Itchy, sore skin

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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My spaniel keeps getting patches of very itchy, sore skin on the lower part of his back. I can clear the sores up with hibiscrub and intracite gel but I am obviously not getting to the root of the problem as they keep reappearing.

Yesterday I noticed another small patch appear and overnight he has turned it into a huge weeping sore by constantly scratching and licking it.

I don't think its a type of excema (sp?) because he doesn't get dry skin but someone has suggested gorse poisoning, but I don't think its that either because this usually starts with small scabby patches particularly around the face. He has had this before and it was cleared up with Anti B's.

At first I thought he needed worming, which I did and it cleared up only to reappear soon after.

He is fed Chudleigh's working crunch which he has always had, so no change in diet.

I am at a bit of a loss really - any ideas?
 
My last dog had a recurrent skin problem with itchy scaly patches, mostly on her tummy and ears. Her ear got scratched raw. We went back to the vet countless times and got given Malaseb shampoo as they seemed to think it was some sort of eczema, but it just got worse.

In the end we asked to see the top vet in the practice and he took one look and said, "have you got foxes in your garden?" Yes "Are they a bit moth-eaten?" Yes (I had seen a visiting fox with no hair on its tail). The vet said my dog had mange from the foxes in the garden. She was given Stronghold drops, and it cleared up immediately, after a whole year of misdiagnosis.

I'm not saying that's what your dog has got, but it's a possibility.
 
is the food you are feeding high in protein? A high protein feed can cause itching, and subsequently , sores? As it is a 'working dog' mix you are feeding, it may be quite high in protein.
 
BM - I hadn't considered mange, but there are very foxes in our area (heavily keepered!) and I think this is contagious. My spaniel shares his kennel with my lab and he has never shown any signs of this skin complaint.

HS: This is a high protein food but he is a working spaniel, out of season he is kept very busy also. Dr John's silver has a lower protein but I don't really like it. I am not sure what else I could feed him - open to suggestions here. I much perfer a kibble and I feel it has to be for a working dog but they are all high in protein. I realise that the BARF diet is probably the best but the logistics of feeding this is a nightmare!!! And before anyone suggests James Wellbeloved - I am not paying £30 for a bag of food!!!!

I do wonder though if you are on the right lines and that this is a food related problem but doesn't too much protein make them come out in lumps?
 
You could try sulphur tablets; they work a treat for our old Border who has the same sort of thing. I get ours from the herbal counter at the chemist and just give one a day wrapped in cheese - he adores cheese! I only tend to use them when he needs them as it's the only thing to have worked for him and I don't want him becoming immune to them. You can also get rock sulphur from the pet shop and put a lump in their drinking water. Old wives tale is it cools the blood and is good for the skin, as it seems to work for Ben, I'm not arguing!
 
Thanks P - I have never heard of that but will certainly give it a try. Its funny you say it cools the blood - my friend said he must be a bit hot blooded when I showed her!
 
If you haven't changed the food, I doubt it is that, but FYI we sell probably double the amount of Field and Trial Crunchy in the shooting season than Chudleys Crunch or Mix, so if you're looking for a change, F & T are good at a sensible price.

Our ESS bitch got some bald patches on her flanks last summer and going into winter, we finally diagnosed it to be her greediness, as she was robbing the chickens layers pellets!
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you haven't changed the food, I doubt it is that, but FYI we sell probably double the amount of Field and Trial Crunchy in the shooting season than Chudleys Crunch or Mix, so if you're looking for a change, F & T are good at a sensible price.

Our ESS bitch got some bald patches on her flanks last summer and going into winter, we finally diagnosed it to be her greediness, as she was robbing the chickens layers pellets!

[/ QUOTE ]

I was hoping you would answer as I know you are clued up with dog food!!!

I will get a bag of F&T next time and see how we go - off the top of you head, can you recall the protein %?
 
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