Cocker skin / allergy problem

Question
QUESTION: I have a beautiful 2 year old male Cocker who has been on and off antibiotics since he was 4 months old (that's when I got him).  He has been tested for allergies and is highly allergic to fish and dust mites ( have done everything possible to eliminate these factors).  He breaks out all over his body with bumps, which when scratched get sore are very dandruffy and gets ear infections. For his food, he has been on California Natural(caused loose stools), prescription Royal Canin HP 19 which hasn't helped, and I just started him on Evo (also loose stools).  He gets bathed twice a week-- initially with Nolvasan shampoo and now with Douxo (both from the vet)and I keep it on him for 10 minutes before rinsing.  I express his anal glands every time before bathing and they are always full.  My vet is suggesting a skin scrape and skin biopsy.  I'm not sure what to do next and if I do the skin testing what will that prove, and what will be the next step? Also, what do you suggest for his food?  
Thanks!


ANSWER: Oh Karla...sigh..cockers and their skin issues will be the death of me. :)

Congrats to your vet for knowing about Douxo and not using steroids.

What I need to know is precisely what his skin & coat looks like.
Odor?  Greasy?  Dry?  Flaky?

I'm surprised the vet didn't initially do a skin scrape but he's been pretty good for a family vet who'd normally just reach for the prednisone.  The road to Hell.

So please tell me about his skin and coat.  Topical approaches are great but each shampoo may not do the trick.  I'd also ask if he's had his thyroid tested?????

As for the ear infections, there's an absolutely brilliant product called Zymox that no cocker owner should be without.  They have a cleaner and two different meds.  One is for just "gunky-yeasty" ears and the other is for inflamed (red) ears.  This stuff has saved dogs headed for ear ablation surgery and I'm never without it.  One of my boys has a tendency for this and I treat him once a week - bingo!

I'm thinking seborrhea (very common in cockers) and I can tell you what a good vet Dermatologist would do:
1.  Test the thyroid
2.  Treat any actual infection with appropriate antibiotics.
3.  Put dog on Vit A therapy and do 2 week zinc supplement.
4.  Advise on topical approaches
5.  Wait.

Karla, tell me exactly what his skin & coat looks like/feels like/smells like and I think I can help.  Shampoo therapy depends on the exact right shampoo and often enough.  This can mean every day for a week.  Then every 2 days...3 days..until you find the regime that keeps it in check.

And is he itchy?  I know you want to hear if intradermal skin testing would help.  Yes and no.  I take it you did blood allergy testing?
This intradermal is long..can take months to see a result and often there isn't any result.  And there are just things I'd try first.
Cockers have a syndrome named after them "Vitamin A Responsive Dermatosis" and it's one of the first things a Dermatologist would try.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Delores for responding so quickly.  My dogs coat is beautiful--soft and shiny black and very healthy looking and doesn't smell at all and his skin doesn't appear dry except when he is experiencing one of his episodes (and then he gets real dandruffy and itchy).  Actually I would expect it would look more dry with two shampoos a week.
He does scratch some and does rub around on the carpet and on my bed especially in the mornings, but he doesn't do constant scratching--he does some scratching and biting of his legs occasionally.
He has never had his thyroid checked--is not overweight and it never seemed to be a problem especially since this skin problem has been with him since he was a puppy.
Concerning his allergy test---it was a blood test through Heska Veternary Diagnostic Labs.
He had an EA unit of:
952 for dust mites; 519 for mold mites and 921 for the cooked fish mix.  All other numbers were below 88 (150EA units and over significant).
Do you have any thoughts on dog food for him?  I had him on some fish oil but wasn't sure that was helping so I took him off because it is included in his present dog food.
One other thing--my dog also has hair growing in the two creases of his tongue---I told my vet about it, and she has never heard of such a thing.  I believe my vet is doing a good job, but we both are frustrated and are hoping you can help us out.

ANSWER: I have many thoughts here and some more questions.  These skin infections - were they yeast, bacteria or fungal?  What shampoo are you using?  Is it a "leave on" for 10 minutes?

Have you done any antihistimine trials and where do you live?
I have a feeling it's the south.

Food?  Kibble (if that's what you're using) is extremely high in carbs (even the good stuff) and that can exacerbate the problem.

When your vet diagnosed - did he use a "black light" or take a piece of tape and lift some cells?

The "fur on the tongue" I haven't heard of either but will do some research.

And let me explain - when you're told your dog has an inhalant allergy we tend to think of our own inhalant allergies (we breathe them in through our nose).  Dogs absorb these through their skin which is why constant bathing helps by removing the allergens.

If he has dry skin it sounds counter-productive but it isn't.
The right shampoo, however, is key.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The skin infections have been bacterial and he has been treated for yeast once. I am using Douxo shampoo 2x's per week and I do leave it on for 10 minutes.
I live in Iowa and his skin problems are year round.  I've tried the antihistimine thing, but not consistantly as it didn't seem to make any difference.
I am feeding him Evo which is as close to a raw diet as you can get, without grains.  Which food would you recommend?
On your previous response you talked about Vit A therapy and a 2 week zinc supplement---how much of each should I give?
Thanks again.

Answer
If you've given the Douxo a fair trial and it's not helping, I'd move on and try Sebolux.  And for his comfort, I'd do an oatmeal soak
after his bath.  This soothes, relieves itching and hydrates.

Aveeno makes it - in a box with packets of colloidal oatmeal powder.
Mix one packet in a full bathtub of warmish water and soak him for 10 minutes.  Target carries a cheaper generic - just read the label "100% pure colloidal oatmeal".

Karla, we can only try one thing at a time.  I'd really like to see if an oatmeal soak makes a difference..and how much of a difference.

Goal #1 is to provide comfort and lessen itching.

As for food - Evo is great but for your boy I'd like to use canned which is less processed, fewer preservatives and higher in protein and fat.

Vitamin A therapy is something a Dermatologist would try on a cocker since they can have a syndrome called "Vitamin A Responsive Dermatosis in the Cocker Spaniel".  They'd also do a two week zinc trial.

If you want to do this, write me directly and I'll tell you exactly what to buy and dosages.  DeeBeck7765@aol.com

And keep a close eye on his ears.  Cocker skin problems lead to ear issues.  I highly recommend the Zymox and can tell you where to order that also (not expensive)
Delores