About Sickness

Question
My dog named daisy is a border collie mixed with black lab. Four years ago I gave my dog to a couple to hold on to her for me because I was moving to Germany and couldn't take her with me. I recently got my dog back since i'm in the states again. But my dog is in a bad condintion. She Has barely any fur, She's itching like crazy, she had fleas but i treated that and she is extremely skinny with sores all over and her skin is really dry and flaky. I made an appointment for her its on dec. but I need some help on what to do. So what can I do to make her look and feel healthy again?

Thanks,
Shannon

Answer
Hi Shannon,

I'm sorry to hear that your dog suffered such neglect while you were out of the country.

The obvious remedies for bad skin and coat and general malnutrition would be investing in a super premium dog food, and starting the dog on an  omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

It probably is a good idea to start the fatty acid supplement, since it's something that can help itching and poor skin condition. It has anti-inflammatory effects, but it needs to be given daily, and you might not see any improvement for at least a month.
Fatty acid supplement brands to look for are: DermCaps, OmegaDerm, EFA-Z, or 3V Capsules.

Your dog's symptoms might be from a thyroid or hormonal problem. It's also possible that your dog has some kind of allergy, secondary bacterial skin infections, an immune system disorder, Sarcoptic mange or even Diabetes. For those reasons I'd hesitate starting a new diet without your vet's approval.

I know it's hard watching your dog suffer, but until you know what it is you're dealing with (at least in my opinion) it would be best to treat the itchy symptoms for now, and let your vet's tests dictate the best course of action in the near future.

Antihistamines help some dog with itchiness, and can help give the the dog a rest so the skin can heal. The most successful antihistamine in clinical trials that I can find information on is Tavist. Usually it is used at 1 tablet per 60 lbs. of body weight twice a day but I have seen other dosages mentioned in clinical reports, you should get the proper dose from your vet.

Some pets will become drowsy when taking antihistamines. If this is true of your dog, try using them only at bedtime. Occasionally a dog will get excited when given antihistamines. These pets should not be given these products.

Many over the counter antihistamines have different active ingredients, so if one doesn't seem to work, it's worth trying another brand. Other possible antihistamine choices include Atarax, Benedryl and Chlortrimeton.

Cold water will usually reduce itching and produce temporary relief. This effect doesn't last long, usually less than one-half hour. Adding Episoothe Oatmeal Shampoo, Episoothe Oatmeal Creme Rinse, Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal, Relief Shampoo or Domeboro's solution helps to prolong the itch relief effect. Colloidal oatmeal actually pulls inflammatory toxins out of the skin, generally giving 1-3 days of relief. They are available plain or combined with local anesthetic formulas to soothe itch. All of these products are available over-the-counter.
If you use Aveeno, one to two tablespoons per gallon of water, applied as a rinse, works best. Follow the directions on the Domeboro packet and also apply as a rinse.

Some shampoos such as Pyoben and Oxydex, act to reduce the bacteria level on the skin, one cause of itching. Seba Lyt and other sulfer/salicyclic acid shampoos reduce scaling. Lytar, Clear Tar and other tar containing shampoos reduce itching and oiliness.

An emollient or moisturizer used after shampooing will restore some moisture to the skin and this also reduces itching. Expar Creme Rinse can be used to kill fleas after itching and moisturize the skin.

Keeping these skin sores dry with the use of a mild astringent solution or an antibiotic/cortisone powder can be very helpful. I like NeoPredef Powder, but anything that is astringent, controls itchiness or provides antiseptic or anti-bacterial action may help.

Applying Witch Hazel can help the sores. This product has a cooling effect on the skin which is soothing for both animals and for people. It is available as a spray or lotion.

100% aloe vera gel,(not a blend) can really help the itchy areas too. Products "containing aloe" are much more available but are generally not as effective and not meant to be licked away by a pet. Aloe vera gel comes from the aloe vera succulent and contains enzymes which break down inflammatory proteins and enhance healing. Pure aloe vera gel is not harmful for dogs who lick it off.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti