My Old Dog Needs Help...

Question
hello my dog is 9 years old hes a mix breed between, lad/shephard/rotty...he has TERRIBLE skin condition and I dont know what to do because I cannot afford to take him to a vet at this time...and I dont know when I will be able too...but his fur is ALWAYS greasy feeling even after a bath...his skin is extremely dry and flakes off when he scratches(like dandruff almost)...he always has a smell to him even after a bath...and hes NONE stop itching and scratching and biting at himself...he has came to the point where he will scratch himself until he makes himself bleed..I dont want my doggy to go through this any more...I feel so bad that I cannot afford a vet at this moment can you PLEASE help me in ANY way? thank you for your time and if you can tell me ANYTHING to help please...oh by the way I use to work at a pet store and I tried switching his food off of corn and wheat and it BARELY did anything for him so I know its not a corn or wheat allergy...thank you again

Answer
Hi Gina,

I know you've said you can't take your dog to the vet, but that is what your dog needs. Had you taken care of this problem when it first began, treatment would have probably been simpler. Putting off medical treatment should not be an option.

Your dog's skin and coat problem may be a result of a skin injury due to allergies, parasites, hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism, or metabolic disorders. It might be related to genetics. Treatments vary depending on the root cause of the condition, and there may be secondary yeast or bacterial infections which also need to be treated.

There is not a treatment you can provide at home, if you do not have a diagnosed condition first. You are quite literally hunting and pecking for something that will work, all the while your dog's condition is getting more complex, and harder to treat.
Your dog's medical care needs to be a priority. This means budgeting and cutting back on other expenses, to save for your up coming vet bills.

Talk to your veterinarian about paying the bill off over an agreed upon period of time. Many vets are open to this, as long as it's discussed before treatment begins. Another option is to contact local shelters or the Humane Association to see if there is a reduced cost clinic in your area. Still another option is to apply for CreditCare, a special credit card you can get to pay for veterinary medical bills. You can read more about CreditCare here:
http://www.carecredit.com/

You didn't say what kind of dog shampoo you've tried. Since you don't know what the underlying condition is, shampooing might be the required treatment, but you're using the wrong kind! Knowing your dog's medical condition is essential when treating it correctly.

Before shampooing, clipping is usually necessary if your dog has a long or thick coat. This helps with bathing and decreases the amount of shampoo required. Some dogs may need a bath with a medicated shampoo twice or three times a week. A contact time of 10 to 15 minutes is crucial for the success of many shampoo therapies. If you just wash your dog, and rise the shampoo right off, it's not helping.

Brands of shampoos to try would be Lytar Shampoo, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo, or Derma Pet Seborrheic Shampoo. It may take a month or more before the the effects of these medicated shampoos to take effect, and when their use is stopped it may take a month for seborrhea to return.  Your dog needs additional medication form your vet to help control the itching until the shampoo treatments begin to work.

Even with the correct shampoo, the secondary infections your dog might have would not respond to the shampooing. There simply is no way for you to treat this problem without a veterinarian.

Nutrition is also important in treating skin and coat problems. You didn't say what you feed your dog.  He needs to receive a diet where a named source of meat is the primary ingredient (it shouldn't just say "meat", without corn or wheat in the first 5 ingredients listed on the package. Your dog's food should be free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives and meat "by-products".
A fatty acid supplement such as omega 3 can help, discuss using this over the counter supplement with your veterinarian.

Best of luck,
Patti