[silent watcher]

Hi! my 10-month pup is suffering from a skin disorder. He is always scratching his skin and licking too. I see some reddening all over his body and he is losing hair. Please see the attach pic. what will i do?

[GSDS4Life]

To me it sounds like an allergy. What brand of food are you feeding?

What has the vet said?

[Todd]

Someone in the past had the same issue. Here was my responce...

Sounds like it could be a few things. It could be an allergy such as an enviromental or food allergy causing your dog's ears to itch. Could also be fleas. Has your vet looked at this? If not I'd recommend going to the vet and having him or her take a look/take necessary tests. Meanwhile, here's some info I found online that could be the cause. You may want to suggests these to your vet as well;

In addition to allergies, there are other diseases which can cause your dog to scratch, lick, or pull on his hair. A short description of these conditions such as mange, cancer, behavioral problems, and infections, along with their diagnosis and treatment, are included in the table below. Many of the more uncommon conditions are listed as well. This large number of conditions helps you understand why a quick diagnosis may be difficult to make and various diagnostic tests may need to be performed. The most common conditions causing licking and scratching are color-coded gray in the table (some may be more common in certain geographical areas).



Condition Description
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Acanthosis nigricans Inherited form seen in Dachshunds; secondary form caused by friction, hormonal abnormalities, or hypersensitivities Darkening of the skin; in secondary form see scratching and hair loss History, physical exam; in secondary form, testing to determine underlying cause Primary: No treatment; Secondary: Treat underlying disease; in some cases, steroids and Vitamin E supplementation

Acral lick dermatitis (neurodermatitis)
Self-licking in dogs results in self-trauma; possible causes include anxiety, boredom, stress (e.g., new member in household); licking can develop into an

obsessive behavior
Red, hairless, well-circumscribed, sometimes raised lesion usually on the leg; if chronic, will drain
Exclude other causes; history important
Relieve underlying cause e.g., anxiety; restrict licking, e.g., Elizabethan collar; behavior modifying medication may be necessary

Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis
An allergic reaction following exposure to antibiotics applied to the skin; metals such as nickel; materials such as rubber, wool, and plastic; and chemicals such as dyes and carpet deodorizers; or inflammation caused by irritating substances such as poison ivy. Generally requires multiple exposures.
Red skin and small bumps or blisters on the areas of skin that are sparsely haired and directly exposed to the offending substance; itching; hair loss in chronic conditions

Patch test, exclusion trials
Restrict exposure to the allergen or contact irritant in the dog's environment; steroids, antihistamines

Atopy (allergic inhalant dermatitis)
Allergic reaction to something airborne, such as pollen, house dust mites, and mold
Licking of feet, inflamed ears, itching, redness, and hair loss; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Intradermal or serologic (blood) testing for allergies
Reduce exposure to allergen (what the dog is allergic to); steroids, fatty acid supplements, biotin, antihistamines, shampoos, or immunotherapy

Bacterial infection (pyoderma)

See Folliculitis, Staph hypersensitivity
Often occurs as a result of another condition such as a parasite, allergic, or hormonal condition

Bee, wasp, hornet stings Skin reactions can vary dramatically in severity Immediately after the bite, see swelling, redness, pain, possibly itching; subsequently may develop extensive ulcers with draining; may develop hives or anaphylaxis History, physical exam Antihistamines, steroids; wet dressings, if ulcerated; protect the area from self-inflicted trauma
Calcinosis cutis Mineralization of the skin usually due to an excess of corticosteroids; also rarely occurs in kidney failure, or in granulomas and tumors Hard nodules and papules usually on the back, groin, or axilla ulcerate, drain, and develop crusts; severe itching; may become infected; often see other signs of Cushing's disease Skin scrapings, biopsy, history, and other clinical signs, adrenal gland function tests If due to glandular tumors, selegiline, o,p-DDD (Mitotane), or surgical removal of tumor; if due to high steroid doses, withdraw use of steroids slowly

Cheyletiella (rabbit fur mite) mange
Infection with the Cheyletiella mite
Itching, scaliness; some hair loss, if severe
Skin scraping and microscopic examination - the mite is often very difficult to find Pyrethrin, Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Chiggers (harvest mites)
Seasonal disease caused by larvae of the chigger
Itching, bumps usually on feet, abdomen, folds at base of ears
Visualization of mite larvae or microscopic examination of skin scraping
Pyrethrin, Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Demodectic mange(red mange, puppy mange)
Infection with the Demodex mite - occurs when the immune system is deficient
Hair loss, scaliness, redness, pustules, ulcers, sometimes itching, darkening of the skin
Skin scraping and microscopic examination
NO Steroids

