David Lock

Grateful for comments/advice on problem with our 7-year old Golden Retriever, Fern. She has had a very poor quality skin that has got worse over the last couple of years - she would scratch and scratch and end breaking her skin. Cutting a long story short we took her to a vet who specialised in this area and he shaved off a patch on her side and took some skin allergy tests. This was last October. She is now on a mild dose of steroids that keep the condition in check. She had suffered some hair loss but that has now grown back except the shaven patch area that remains bald and unsightly. Now I know that steroids will inhibit hair growth but her hair has re-grown elsewhere so why hasn’t it grown back on the test patch? I wonder if the vet overdid the shaving bit and tore out the hair follicles which will mean she will be like this for life. Anyone know if this is possible and any thoughts on what we can do short of taking the Elton John treatment route? Thanks, David.

Cupramax

Sounds very similar to skin problems my Collie had. Cant say we had any issue with his fur growing back though after the tests. I would guess any problems would be caused by the skin scrape itself not the removing of the fur as vets just use electric clippers. Best thing we've found for irritation is regular baths with Teatree shampoo (not easy with a Retreiver, I know, I used to have one )

Toonman1

Hi

We had a similar problem with our Yellow Lab Patsy (now sadly deceased).

She was fine until she was about 7 and then started scratching. We tried several vets to no avail. They tried all sorts and she had a skin biopsy. Then a client recommended a book - The Fragrant Pharmacy by Victoria Wormwood. We put her onto Sulphur pills and changed her feed to a dry type - Lamb and Rice kibble. Within 3 weeks, the skin had cleared and the hair was growing back where they'd done the biopsy. We also put her onto Arnica to help with her hips, and she certainly moved easier, and seemed to tire less.

Sam our Black Lab has been on all of these pills and feed since we got him, and despite bad hips, is doing fine.

I hope this helps and you get things sorted soon.

Take care

Mike

Toonman1

Hi Max

How're you doing?

Cheers

Mike

Cupramax

Hi Mike...

ragnarock2

Try the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet. The book I have on it says it can treat skin conditions, and I believe it helps with arthritis and such-like as well.
Google for cross keys books, they have a few books on the subject of BARF.

David Lock

Thanks guys. Some new ideas there but still wondering why that test patch is still bare..... D

Toonman1

Not sure David, but it was slow growth for our Lab; seemed to take ages.

Cheers

Coopz

hi same as the other's really, my collie cross had the same started when i moved house, vets have never actually said what the allergy is - i think it must be some sort of pollen / grass seed local to the area we live in. Her fur did grow back but it took about 3 months to even start to show. She's also allergic to flea bites and gets what they call wet ecezma, a dog allergic to flea bites is not fun in the summer!!

The other suggestions of change of diet etc improved things for her a bit although i've not tried all the diets on here but will be!

Hope he/she improves and the only thing to compensate is that in this heat he/she might be gratefull of a bit less fur !!

stevewrxwagon

Hi,
What do you feed her? Also, have you ever used Febreze or similar?

Redkop

David have you asked your Vet why the hair hasn't grown back?

David Lock

Haven't tried Febreze. She's on gluten free stuff like Lamb Rice Kibble as has been mentioned and Butchers. Even take great care of her bedding etc as even washing powders can cause allergy problems. According to vet most common allergic problems caused by house dust and/or house mites and, of course, various grass pollens. She shares quarters with two Cavaliers who have never had a problem (and I don't think causing hers!). Have been back to vet several times but nothing very positive but wanted to get opinions on here about hair not growing back before returning to vet and being a little more assertive about bald patch and if he knew this might be a problem why did he shave her on her side rather than somewhere less obvious. However at the end of the day it is Fern's health that we are trying to get sorted. Thanks for interest from those that have posted. D

Diablo

David, I'd see another vet and get a second opinion on the bald patch.

But remember dog's hair grows more slowly than ours.

D

Adrian F

I have had allegy problems with My Springer since she was a puppy and the first vet treated it with Steriods at the age of 7 months! with out explaining the possable implications for use at that age i eventually changed vets after 5 months with little actual progress and wished i had done it for my previous dog. the new vet suggested Evening primrose oil capsules which she has once a day and these help when the problem is not to pronunced. when it gets worse at certain times of the year she gets anti-histamines as well this treat ment seems to keep the itching down to an acceptable level for her. She is also on a dried dog food Called Nutro's which is GM free as well. the dog food uk supplier was very help full when we approached them with advice for the skin problems as well. She has suffered permant hair loss in a few area,s where she washed her self so much the fur doesn't want to grow back but these are not visible so don't worry me. my vet also suggested where she scratched her self a lot to bath it in tepid salt water as this should help ease the irritation and also is a mild antisceptic.

I hope this all helps.

RobinSherwood

A friend of ours had a similar problem with their Great Dane after an operation. The hair didn't grow back where the vet had shaved away to make the incision after 6 months.

We gave them one of our old ultrasonic machines that we had upgraded and was no longer using on people

Hair grew back in 4-6 weeks as ultrasound stimulates the follicles and improves blood flow in the area. Also give 'treats' like jelly babies made of gelatine.

Robin

Redkop

I had a German Shepherd bitch that used to have these skin problems on her hind-quarters, I used to give her Evening Primrose too and at the first sign of her scratching or chewing herself - I used to spray the affected area with 'Dermacool' which is available from a Vets.

PG

I dont think it was a suggestion for treatment.....unless Fern pongs a bit

Joking aside, One of my Boxers has a skin condition and she is on Prednisolone 5mg and will be for the rest of her days.
It is dust mites she is alergic to and she has had various skin tests and ops and it has taken a considerable length of time for the hair to grow back but nowhere near the length of time you are talking of !

2nd opinion time if you ask me !!

PG

BTW
Remember vets are only amimal GP's
Is Fern insured ? If so skin specialist time perhaps ?

David Lock

I think I had better find out what Febreze is then!

And then source an ultrasound unit - thanks for that tip.

I will go back to our original vet and have a chat. He was the one who referred Fern to his pal who is the skin specialist. Not insured now as we stopped after they had gone through the puppy period when hip problems etc might have shown up. With 3 dogs we decided to take a chance knowing that we could get caught out. Last time I looked it was around £120/£150 pa per dog?

Just received a junk e-mail entitled "Restore hair loss and colour" - very tempted Thanks BTW. D

PG

you learn something new everyday

beemerboy

on a roll now!! LOL
BB

RobinSherwood

We have a couple of old units we lend out to friends for 'unusual' purposes mail me as per my profile and if we have one going spare you can willingly give it a go (sadly usual disclaimers have to apply!). We have none of our old machines (that we no longer use to treat human patiens) available at this moment but the situation changes week to week.

kInd regards

Robin

PS Happy to give any informal advice if you find another ultrasound unit to use in the meantime

David Lock

Robin - you are a star. Thanks a lot, YHM.

I was wondering what you used ultrasound for but your profile rather gives it away! Could have used you in my rugby days

Just when I thought I was going to have to try bloody Optimax
D