Dry Skin/Crusty Nose on Cocker Spaniel

Question
QUESTION: Hello Dee,

I have a 10 year old English cocker that has periodic dry, crusty (red) and itchy places on his skin.  I have switched dog food twice and he is currently on California Natural weight control dry food.  He is about 10 lbs overweight.  I have him groomed about every 8 weeks and have the groomer use oatmeal based shampoo.  I have tried coconut oil in his food with some results.  He also has a dry, crusty nose that no vet (I'm on my 3rd) has been able to explain.  He has been checked for thyroid and the results indicated that his thyroid was not normal.  The vet wanted to put him on some med (I've forgotten what) that would have been a lifelong commitment.  I decided not to follow thru and instead have been looking for natural or organic solutions to the problems.  Other then these issues, he is content and otherwise healthy.  I am using Frontline Plus and Interceptor for flea/tick/heartworm prevention.  Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: His weight problem and skin problem are both results of his thyroid problem.  And so is the crusty nose.

You have a good vet if the first thing he did was run a thyroid panel.

There is no other solution but the meds - and his weight & skin will become normal very quickly.

I understand (and encourage) owners wanting to try natural solutions but in this case, I beg you to get this dog on the medication.

I know too often vets reach for meds but when it comes to thyroid they're necessary.  Your dog's health will continue to decline if you don't.  So go back to the vet who ran the test.  The other vets should have known this..and didn't.  Which is what I run across more often than not

Also - once his thyroid is under control he won't have a weight problem and can go back to regular food.  The "weight control" food has less protein and less fat and senior dogs need more of those, not less.  I recommend Innova EVO for spaniels.

Best of luck and do write with any other questions.  But do get him on the meds - being 10 pounds overweight is shortening his life and diet will not solve this.
Delores

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

QUESTION: Delores,

Thanks for your quick response.  I will get Jake to the vet and begin the treatment.  Since it has been about a year since he was tested, do you recommend having the new vet retest him?  I vaguely recall some of the info I was given but not many specifics.  Can you briefly explain the test, i.e., how is it done? what the results tell the vet? how is abnormal throid treated? etc.

Lastly, you suggest Innova EVO for spaniels.  Should I begin the transition now?  

Thanks again.

Answer
A thyroid test is a simple blood test.  No big deal for Jake at all.

You can request your old vet fax you a copy of his results.  If it's been a year I'd redo it but it'd be helpful to have that old result.

Now..what you need to do is ask WHERE your vet sends thyroid testing.
The answer should be Antech in New York or Michigan State University.
A full 6 panel test must be done by equilibrium dialyses and only a few labs have the very expensive equipment to do this.  So I'd call the vet's office and ask.  If it's the wrong answer, move on.
Get the old test and see where that was sent - if it was one of the right places, I'd go back to that vet.  (And I'm impressed he had the sense to test in the first place).

He'll be given meds 2x daily.  Very safe - and he'll be on them for life.  It's a quick and easy fix but VERY important to do
because, as you're seeing now, unfixed this causes other health issues.  He'll also need an annual retest.  This is to ensure nothing has changed & he's getting the right amount of medication.  At his age I'd retest twice a year and do a Wellness check twice a year.
Catching any changes early is vital for seniors.

I'm sure if the vet had taken 5 minutes and explained all this to you that you would have followed through.  Unfortunately some of them are always in a rush and "too busy" to explain things adequately.

And yes I'd begin transitioning him to Innova EVO and I recommend a combo of dry and canned.  Go slow - we don't want an upset tummy :)
Just add a bit more of the new food every day. And don't stick with one protein source - use all their formulas.

Best of luck and write anytime.
Delores
p.s.  Once he's on meds the vet will want to recheck him in a couple of months.  You should also know the symptoms of over-medication.
Restlessness - increased thirst - agitation - digestive upset.  It can be a judgement call how much he needs and it sometimes needs to be played with a bit.