My beautiful dog is not so pretty

Question
I have a wonderful American Bulldog named Ashaunna, some say part pit, that is so good and smart. My problem is her skin. My niece had her when she was younger, I have had her a couple of years, and she is almost 2 1/2. Ashaunna would get bumps under her skin and my niece had to put salve on them. The bumps would come and go. I had her several months when I noticed a blue "S" on her tummy. I turned out to be where they tattooed her when she was spayed, but the problem was that she had loss enough hair where it was visible and is still visible today.  Some say only bathe a dog a couple times a year, but she needs one every week or two or there is a dry doggy smell in her bed area and I have noticed my hands feeling nasty after I pet her. I am on a tight budget so I don't have the luxury of taking her to the vet every couple of months for her problems.  She used to lick and chew around her tail so much it would look brown.
  The first vet visit was when I noticed a rash on her tummy, she was given an injection and green Keftabs for ten days. I bought antifungal, antibacterial shampoo from the vet which seemed to keep some hair on her. But, about nine months later it was back to the vet with the same problem, only I think the rash was wet with a head this time. Same treatment, which I felt was wrong because we weren't making any headway, just beginning a cycle when I was looking for a preventative measure to minimize the problem.  She loves the outdoors, but I felt guilty when I noticed what looked like mosquito bites all over her back, but they turned out to be the bumps - in or under the skin, there is no leakage or scaling. I took her to a new vet because I am looking for a solution or cause so I can learn how best to handle her condition.  Her sides looked awful and I felt she was uncomfortable, but mainly because her ear had a lot of black stuff in it and an ear cleaner was not working. It also seems like her skin darkens sometimes with the rashes. This vet thought it was fleas, but changed her mind to allergies. We had Ashaunna's records faxed so we knew what she had been on before. The new vet prescribed ear drops, which were wonderful - Ashaunna was actually willing to have them put in.  A week later, I started her on the 500 mg chlorphenamine, but I couldn't afford the spray the vet also wanted. I seemed like her condition was getting worse, so I informed the vet I was discontinuing them. Ashaunna didn't get any better (but, she didn't get any worse) and has been licking her privates so I took her back to the vet because in addition to looking horrible with the worse case of bumps and rash on her sides, she also had nasty looking irregular red spots on the tummy and nipples. The vet said it was staph and gave her an injection and I was to give her the antibiotic that I had here, but couldn't find it. I gave Ashaunna a bath and apparently they don't feel pain like we do because her sides look so painful, but she is in good spirits and the red spots on her tummy were brown-looking, apparently healing. since I can't afford repeated trips to the vet I have been researching for what she has and for remedies, but don't want to hurt her with wrong dosages of other medications. So, I am looking at allergies, but she is an inside dog and I feed her Beneful because of the fiber content to minimize her gas. I know that yeast and staph are present, but flares- up because of other problems, but it also sounds like it might be pyoderma or even seborrhea (hopefully not). So what would you suggest for a preventative ritual to minimize these breakouts whatever they are? My dog and I would be so grateful to find a solution to make her feel as wonderful as she is. I have never known a dog to pass gas excessively, belch, grind their teeth, lick their private parts, and repeatedly swallow/lick their mouths like Ashaunna does, although the grinding has lessened lately. Thank you

Answer
Hello Je,

Sorry you are having all this problem with your dog.  It sounds like you have tried a lot of things to help her.  One thing I can mention is to try NuVet Plus. Please go to my website and read about it.  It has way to much info for me to write here.  Look for the guarantee.  I know this product works or I won't be suggesting you try it.  The website is www.spottsgrooming.com click on NuVet and then order now (this will take you to their store and again read all the information)  After that, then decide if it's right for your dog and order.

Other things to try is switching foods (Beneful is awful food). www.pipschoice.com See the food comparison there and use the food calculator.  It's free and fun to see how your food measures up.
Bathing can be done often, it would hurt your dog.  Just get one that is for dogs and allergies.

By spending a little more on the good stuff saves big bucks in the long run.  No more vet visits, trips to stores trying new foods, shampoos, over the counter medicines.  In fact, your dogs health will change for the better and live a much happier, healthier longer life.  And that's great!

Susan Potts, CPG
www.spottsgrooming.com
Your Holistic Pet Place