Allegeries/Thyroid

Question
Our blk lab is 9 yrs old and is constantly scratching around his neck(which
is always moist and stinks) he pants alot and is currently on thyroid meds
0.8 and 0.1 he's about 85 lbs but even on the meds he just doesnt seem to
be looking any better. On top of that he seems to be shedding large
amounts of hair nonstop. He gets groomed every two weeks and is washed
in malasab shampoo and sometimes a little dawn(the vet said it would help
with his dry itchy skin. Do u have any suggestions or recommendations for
a vet who specializes in pet dermatology in san francisco/peninsula area?
He also has re-occuring yeast infections in his right and left ear..... Thanks

Answer
Hi Tabatha,

The excessive shedding might be due to the thyroid problem, though you didn't say what you feed your dog. Diet can also effect shedding.
Adding an Omega 3-6 fatty acid supplement to your dog's diet might help, but you need to give it daily for at least a month before it's effects may be seen. If the shedding is due to the thyroid problem, no diet supplement alone will help.

It sounds to me that adding Dawn dish washing liquid to any shampoo will only help to dry your dog's skin, not help it. I question that advice. Malaseb Shampoo is has antibacterial and anti-fungal agents, and has coat conditioners in it (again adding Dawn would counter that beneficial action).  I would think if your vet suspects a secondary bacterial or fungal infection (which was my first thought too), then oral medication should be prescribed to fight that infection.

Sometimes when a dog has recurring ear infections, they didn't stay on antibiotics for a long enough period of time. Recurring ear infections are also caused by an underlying problem, such as thyroid disease or allergies. Weekly ear cleaning with a veterinarian-recommended ear cleansing solution can minimize or prevent infections.

If your dog isn't showing improvement on the thyroid meds, then they need to be adjusted.  Once your vet has gotten the amount of medication right for your particular dog, you'll be glad to know that your dog can pretty much live a normal life. In some cases, it has been found that the dog may only need to be on medication for a few months until their body starts to produce a hormone again, but in other cases the medication may be needed for the duration of the dog's life. You should get your dog tested every six months to see where his thyroid levels are at.
Besides seeing a specialist for your dog's skin condition, you may want to get a copy of your dog's medical records (they're yours, you've paid for them) and have another vet examine your dog to get a second opinion. If you're currently using a veterinarian that's part of a chain, or associated with s store, such as Banfield Pet Hospitals, then you should consider seeing a vet in private practice.

I think having your dog evaluated by a Veterinary Dermatologist is a great idea. You can locate one here (click on "Find a Dermatologist"):

http://www.acvd.org/

Best of luck,

Patti