Amitraz (Mitaban) dips

Drug or injection reaction Rare skin reaction to a drug which is inhaled, given orally, or applied topically; more common with penicillins, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins; usually occurs within 2 weeks of giving the drug Can vary widely and may include itching, hair loss, redness, swelling, papules, crusts, ulcers, and draining wounds History of being treated with a drug, symptoms, biopsy Discontinue offending drug; treat symptomatically

Ear mites
Infection with Otodectes
Intense itching of ears, redness, dark crumbly discharge in ears
Direct visual or microscopic examination of ear discharge
Clean ears and apply medication containing pyrethrin (Ear Miticide)

Epitheliotropic lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) Rare cancer of T lymphocytes seen in older dogs Can take multiple forms: redness with itching and scale; ulcers and loss of pigment; one or more nodules; oral ulcers Needle or other biopsy Poor response to treatments, which include chemotherapy, surgical removal, retinoids, fatty acids
Flea allergy dermatitis (flea bite hypersensitivity)
Severe reaction by the animal to the saliva of the flea
Intense itching, redness, hair loss, papules, crusts, and scales; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Presence of fleas; reaction to intradermal testing
Flea control in the environment and on the dog; steroids and antihistamines for the itching

Folliculitis Infection of the hair follicles, often with staph bacteria; symptoms usually appear on skin with less hair, such as the abdomen (belly) Pustules form in follicles and break open to form 'bull's-eye,' 'annular,' and 'target lesions,' which have crusty centers and red or darkening on the periphery, and 'epidermal collarettes,' which appear as rings of scaly skin; itching may occur; short-coated breeds may develop small tufts of hair which are lost; breeds with long coats may have seborrhea Skin scraping; culture; biopsy Antibiotics for at least 4 weeks - continue antibiotics 10 days beyond the apparent cure; if recurs, look for underlying problem such as allergy or hormonal imbalance

Food Allergies
Allergic reaction to something in the diet
Licking of feet, inflamed ears, itching, redness, and hair loss; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Food elimination trials
Change in diet

Hookworms
Infection with the larvae (immature forms) of hookworms
Red bumps, usually on feet, rough foot pads, abnormal nail growth, itching
Physical exam, history of poor sanitation
Treat for intestinal infection; move dog to different environment

Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis)
Result from allergies, flea bites, mange, anal gland disease, poor grooming, ear infections, plant awns or burrs, arthritis
Hair loss; red, moist, oozing skin; constant licking or scratching
Physical exam and history
Treat underlying condition; clean area; apply Domeboro solution; topical and/or oral antibiotics and steroids

Lice
Infection with several species of lice
Variable; itching, hair loss, crusts, rough hair coat
Finding lice or nits on skin or hair
Pyrethrin, ivermectin (off-label use*), Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Lymphoma
Common cancer in dogs; can involve the skin
Itching, ulcers, nodules, redness
Biopsy
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation; lymphoma of the skin does not usually respond to treatment as well as other lymphomas

Malassezia
Usually follows some other underlying disease
Itching, redness, hair loss, greasy scales; if chronic, develop

hyperpigmentation
Skin scraping/smear and microscopic examination, culture
Treat underlying disease; oral ketoconazole; miconazole shampoos

Here is another thread where someone had this issue and I gave some advice and other people gave some great advice too...

Itchy dog

[silent watcher]

its too tough to tell the specific condition of my dog. the symptoms are all the same, itchyness, reddening, licking, hair loss. i just cant take my dog to the vet immediately coz i dont have money, im still looking for a job.
i hear they say that fish, shrimp, and raw egss are the causes of this disease. is it true???

[Todd]

Originally Posted by silent watcher

its too tough to tell the specific condition of my dog. the symptoms are all the same, itchyness, reddening, licking, hair loss. i just cant take my dog to the vet immediately coz i dont have money, im still looking for a job.
i hear they say that fish, shrimp, and raw egss are the causes of this disease. is it true???

What disease?

[GSDS4Life]

Originally Posted by silent watcher

its too tough to tell the specific condition of my dog. the symptoms are all the same, itchyness, reddening, licking, hair loss. i just cant take my dog to the vet immediately coz i dont have money, im still looking for a job.
i hear they say that fish, shrimp, and raw egss are the causes of this disease. is it true???

Unfortunately the only way you will know what's going on with your dog is a vet. As we are not vets, we can't diagnose. Is there anyway a family member can help you financially?

