I do believe my wits end has been reached...

It's basically just the skin being infected, as a reaction to whatever she is sensitive to - has she had a good strong, long course of anti-biotics (I mean two months) to clear it? Not ideal I know but you have to fire-fight it before you manage it.

If you're not happy with your vet (my last vet just shrugged and kept giving us steroids, which of course suppressed it until it reappeared - new vet beat the crap out of it with anti-bs and then helped us pinpoint the sensitivities - pine trees, high levels of protein, bacteria living on his own skin/in kennel)
 
CaveCanem said:
It's basically just the skin being infected, as a reaction to whatever she is sensitive to - has she had a good strong, long course of anti-biotics (I mean two months) to clear it? Not ideal I know but you have to fire-fight it before you manage it.

If you're not happy with your vet (my last vet just shrugged and kept giving us steroids, which of course suppressed it until it reappeared - new vet beat the crap out of it with anti-bs and then helped us pinpoint the sensitivities - pine trees, high levels of protein, bacteria living on his own skin/in kennel)
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No, shes had a weeks worth of anti b's, then two weeks worth of different tablets, then a mixture of piriton and more anti b's..
Then she opted for ear wash and ear drops and something to clean her feet with every day.. whilst changing her food again and obviously de fleaing everything. She seemed reluctant to do tests as she seemed to think it was seasonal.. Im not so sure it is, I think its only just starting to come to a head now but the smell has been around since the begining, and she's always been an itchy scratchy dog. I've wormed her regularly and she's had her glands squeazed twice but she just wont leave her back end alone either.. vet seems to think the two are related but again Im not so sure..

Im going to push for some testing to be done but I will see what she thinks tonight when she sees the lack of improvement.
 
Just to warn you, B's scrapes and bloods came back as inconclusive 'it must be allergies' from old vet and that was it, even though he was half bald and scratching until he bled. It was at that point I threw the head up :o
 
I would simply be asking for allergy tests at this stage (is she insured)?, im thinking like CC it's definately allergy and to be honest most bullies with skin probs have a distinctive smell (sweaty) a very shar -pei'sh kind of smell.
I would be asking for a shampoo and I would hibi scrub her feet daily in between toes and then towel dry them afterwards.
I would also go for something like the potatoe and salmon dry food if you do not want to stick with the dry.
 
sending you some hugs and a strong drink.......

I have no ideas to suggest that may help with either dogs as i think everyone has covered it.

But i would just like to say the problems you are having with Tyson are NOT your fault the fault lies with the idiotic breeders that insist on breeding hi drive stressy dogs such as mals and huskys with intelligent breeds such as shepherds. It does NOT "make them easier to train" ,which is the excuse a someone used to explain breeding his husky and german shep........... nitwit.
 
I am not a vet and I know all dogs are different LLL but off the top of my head, products which really helped B and you could ask your vet, were Noroclav (anti biotic) Epi-Otic (an ear wash which is meant to be a pre-cursor to drops but they worked really well isolated and not too harsh) Malaseb shampoo (frequent washes in hot-spot areas, lesser washes of the whole dog - an old shower puff is BRILLIANT for small washes as it is hard to get it to lather) Piriton (antihistamine, four per day) pure Aloe Vera gel and Fuciderm steroid gel on very bad areas.

I also got some grease-stripping shampoo which you have to wear gloves to use but can't remember the name.
 
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Paxcutol. When you ran your hands over B, you got a coating of grease :(
I remember the first time I took him into the vet after he stabilised and the girl behind the counter remarked that he smelled much nicer :o
 
Repeating myself here...get the Yorke Test run (and only that one will do,it is the best)You may get a simple straight answer there; it COULD be mange,but the smelly itchy one is Sarcoptic,and your other dog would be affected.Demodex is`nt itchy or contagious and smells of old mouse,so I am told..not a pong I am familiar with!
Us bull terrier folk are rather the expert on "skin things" ,they do have sensitive skins and often have atopic or yesty conditions gpoing on.Easy to avoid I might add by good breeding and feeding.:D
One of my favourite treatment is a good scrub in dilute Povidine,which kills off bacteria ,fungal infections..you name it.It is the same brown stuff they paint onto op. sites before surgery..`cept of course you are diluting it.I use about a dessert spoon in a pint.
 
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CAYLA said:
I would simply be asking for allergy tests at this stage (is she insured)?, im thinking like CC it's definately allergy and to be honest most bullies with skin probs have a distinctive smell (sweaty) a very shar -pei'sh kind of smell.
I would be asking for a shampoo and I would hibi scrub her feet daily in between toes and then towel dry them afterwards.
I would also go for something like the potatoe and salmon dry food if you do not want to stick with the dry.
Click to expand...

