Dry irritated skin - should I change food?

King James · 11-07-2011, 12:35 AM

Rocky's skin and hair has become real dry and irritated. He is constantly scratching. The vet has me giving him omega-3 and benadryl. She also has me givin g him baths with a special shampoo. I've been doing that for about 3 weeks now with no good changes. Seems like it might be getting worse.

He's been eating Wellness super5mix since June. His stools have been fine. The trainer I've been taking him to mentioned Natural Balance. Should I try that or something else? Any other opinions?

I also have another question rather than start another topic. Should I have him checked out for drinking and urinating a lot? He drinks a LOT of water. I'm sure the urinating a lot has to do with drinking a lot. Not sure why he drinks so much though.

sharkey19 · 11-07-2011, 01:54 AM

If you want to look into switching diets, you should look at protein and grain sources, not just brand. It is often the protein source that causes the allergy, so if the main protein in the diet you are using now is, for example, chicken, try to find a diet without chicken.

With regards to the drinking and urinating, how old is your dog? Has he always done this, or is this different than usual?

sable123 · 11-07-2011, 08:31 AM

50/50 this is diet related. However the two best foods for this I have ever seen are Verus Opticoat and Annamaet Option.

I am not a big fan of Wellness.

robinhuerta · 11-07-2011, 09:18 AM

Not a fan of Wellness either....
Sounds like an allergy to me.....your vet should check for allergies.

King James · 11-08-2011, 12:14 PM

The constant drinking seems like it might be getting a little worse. Wish I could say for sure. I am going to make another vet visit though. I also forgot to mention that he has bad gas. You can't hear it but it smeels horrible. He tail isn't very "bushy" either. That just might be taking a little longer than normal though.

BlackGSD · 11-08-2011, 12:52 PM

When you say he drinks "a lot", exactly how much is that? Have you ever measured out his water to see how much he is drinking?

sable123 · 11-08-2011, 01:44 PM

are his feet raw like in the picture? did the vet do a zinc test? how is his nose leather? and the skin around the eyes?

King James · 11-10-2011, 10:32 PM

The vet put him on hydroxyzine pamoate for a couple weeks. She also said to change his food over to something with lamb. Any particular one I should try? She also said his water intake seems normal from what I told her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackGSD

When you say he drinks "a lot", exactly how much is that? Have you ever measured out his water to see how much he is drinking?

I'd have to say it is around 3 to 4 quarts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sable123

are his feet raw like in the picture? did the vet do a zinc test? how is his nose leather? and the skin around the eyes?

I wouldn't say his feet are raw and they look the same as the picture. A zinc test has not been done. His nose is fine. I'll have to look at the skin around his eyes.

sable123 · 11-13-2011, 10:07 AM

If you are going to use a lamb food then be prepared to spend money if you want a decent one. You can also try pork, turkey or duck.

I don't think anyone really knows how much water is optimal. It depends on a lot of variables, but when does the dog drink the most? Is it 60-90 minutes after eating? In the middle of the night?

The pattern on the feet is curious. Is it symmetric?

BlackGSD · 11-13-2011, 10:20 AM

Sable,

Looks like a totally normal sable puppy foot to me.

11-07-2011, 12:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
King James Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 79	Dry irritated skin - should I change food? Rocky's skin and hair has become real dry and irritated. He is constantly scratching. The vet has me giving him omega-3 and benadryl. She also has me givin g him baths with a special shampoo. I've been doing that for about 3 weeks now with no good changes. Seems like it might be getting worse. He's been eating Wellness super5mix since June. His stools have been fine. The trainer I've been taking him to mentioned Natural Balance. Should I try that or something else? Any other opinions? I also have another question rather than start another topic. Should I have him checked out for drinking and urinating a lot? He drinks a LOT of water. I'm sure the urinating a lot has to do with drinking a lot. Not sure why he drinks so much though. __________________ Rocky - Sable GSD - 4/3/11

11-07-2011, 09:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,224	Not a fan of Wellness either.... Sounds like an allergy to me.....your vet should check for allergies. __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

11-08-2011, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
King James Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 79	The constant drinking seems like it might be getting a little worse. Wish I could say for sure. I am going to make another vet visit though. I also forgot to mention that he has bad gas. You can't hear it but it smeels horrible. He tail isn't very "bushy" either. That just might be taking a little longer than normal though. __________________ Rocky - Sable GSD - 4/3/11

11-08-2011, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,795	When you say he drinks "a lot", exactly how much is that? Have you ever measured out his water to see how much he is drinking? __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

11-13-2011, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
sable123 Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,233	If you are going to use a lamb food then be prepared to spend money if you want a decent one. You can also try pork, turkey or duck. I don't think anyone really knows how much water is optimal. It depends on a lot of variables, but when does the dog drink the most? Is it 60-90 minutes after eating? In the middle of the night? The pattern on the feet is curious. Is it symmetric? Last edited by sable123; 11-13-2011 at 10:10 AM.

11-07-2011, 01:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
sharkey19 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Guelph Posts: 321	If you want to look into switching diets, you should look at protein and grain sources, not just brand. It is often the protein source that causes the allergy, so if the main protein in the diet you are using now is, for example, chicken, try to find a diet without chicken. With regards to the drinking and urinating, how old is your dog? Has he always done this, or is this different than usual?

11-07-2011, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
sable123 Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,233	50/50 this is diet related. However the two best foods for this I have ever seen are Verus Opticoat and Annamaet Option. I am not a big fan of Wellness.

11-08-2011, 01:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
sable123 Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,233	are his feet raw like in the picture? did the vet do a zinc test? how is his nose leather? and the skin around the eyes?

11-13-2011, 10:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,795	Sable, Looks like a totally normal sable puppy foot to me. __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

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