skin problem

Question
QUESTION: I saw a question recently regarding a skin problem with dry crusty patches and flaking.  You said not to feed cockers dry food and only Innova Evo canned food.  We have been feeding Innova Evo dry food to our cocker and he still has the skin problem.  Would the canned food make a difference, even though it is all Innova Evo food?  I'm at my wits end, wondering what to do.  Also, what is the best shampoo to use to bathe him....some people say Oatmeal shampoo.  Please help our little boy.  Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Hi Linda,
Dry food (even the good stuff)is very high in carbs and quite honestly, I feel strongly that dogs are simply not designed to eat cereal.

I'd love to help you with this skin condition but need more info.
How old is he?
How long has this been going on?
What have you tried topically?
Does he have the dry "dandruff"?
What happens to the crusty patches?  Do they come and go?  Are they flat or raised?  What color are they?
Is he itchy?
Delores

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

QUESTION: Hello Delores and thanks for responding so promptly.  Captain was just four years old on August 14th.  This began in February, 2008.  We tried giving his fish oil capsules.  We have shampooed him with Coal tar shampoo.  His crusty patches are on his "underarm area"--all four legs, and his tummy occasionally and his lower sides.  His back has occasional tiny patches and also dry dandruff.  They are just slightly raised and are sort of white/pale yellow.  And yes he is sometimes itchy.  
I am glad to have you explain about the food. We will switch him to the canned food.  The dry food also seems to give him loose bowels.  Will the canned food do the same thing?  We also give him the Innova Evo treats.  Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated by Captain and his Mommy and Daddy.  Thanks again!

ANSWER: If he's 4 then the first thing to do is check his thyroid.  That's what a good vet Dermatologist would do.  It's a simple blood test so no big deal for Captain BUT request that your vet have it sent to Michigan State or Antech in NY.

The reason for this is that most labs do not have the proper equipment to do the test accurately.  A good vet will know this..so just make sure it's sent to either of those two labs.

I wouldn't use a coal tar shampoo for this.  I'd get some Nizoral (any drugstore & most supermarkets) and do a daily bath for 3 days.
You must leave it on for 10 minutes (a giant pain - but necessary).
Then rinse-rinse-rinse.  Then rinse more.

After that an oatmeal soak.  Aveeno makes a 100% colloidal oatmeal powder (comes in a box with packets of powder).  Fill tub - mix one packet in tepid water.  10 minute soak.

Now..food...personally I'd use Canidae All Life Stages canned and slowly add it to his kibble.  A tbsp. of canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling - 100% pumpkin) should help the loose stool.

The Nizoral shampoo will kill any yeast, bacteria or fungus and the oatmeal soak will re-hydrate, soothe and calm his skin.  Do that daily for 3 days then every other day - then every 3 days until you know how much maintenance he needs.

Other things than can help:
40% Zinc Cream (baby section-supermarket) ONLY on spots he cannot lick.

Pure Aloe Vera gel (not juice) from healthfood store.  I use Desert Lily.  Not something with aloe "in it" - the pure gel.
Doesn't matter if he licks it.

I'd get him clipped down short which will make things easier for both of you.

A Dermatologist would also probably put him on Vitamin A therapy for 8 weeks.  If you want to try that, let me know and I'll tell you what to get and what dosage.  Cockers have a condition called "Vitamin A Responsive Dermatosis in the Cocker Spaniel" and it's thought to be due to a breed inability to synthesize Vit A.

But most definitely I'd get a thyroid test AND get a copy of the test results.  Some vets think if it's within normal range, all is fine and that simply isn't true.  A cocker should be within the upper 50% of the range.  Hypothyroidism can cause bad skin problems and other health issues and it's easy to fix with a daily med.

Do write with any other questions.
Delores

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

QUESTION: Thanks Delores, We will do ALL of the above, starting with the thyroid test and insist that it be sent to the places you specified.  Also could you tell me about the Vitamin A dosage etc?  We have begun to clip his tummy very close a month or so ago and it did indeed make it easier.  I had heard that if I took him to the vet that they would put him on steroids and I really do want to do this as natural as I can for him.  I'll wait to hear from you regarding the vitamin A.  Thanks again!

Answer
It's 10,000 IU of Vitamin A in TABLET form (because gelcaps have soy)
and, if I can recall, Swiss Herbal makes one - Source Naturals -
Nature's Way - and Trophic - possibly NOW brand (can't recall).
Vitamin A (Palmitate) is best but acetate is okay.  Any good health food store should have one of these.

One a day for 8 weeks.

You're right to avoid steroids at all costs.  These do work but then you have to wean them off and you're right back where you started and very possibly with kidney or liver damage.  Some vets just hand these out like dog cookies and they're drugs that should be used extremely judiciously because they suppress the immune system.

Never think you can't simply say to any vet "I want to avoid steroids unless it's a crisis situation" and ask about topical treatments first.

I'm guessing your boy has dry seborrhea (very common in cockers) but the first goal is to get him comfortable and see what we can do about these crusty bits not resorting to drugs.

A Dermatologist would first check the thyroid.  Address any actual infection - put dog on Vit A trial - advise on shampoo therapy
and then "wait".
Delores