Diet plays an important part of control of SLO. Supplementation with essential fatty acids at 180mg per 10 lbs of body weight, salmon oil is excellent. Plus vitamin e 400 iu 2 x daily. I assume your vet has started antibiotics? Hypo allergenic feed - fish based as the protein source, grain free if possible. Has your dog been thyroid tested? Poor dog, and you, but it is manageable.
No he has not been thyroid tested and they didn't suggest it. We did start on a three week course of a/b's but it didn't make any difference and the claws have shedded so much he only has two left now on his front paw.
I have got him some high strength fish oil capsules and canine cortaflex. He is on a low grain diet but can change this if need be. Any suggestions?
I did join a SLO forum for dogs but its so confusing. Poor boy is so sore on his feet and pads are cracked. It's impossible to take him for a walk as he is so lame.
Have you tried using boots on him? Like the ones the sledding folk put on their dogs to protect the feet.
Fatty acids, need to give at least 3 months to show a definate effect. You can "mix" the oils to include evening primrose and flax seed oils along with the salmon oil. Grain free fish based feed. ORIJEN is excellent, the best, but not cheap. zooplus.co.uk has the best deal on it and delivery is free over £19, and the are usually quick.
SLO in some circles will have a differential diagnosis and be seen as a secondary systemic disease to hypothyroidism (auto immune thryroiditis); hyperadrenocortism, or diabeties mellitus. So as a cheapish test it may be worth getting a thyroid profile done anyway.
OMG just checked price of the ORIJEN - £64.99 for 15kg. I have no doubt that it is fab but not sure I can afford that. Any other suggestions? Also any idea where I can find the sled boots from?