikx said:

@NikkiandKane... did the vet not give you the option of hypoallergenic kibble... Royal Canin, Science Diet, etc? They would work out cheaper feeding in the long run...

 

T.

Apparently these are not appropriate for puppies. Also, to be honest, I dont like the look of the ingredients, the first ingredient in the Hills brand is corn starch, chicken liver which wouldnt suit him.....and then a bunch of others I cant read and then salt, here is the ingredient list:

 

Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil, Powdered Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.

 

The SPD is a very basic list of ingredients that lend themselves better to an elimination diet, the Salmon and Tapioca I ended up buying a roll ofhave only the following ingredients:

Salmon, tapioca starch, bamboo fibre, sunflower oil, vitamins, minerals, salt, natural digestive enzymes, celery seed extract.

 

 

 

[tworotts]

Nikki and Kane,   please try the food I suggested especially formulated for sensitive skin. 

 

ProPlan Salmon for Sensitive skin.  There is a salmon formula for puppies too.

 

As I said any good Pet Store will give you a moneyback guarantee if you pup does not like the food and will not eat it.

 

You need to do a slow transition to new food.   And you are correct dogs can be allergic to CHICKEN and RED MEAT even if they have previously been able to tolerate, it.

 

That is why fish is called a NOVEL PROTEIN as it is highly unlikely a dog has been given mainly fish as a meal. First ingredient SALMON then Rice and oats, 2 grains that do not cause allergy in animals Good luck please give it a go.

[Papillon Kisses]

I think I would be inclined to cut to the chase and see a dermatological specialist if your GP has done all the usual tests. You could waste a lot of time and money looking for answers where they may not be found. 

[NikkiandKane]

Just wanted to update that I am really happy with the progress since the diet change.

I have included a photo of Kanes tummy taken on Wednesday which is the day I changed his food and a photo taken last night. This morning I cant even see a hint of rash!!

Sorry I know the yesterdays shot isnt great, but he is clear of rash. 

 

I know it could be a fluke and for everyone telling me to just go see a dermatologist, I will if we have another break out. I am happy to spend the money if needed but am not made of money and so will wait and see.

 

 

[sheena]

That's looking good.  You can also use Calandula Tea to soothe rashes.  Good to have some on hand in case you get a bit of a break out

 

[persephone]

Yayyy for a rash free belly !! Looking great. Hoping you have quickly found his 'Achilles heel ' 

 

[NikkiandKane]

Kane is still doing well and seems to have had a big growth spurt since the diet change. The previous 2 weeks he barely gained any weight!

He still smells like a dog pretty badly and I have noticed multiple times that he feels

almost sweaty when I cuddle him, so I suspect sebborhoic dermatitis is still an issue. 
continuing his medicated baths and washing his jumpers and bedding. 
not there yet but we have come a long way since this tile last week!

[persephone]

Excellent update bet he feels much happier. 

[Rebanne]

where is Kane getting his calcium from?