Yeah she's insured with Asda. I asked for allergy tests and vet has said no lets wait a little while longer - but she is planning on testing once all the changes she's ordered have been implemented if nothing has worked.
Salmon and potatoe food has been purchased, along with hibi scrub and vet gave me a shampoo called maliseb?

welshcobnewbie said:
sending you some hugs and a strong drink.......
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... thank you, mines a (double) whisky ;)

CaveCanem said:
I am not a vet and I know all dogs are different LLL but off the top of my head, products which really helped B and you could ask your vet, were Noroclav (anti biotic) Epi-Otic (an ear wash which is meant to be a pre-cursor to drops but they worked really well isolated and not too harsh) Malaseb shampoo (frequent washes in hot-spot areas, lesser washes of the whole dog - an old shower puff is BRILLIANT for small washes as it is hard to get it to lather) Piriton (antihistamine, four per day) pure Aloe Vera gel and Fuciderm steroid gel on very bad areas.

I also got some grease-stripping shampoo which you have to wear gloves to use but can't remember the name.
Click to expand...

I have pretty much got everything that you've just described up there ^^
No tests have been oredered yet, but she sent me away with a shampoo called Malaseb, ear wash and drops, Norosomethin' anti b's and more piriton - Didn't ask for them, she just sent me home with them in a bid to try and make her a little more comfortable till we discover what's up with her. She's back in in one weeks time to arrange for tests if no improvement is shown over this next week.
She wants me to continue not using any carpet or room fresheners/deoderisers as she thinks that it will take a while for B to have a positive reaction to this if thats what it is. I've changed her food again to salmon and potatoe now & vet agreed trying a low protien food is a good idea. She's also asked me to change where I walk her as we normally end up one way or another in the park... so no more park for Bryony.
She has that grease thing you mentioned too... stroke her and your hand is grey with grease afterwards... and the smell? Turns out its even worse when she's wet :(
 
EAST KENT said:
Repeating myself here...get the Yorke Test run (and only that one will do,it is the best)You may get a simple straight answer there; it COULD be mange,but the smelly itchy one is Sarcoptic,and your other dog would be affected.Demodex is`nt itchy or contagious and smells of old mouse,so I am told..not a pong I am familiar with!
Us bull terrier folk are rather the expert on "skin things" ,they do have sensitive skins and often have atopic or yesty conditions gpoing on.Easy to avoid I might add by good breeding and feeding.:D
One of my favourite treatment is a good scrub in dilute Povidine,which kills off bacteria ,fungal infections..you name it.It is the same brown stuff they paint onto op. sites before surgery..`cept of course you are diluting it.I use about a dessert spoon in a pint.
Click to expand...

I mentioned the Yorke test to my vet, only I forgot the name and called it something like the 'Yorkshire propper good test' ..and she said we could only have this if Bryony was referred somewhere else, and so I think she's viewing it as a last option.
She gave me Malaseb shampoo which aparently helps rid bacteria etc.. would Povidine be better do you think?
 
I feel your pain with the skin problems. One of our huskies had a similar issue and she was in and out of the vets, then referred to a dermatology expert at Edinburgh vet college. Turned out to be serious zinc deficiency with very unusual symptoms. ZRD is common in arctic breeds but her zinc requirement is ridiculous!
You say you have tried different diets. How long are you trialling for? Need to give it a good couple of months at least. Malaseb is very good - it treats seborrhoeic dermatitis related to malassezia. However, that in itself can be related to something else. It helped our dog but didn't treat the cause, just helped the symptoms.
If it were me, especially due to the fact you have insurance (which will probably only pay out for 12 months per condition) I'd be insisting on a referral now. Dermatology in animals is a very difficult area to diagnose and the tests aren't cheap as we found!!
As for your other dog, cani X and scootering are good, but, unless it's a dog that has it 'programmed at birth' he may need another dog to give him the idea. Lots of 'non-huskys' take well to work in harness. Our collie for example runs in harness with our team all the time and loves it. We just added him in one day and off he went. You can also bike-jor (and ski-jor!). No need for anything fancy other than a harness and a bungee line (oh, and a bike - or ski's!!). Best to use a short harness on a bike as the point of attachment is that bit higher up on a bike :-). A couple of our friends have 2 GSD's and after they have run their husky's the GSD's go out on the scooter.
I hope you get to the bottom of it. It's awful seeing a dog suffer with itchy skin.
 
All I can say about Povidine wash is that I have a little Rescue bull terrier who has a permanent condition (LAD) that means she grows skin cells constantly and overproductively and has a fungal foot condition,Malaseb ,for her,did not do the trick as Povidine washes did. That of course is one dog, but it is miraculous stuff;in your case a good de greasing scrub followed by a povidine wash off might be better. The Yorke Test kit can be ordered in by ANY vet,it is then sent off to their lab.
This test is`nt cheap,but insurance will cover it and it will take the guesswork out of the equation.My bitch,even with everything right ,took 12 weeks to come right.Insist your vet works for YOU..you pay,it is your right.The other vet allergen tests in my opinion just don`t cut it compared to this one..no I am not on their staff or a share holder!!
 
