SKIN problems

Question
QUESTION: Hi!
We have an 11 year old Shih Tzu.  She's fairly small, only about 11#.
We've struggled for years with skin problems.  Two vets have told us that she has staph infection on her skin.  Her coat is white and beige but her belly stays very dark...because of the staph.  At the present time her legs and upper chest are very pink.  She gets sores, not runny but crusty.  They almost feel like cysts.  
She gets the standard heart worm Rx, Canine Advantix (also has some flea allergy#, brewers yeast, derm caps, & antihistamine #Benedryl).  She's been off & on antibiotics for years and presently is on Cephalexin.  If she clears up and we stop the Rx we have to start all over again.  
She eats Nutro Natural Choice, venison & brown rice formula.  She gets a little wet food at night to disguise her meds. Her current vet tried to use the tiny doses of staph to de-sensitize her.  We knew in a couple of days that that was NOT going to work.  We tried a different vet last summer who put her on a different antibiotic and was giving her medicated baths.  Not sure what they were but her coat had a slight green tinge to it.  It seemed to help for a while but not for very long.
She's groomed/bathed every other week.  We've used the same groomer for 6 or 7 years so they're very familiar with her skin issues.  They always use a medicated shampoo.  I often bathe her at home between trips to the groomer because she gets an odor very quickly.  I use either a Rx medicated shampoo or something with oatmeal to soothe her skin.  Our next step would be to bring her to the Vet School at Louisiana State University.  We need a vets referral to do so but he seems reluctant to send her.

HELP!!!  What can we do????  Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated!

ANSWER: Hi Michelle-  I would love to work with you and your gal.
My suggestions would be changing her food and adding a number of supplements.  
Would you like me to give you the details?
Let me know....

Marie Peppers LPN MA
Ask the Pet Nurse

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

QUESTION: Yes please.
Michelle


heals the skin   ANSWER: Ok Kids - Here is my plan... Keep taking your antibiotic from the Vet..

*add this to your program:  All Natural and safe: no drugs

1.  Please change over to SoJo home cooking - I would like to see your baby get SoJo's GREEN bag - grain free cooking:
YOU ( MOM ) will add cooked white meats to the SoJo mix - You can add red meat just 1 x per week...Stick to white meats - better for her anyway.
YOU won't believe how happy she will be with the SoJO-
MUST be the green bag for her-
SoJo is sold in many stores or here - Free shipping to your USA door step:
Also, check out the great treats - they do have 2 that are grain free-  ( THE key to her health is NO grains...)

http://www.sojos.com/index.aspx?affiliate=petnurse

2.  Flora Force by Nature's Sunshine.  GET rid of the Excess YEAST on her skin -  Helps to give back her healty coat!
LET's Heal the sores and crusties...
** Give her one per day - for 4 weeks ---- hide in some cheese or open up and mix into some wet canned food. ( OR SoJO food)

http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=4080

*( optional ) Omega 3
3.  Also, for NICE coat , skin and protection of legs, hips and joints give 1 Omega 3 Oil pill per day - hide in cheese ...

Nature's Sunshine Omega 3
( give 1 per day for the first month and then just (1) every-OTHER-DAY FOR LONG TERM...
http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1515


( A must for your gal)

4.  NuVET Natural Canine Supplement is WONDERFUL for  skin, coat / healing and general health.

Thousands of Shih Tzus are on 1/2 or 1 full NuVET wafer per day.
Holisitc and NOT found in any pet store:
see here to order:

LOW cost - only around .60 cents per day for most dogs.
http://www.nuvet.com/81098
TELL them order code 81098 / you need a referral to order thru the manufacturer and not the vet office.
1-800-474-7044   ( tel them YOU are working with Pet Nurse Marie)



OK- If you don't want to do the SoJo - let me know / I have a few home cooking recipes -  SoJo just makes is so much easier for you!
Well balanced and Easy.

Keep me posted!  Also, ask the NuVET folks to send you some TEA tree oil hot spot Shampoo - Wonderful product - you can use this - bring it to the groomers -

** Also, she may be getting done  ( Washed ) a little too much.
She should only need a good bath 3 x per month -

IN between you can do Nature's Miracle Foam ( waterless ) bath.  
I love that stuff!
YOU just place it on a baby wipe - so easy - no rinse needed.



I hope my suggestions help!  MOST of the time I do help ---
I love to hear sucess stories!

Marie

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

QUESTION: We need a success story!  So no grains at all???  This will be interesting.  We have another Shih Tzu and 2 cats and they are used to food being left down all the time.  I've printed your reply and will look for everything you've recommended.
Michelle

Answer
Hi Michelle ,  The other shih tzu doggie can have gain-free feeding too.  It is the best for them!
Make sure you call the NuVET folks 8-4 M-F California time zone- not sold in stores.
By-the-way, SoJo food is sold at many stores or the link above.
They even have a wonderful cat food mix.

BEST wishes -
HOPE you are my next success story!!

Marie