My dog needs help

Question
ok my dog has been digging to the point were he has scabs all over his body and i don't know what to do and i don't have the money to take him to the vet. i have given him flea baths and sensitive skin baths and just water baths PLEASE HELP

Answer
Hi Stephine,

Your best bet for successful treatment is to have your dog examined by a veterinarian. I understand your financial concerns, if you contact your vet and explain your problem, many times a payment schedule can be worked out, allowing you to pay the bill off over a period of time.

Another option is to contact friends, family members, and even your boss or co-workers to loan you money to pay for the vet bill. Vet visits can vary in price. Call around to all your local vets to see who charges the least.

You could also apply for a kind of credit card that's especially for paying medical bills (for both people and animals). You can read more about this here: http://www.carecredit.com

Contact your local animal shelter or Humane Society. Many times they know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs in their area. You also might find an assistance program here:

http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=163

You can try shampooing your dog with a shampoo that contains Hydrocortisone, such as Hartz Hydrocortisone Pet Shampoo. Be sure to leave the shampoo on your dog for the recommended amount of time before rinsing off. If your dog will allow it, use a hair dryer on low to dry him off. Rubbing with a towel will aggravate the itch.
You may need to shampoo your dog twice a week before results can be seen. You can safely apply 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel (not a blend) to your dog's itchy sores, it will help control the itch, and it's safe if it's licked off. The best time to apply the gel is just before going out for a walk, so it has time to work before bing licked off!

When itching is at it's worst, you can give your dog an over the counter antihistamine Chlor-Trimeton (Chlorpheniramine). The usual dosage for dogs is 1 to 4 mg per pound every 8 to 12 hours. Chlorpheniramine is usually a 4mg tablet, so this is roughly 1 tablet per 2 to 5 lbs every 8 hours. It may make your dog sleepy, so it's best used at night, and not for more than 7 days.

There is no substitute for a doctors care. There are MANY reasons besides fleas for severe itching, ranging from allergies to a thyroid condition, and treatments vary greatly depending on the diagnosis. Your dog deserves more than guesswork. Putting off treatment can make this harder to treat, as secondary skin infections can easily set in which will also require treatment.

Best of luck,

Patti