Sudocrem/Atopica

[CorvusCorax]

Ooh, I am busy on here tonight

Right, it appears I am back on the allergy merry-go-round again

I have in the past used aloe vera gel to take the heat out of B's itchyness but some friends have recommended Sudocrem as it dries, whereas aloe vera tends to stay wet? And his allergy is a very 'damp' greasy one
Anyone used it with any success?

Also, Atopica users, is it worth it? Does it have any long-term implications?

Cheers!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I find Sudocrem quite greasy. Have you considered silver spray? Effol balm is meant to be amazing or maybe an actual aloe leaf? Stinky but worth it.

There's another cream with rave reviews for itchy/irritate skin. Will go find link.

This one:
http://www.aromesse.com/skin-proble...dermacton-cream-spray-shampoo-dog-canine.html

Same site, silver spray, have heard great things about it from others:
http://www.aromesse.com/skin-problem/Colloidal_Silver_Spray.html

Sorry, know nothing about Atopica.

 

[lq22]

Sudocrem is a good barrier, antiseptic cream that dries out the skin rather than leaving it moist. I think it should help, it's worth a try because the most harm it is likely to do if it doesn't help is dry out the skin and if it is licked off (as long as it's not gallons of it!) it won't do any harm.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

[CorvusCorax]

It's the dryness I want as he never seems to get truly dry

Thanks CT, I will see how we get on with the Sudocrem and if there is no improvement I will try those.

Not sure what is going on, my mum bought him the wrong type of food but it should have worked itself out of his system by now?
My fear is that he is developing a resistance to the Piriton or the food he is on....that dog is a bloody heartbreaker.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Have you thougth of Derma Gel ? they do a spray as well and its non toxic, we all use it on our horses, you can use it on other animals too

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=DERMA+GEL+SPRAY&meta=

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=DERMA+GEL&meta=

 

[CAYLA]

Is it hot spots he has? as in the hot spots look like he just rolled in baby oil?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yeah, the usual places, throat, belly, under arms, under thighs but they are all going to join up eventually

 

[clashnoir]

Got a lab with this too. Just as you think its seasonal it flares up again.
Possibly food but flares up even on the special diet.

I've had great success with this http://www.karenruggles.co.uk/

Also find pilchards once a day is beneficial.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Thanks, this has been going on, off, on again for about three years, I think I have it cracked and then it starts again, thanks to you and Noisygirl for links x
He was terrible the Christmas before last, then fine last year, he was grand all summer?! And we've had less trees this year, a lot were felled.

 

[clashnoir]

I hate using chems but have started him on Advocate monthly so will see if it flares up but he's scratching all the time.
I fine Piriton (chlorphenamine) seems to ease it a bit too.

 

[CorvusCorax]

He's on four Piriton a day already, has been for a long while
Will probably have to go back on a blast of strong anti-biotics and the vet will give me a hard time for letting things slide *sigh*

 

[clashnoir]

Did you get any tests done?
I spoke to our new vet the other day and she could do bloods etc and quoted £180 so going to juggle finances and try and get it done.
Another vet (changed practice) asked if he was insured and when I said no he said it would cost too much.

 

[clashnoir]

He's on four Piriton a day already, has been for a long while
Will probably have to go back on a blast of strong anti-biotics and the vet will give me a hard time for letting things slide *sigh*

Other anti histamines can be used too.

 

[CorvusCorax]

It's been narrowed down to tree pollen, food allergies (high levels of protein, and raw sends him off the scale) and the bacteria on his own skin.
He lives in as sterile as an environment as he can do, but we are surrounded with pine trees. He is fine in boarding kennels (arable area, no trees).
In fairness this vet is very good (again, we changed because initial vet was rubbish) but am going to look for a third opinion if this does not clear up soon, I am beginning to fear once again that it is something internal.

 

[clashnoir]

What tests did they do to find all that out.
Mac only started this when we moved house. It will be 2 1/2 years. Seems to die down in winter but tried him indoors one year on paper bedding and shavings and he was as bad skin wise. I wondered about dust/wood/mites.
Only seems to be his chest and arm pits are the worse.
I know how you feel as its horrible seeing them like this.

