Appetite/ Skin Irritation (Warning!!: its long... sorry)

Question
OK so here my questions (smile)

I read some of the other questions similar to mine yet their situations were different so i had to ask my own...

1st question: I understand that boxers can be picky eaters so to combat this behavior it was suggested not to leave the food down all day... Ok so i did that, but Champ(my 1yr old baby) still would not eat all of his food he simply grazes.. so i figured maybe hes bored eating the same thing (Eukanuba) so i started making plain white rice and adding it to his food alternating breakfast and dinner... that worked for all of a week and now hes back to doing the same thing... now I'm concerned because to me he is on the skinny side.. my "Boxers for Dummys" book tells me that the Boxer breed is suppose to be lean and that I'm suppose to see at least his last three ribs..not true in my case.. tho they are defined (like the skin and bones look) you still can see them all...I love my little guy and my husband will tell you he is spoiled (i don't care he's my baby...smile)

He gets his shots, flea and tick, and heart worm meds every month... so what could be his issue... some one also suggested giving him a B12 shot.. well i did my research on that too and since he is not lacking in the active category (he his your typical boxer x10 it seems...smile) I'm kinda hesitant... so what do you think?

Now having said all that (smile)
my next question is about his skin... i've noticed that he is breaking out into hives all over his body. There are small bumps (no pus or anything like that..) all over him that raise his fur and make it look very funny... it doesn't seem to bother him as he does not scratch. This happened like the day after i gave him a bath ( which i do once a month just before his flea treatment..and he gets wash ups in between as needed..smile) we also use a medicated shampoo from the vet (has always had sensitive skin and had demodex at 4 months but we got through and some other things with flying colors) but this is the first for this reaction on such a wide scale. The only two changes that have taken place is that we had to get his flea treatment from a feed store and all they had was FRONTLINE which we are use to Vectra (before that was ADVANTIX but the vet stop issuing that and put everybody on Vectra) and i also had to buy his food from the BX on base same brand just Lamb flavored. ( you would have thought he would have killed that because it was a new taste but no....smile) He's always been a shedder... I mean if you rubbed him down his back repeatedly you would have enough fur to make a fur bracelet or something... but its always been like this and his Doc doesn't seem concerned.. SO WHATS WRONG WITH MY LIL'MAN!!

-I keep his bedding clean and fresh every week just as i do our clothes.

-I run him everyday, we spend hours out side. Be it running and playing or just sitting around being lazy (or both!)

-He eats out of steel bowls (which i wash every day to keep the acne down)

-He gets all kinds of love and attention AND training..( i count down from 5 to 1 instead of repeating the command... don't know why it worked but it does he even has a time out corner.... he's too smart...smile)

So what is wrong with him....(sad)

Answer
1st:  Boxers are "grazers" more so than other breeds. For that, you should SELF-FEED; Keep his food bowl full of fresh food at all times so he can eat and "graze" when he wants to. Otherwise, you are trying to feed him when he is not hungry.

2nd:  NO RIBS! Boxers are lean as far as "fat" goes, but are muscular. No ribs should show. This is a sign of underweight. Therefore, leave his food out for him: self-feed method, at all times so he can eat when HE is hungry. You are not necessarily hunger just because it's lunch time! Dogs are no different.

3rd:  Feed him an all natural food without corn and corn glutens. Research natural dog foods Online and choose one without corn and corn gluten that you can afford and get easily.

4th:  Change it up from a chicken and rice to a lamb and rice, etc. This is a nice variety to keep him from being bored. You wouldn't want to eat the same food day in and day out. Dogs are no different.

5th:  If you want him to have B12 or any vitamins and minerals; buy a good dog vitamin that has omega fatty acids and other vitamins and minerals and give him one a day.

6th:  As far as his skin: it is a food allergy. As I said, an all natural dog food with NO corn and NO corn glutens. This will help within the first month. In the meantime, DO NO bathe him with dog shampoos. Use Dawn dish soap only. It has to be rinsed well since it is so concentrated. I use the Dawn in the dispenser that foams. It's easier to apply (squirt in your hand then rub him) and easier to rinse. Dawn also kills fleas very well. It is non-irritating to the most sensitive skin, and Boxers do have sensitive skin and allergies.
It is probably a combination of food allergies to corn and corn gluten and environmental. Spring brings on allergies as well as the fall, just like in humans.

*Call your vet and ask the cc's of Benedryl you can give him. Human's Benedryl does well for allergies; whether it's skin, eyes, nose, etc. But the dosage must be correct. A vet can give you a syringe (no needle) to measure and squirt in his mouth. Talk to your vet- phone call is all it takes....

7th: Use Aveeno Oatmeal Bath to bathe him when he has break outs to reduce itching.

8th: To add weight on him: add plain unflavored yogurt to his food twice a day with a raw egg at least once a day. This will help with his digestive system and weight and is extremely healthy.

Stop using the flea products. Unless Vectra works without skin irritation. Add a tad of garlic powder (not salt) to his food once a day during the summer months and flea season if necessary; this puts an odor in his skin and repels fleas. Talk to your vet about that. Garlic generally is not good for dogs, but my Boxer does well. I would recommend vet counseling first though.

I would ASK and DEMAND a thyroid blood test. I don't think vets are very savvy about Boxer's thyroid disorders and the symptoms as they should be.

My vet(s) kept insisting my girl did not have all the thyroid disorder signs and I DEMANDED the blood test. Sure enough, she had a thyroid disorder and now takes 2 pills a day of 3mg Pala-Tech chewables (9.00 for 180-count Online- but need a vet's prescription). Ask your vet if he carries that brand. It's inexpensive and great!

But, DEMAND the thyroid blood test! They will draw blood from an artery in his neck and test it.

Thyroid disorder symptoms are excess shedding and ribs showing. Sometimes skin irritation as well. There are more signs but not all Boxers (or any dog, just like humans) show all the signs and symptoms.

Be persistent with your vet, demanding the test. If he refuses, find a different vet.

So to summarize: change to an all natural dog food with no corn and corn gluten, self-feed, give him vitamin supplements once a day, use DAWN to bathe him, and get his thyroid checked.

I guarantee I am right.

Let me know.