I too would like to know what disease you are talking about.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by silent watcher

its too tough to tell the specific condition of my dog. the symptoms are all the same, itchyness, reddening, licking, hair loss. i just cant take my dog to the vet immediately coz i dont have money, im still looking for a job.
i hear they say that fish, shrimp, and raw egss are the causes of this disease. is it true???

Actually fish oil itself is given to promote healthy coat and skin so most likely fish is not a problem less it be that the dog is allergic to it. The other option here is the dog is allergic to fleas. Much of what you describe is also the common reaction to dogs as well as cats who allergic to fleas. It only takes one bite for them to go off with the symptoms you are describing. Even if you find no fleas on them does not mean there was one that started the episode. But as noted, until you get the dog to a vet it is strictly guess work. Good luck.
In the interim check you local pet store for shampoos designed to alleviate itchy skin. This may at least offer the dog some comfort.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Actually fish oil itself is given to promote healthy coat and skin so most likely fish is not a problem less it be that the dog is allergic to it. The other option here is the dog is allergic to fleas. Much of what you describe is also the common reaction to dogs as well as cats who allergic to fleas. It only takes one bite for them to go off with the symptoms you are describing. Even if you find no fleas on them does not mean there was one that started the episode. But as noted, until you get the dog to a vet it is strictly guess work. Good luck.
In the interim check you local pet store for shampoos designed to alleviate itchy skin. This may at least offer the dog some comfort.

Ah yes. Good catch. I mentioned flea allergy above. very common, especially around this time of year when things are warming up...

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by silent watcher

its too tough to tell the specific condition of my dog. the symptoms are all the same, itchyness, reddening, licking, hair loss. i just cant take my dog to the vet immediately coz i dont have money, im still looking for a job.
i hear they say that fish, shrimp, and raw egss are the causes of this disease. is it true???

I doubt that fish or eggs are causing this problem---suppose to be good for the skin and coat! As all the answers you have received on this means it could be a lot of things-- I am just going to add this that I had copied before from the net for a thread I did on vinegar. I may have directed you to this thread before for help with something---Vinegar is good for many things! Here is a part pertaining to itching: ACV (apple cider vinegar) is credited with killing bacteria outright. . . .” Depending on the size of the dog, add 1/4 teaspoon (toy dogs) to 3 tablespoons (dogs over 50 lbs) total per day to their meals. Itchy skin is a sign that the skin is too alkaline in nature. Fleas and ticks do not find acidic skin desirable to live on, hence the importance of maintaining a slightly acidic body (for dogs, the normal pH range is 6.2-6.5). You can use straight ACV as an after-bath rinse; before going out into the country; and on beginning hot spots. If the skin is already broken, dilute the ACV 1:1 with water and spray it on the coat.

ANOTHER PARAGRAPH from same article: "...If your dog has itchy skin, the beginnings of a hot spot, incessantly washes its feet, has smelly ears, or is picky about his food, the application of ACV may change things around. For poor appetite, use it in the food - 1 tablespoon, two times a day for a 50 lb. dog. For itchy skin or beginning hot spots, put ACV into a spray bottle, part the hair and spray on. Any skin eruption will dry up in 24 hours and will save you having to shave the dog. If the skin is already broken, dilute ACV with an equal amount of water and spray on.

Taken internally, ACV is credited with maintaining the acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract. To check your dog's pH balance, pick up some pH strips at the drug store, and first thing in the morning test the dog's urine. If it reads anywhere from 6.2 - 6.5, your dog's system is exactly where it should be. If it is 7.5 or higher, the diet you are feeding is too alkaline, and ACV will re-establish the correct balance.

Yet another paragraph: ACV is the natural king of skin remedies. It is wonderful for itching and scratching pets as well as a superb skin and hair conditioner. Good old apple cider vinegar either straight or diluted 50/50 with water can be applied directly to the affected area and allowed to dry. It will eliminate dandruff, rejuvenate hair, skin and help sweeten and balance the pH levels in the body. When giving your pet a bath, shampoo, rinse, then apply ACV either straight or diluted, followed by rinsing with water. Notice, any residue shampoo will be washed out and you will feel and see an increased softness and sheen to the coat. It can be followed with a conditioner of your choice. Taken internally will help the body against arthritis, itching, obesity, bad odor, dry skin, joint problems, lack luster hair and weak immune system. Average dosage for a dog or person is 1/2 oz morning and 1/2 oz. evening. A cat is half that dose. Can be diluted fifty fifty with water, dripped on food. Finicky pets try tiny doses then work up to suggested amount.

Here is the link to the whole thread (may be more/other info there-read entire thread): What About Vinegar!!

[silent watcher]

this is exactly what i need, corky. thanks!!!