CaveCanem said:
EK - I was quoted a couple of hundred, would that be about right?
Totally agree - and like I say, don't be afraid to take your business elsewhere, it worked for us and then some.

LLL - here is some proof!!!! What Spud was talking about, although it makes me really miss Finny :( wish she would come back

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=250395
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I see :D even the greats struggle every now and then, it would seem :eek::p

... There was never even a hint that you were about to throw the towel in though. Stressed and exasperated, yes.. about to give up, No.
 
welshcobnewbie said:
But i would just like to say the problems you are having with Tyson are NOT your fault the fault lies with the idiotic breeders that insist on breedinghi drive stressy dogs such as mals and huskys with intelligent breeds such as shepherds. It does NOT "make them easier to train" ,which is the excuse a someone used to explain breeding his husky and german shep........... nitwit.
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Sorry off topic I know but BIB really gets my back up Huskies and Malamutes are not stressy dogs in the slightest, only those who have been made that way, yes they are high energy and extremely intelligent you just need to learn how to harness both things and make them work for you.
Lady La La if you can wait till the weather cools down i`d gladly meet you at thetford forest with Tyson and he can have a run with my lot, they will quite happily let him bounce on them (they have to put up with Loco doing that at the start :) ) but they'll get him running and we'll see what he makes of it.
Its always best to start them with an established dog or team as not all have that in built sense to pull
Give Terry from Celticwolf an email hes never failed yet with problem dogs and specialises in malamutes ;) http://www.alaskanmalamuteuk.co.uk/?p=p_22&sName=training-and-behaviour

Em x

My three stress heads ;) can't wait to take Tyson for a leg stretch
23449_309418201133_511216133_3598222_7756865_n.jpg
 
Cyrus said:
Sorry off topic I know but BIB really gets my back up Huskies and Malamutes are not stressy dogs in the slightest, only those who have been made that way, yes they are high energy and extremely intelligent you just need to learn how to harness both things and make them work for you.
Lady La La if you can wait till the weather cools down i`d gladly meet you at thetford forest with Tyson and he can have a run with my lot, they will quite happily let him bounce on them (they have to put up with Loco doing that at the start :) ) but they'll get him running and we'll see what he makes of it.
Its always best to start them with an established dog or team as not all have that in built sense to pull
Give Terry from Celticwolf an email hes never failed yet with problem dogs and specialises in malamutes ;) http://www.alaskanmalamuteuk.co.uk/?p=p_22&sName=training-and-behaviour

Em x

My three stress heads ;) can't wait to take Tyson for a leg stretch
23449_309418201133_511216133_3598222_7756865_n.jpg
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Wow, what a kind offer, thank you! I'd love love LOVE to take you up on that, I certainly dont mind waiting.
I will email Terry now, thank you X
 
Re Bryony, I had very similar sounding problems with my dog, weepy ears, eyes, between his toes, belly, legs, sometimes he'd pull all his fur out and be left with a mohican of fur that he couldn't reach. Vet gave him ear cleaning lotions, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, steroids, antihistamines, evening primrose oil and skin scrapes, one time I went and there was a locum who suggested a hypoallergenic diet.

Since I've had him on a completely wheat free diet he's been pretty much skin problem free, apart from the odd occasion that he steals my Dad's pasty or a pack of jaffa cakes. Any change of diet will take 6 weeks to take effect but worth a go.
 
I have Chlo on Symply Turkey - she was on the Symply Salmon and Potato - I would ring Symply and talk to them about food for Bryony.

Huge hugs xx
 
Re dogs doing jobs . . . I really think if you can get Tyson doing the job he's "for" you might find the answer to his "issues". Like horses, I'd guess most dogs are perfectly capable of being flexible and living all sorts of lives but some purpose bred ones are not only better off doing the job they're bred for, they're almost impossible in every other circumstance. And often they are fantastic at the job so letting them do it is not only easier, it's positively humane.

As far as "giving up" . . .again, I know horses better than dogs but it's not that different. If you really find you cannot give him what he needs and you can steer him towards another life that would suit him better, that is NOT giving up, that's doing what's best for all of you under the circumstances you can control. Don't assume because he's struggling with you there isn't a situation to suit him. That's another good reason to take up the kind offers on this thread - you will meet people who know his type well and if, in the future, you cannot keep him for whatever reason, they can help you. Plus, he might turn out to be a superstar!

Re the skin condition, one of my dogs is gluten-intolerant and it takes the tiniest bit to set her off. She not had anything like the problems your dog has (although she's been on either raw or wheat free food by default since we got her anyway) but even a treat will start her chewing her tail, having problems with her glands, and having gastrointestinal problems. Even eating no other wheat it can take her a day or two to get back to normal.
 
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