 

[CorvusCorax]

We never actually did the tests because like yours he was ininsured and no one would insure him now. Under the vet's guidance we used elimination techniques (see sending him to boarding kennels!) trying different diets and monitoring the success of different treatments to narrow it down. Kennel gets powerwashed, minimal bedding, all that jazz.
It's a chuffing nightmare!

 

[clashnoir]

I'm still none the bloomin wiser, thought it was the dreaded Scottish midges but it can flare up in winter too.
Going to try the tests and hope something conclusive comes back.
Good luck with him.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Thanks, you too x

 

[Dobiegirl]

If this was my dog I would explore the herbal route and ring someone like Stephen Ashdown at Global Herbs, he is a vet and I have used his products to good effect and Stephen has always been very helpful. You could also try http://www.dorwest.com/ who I used for my old brown Dobe who had a very poor coat when I got him first and it improved no end. They do lots of products and is worth checking out.

I would be wanting to boost his immune system and always found herbs very beneficial, you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Been there too, have friends who are herballists, his immune system is at tipping point I should think.
Lots of supplements, sulphur in his water, and Bionic Biotic from Pooch & Mutt...

 

[paisley]

Probably going to make myself look stoopid, but with horses Sudocreme did seem to make skin 'hot spots' worse sometimes.

Now the skinny mongrel had ouchy stung paws after a walk(suspect some mucking about in nettles). I slapped a load of this on before the inevitable vet visit: http://www.petsathome.com/shop/itchstick-for-cats-and-dogs-by-petkin-29327

The active ingrediant is benzocaine, with other things like aloe vera and witch hazel, and it seemed to soothe the ouchiness in about 15 mins. It looks like next to useless for yours but I'm guessing anything just to stop a bit of discomfort?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Thanks I know it isn't a cure I just want to take the heat out of it/make him a bit more comfortable.

 

[CAYLA]

My shepherd used to get them, I lost her to an autoimmune disorder.
Regan has had 2 lots of hot sports on her face/cheek (really bad) the 2nd flared up a few weeks ago, I always clip the hair down the bald and hibi scrub the area daily and towel dry then put fuciderm on (take the itchiness away) it dries up almost immediately, I then place a hood on her for a day or so or socks on her back feet to stop her self mutilating, it literally cleared in a week, shaving off the hair in the area is definately the rapid healing factor as the hair is what keeps the greasa a surface.

 

[CorvusCorax]

The vet said he has never seen a shorthaired GSD with so much/such a dense coat as you say, it does not help. I also have Fuciderm in my armory!!!
He was bathed again with Malaseb and Paxcutol yesterday and took a lot of hair out today with the Furminator.
Dunno about leaving anything on him unattended?

 

[CAYLA]

I see what you mean re leaving him with a hood on in the kennel, if you can though I would recommend buying a cheap pair of clippers and taken the hair right down to the skin, you will be amazed how much quicker it dries out even without creams, I used to bath my shepherd in malaseb hibi scrub the hot spots, but I would always shave her to the bone in those areas.... literally.
With regans I only had a 10 blade and even that did not get it right down to where I wanted it and it was still greasy so used to surgical 40 blade at work and it was literally dried out the next day.

 

[Archiepoo]

Hi was just wondering if youd ever looked into flowers of sulphur? its ment to be fantastic with itchy skin and you can put it in their food or dust it onto them-have a look http://www.morganhorse.co.uk/care/flowers-of-sulphur

 

[CorvusCorax]

He has sulphur in his water bowl x
Cayla, might get the groomers to do it, they are based at our usual boarding kennel so know how to work with sheps!

 

[CAYLA]

Certainly, just as an experiment this time stay with him and pin him down for them and get them to shave each individual spot down to the skin with their shortest blade, then hibi scrub the areas when you get home towel dry and either cream/fuciderm is really good for the itchiness (I actually use it on my skin when needed) the worst part is obs they lick the area afterwards/scratch but even taking the hair off stops the constant wet/grease so therefor dries it out.
Asoon as I see a hot spot, I reach for the clippers.
If you find the hair off works better then buy yourself a cheapie pair.

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

I would treat like wet eczema. As Sudocreme is a barrier cream, I wouldn't use it. I would allow the 'air' to get to it and dry and use an anti-itch cream like Eurax.

 

[CorvusCorax]

He's gonna need a number one!!!