My dog has bad skin and is chewing her legs raw...why?

Question

Her skin is flakey and red patches on it. She chews her legs until they are bleeding. We have been told she might have an allergy to food or grass. Allergy dog food is expensive and it is hard to keep her off the grass. Anybody with input will be helpful. She is 11 years old also.

Answer 1

The most common reasons for skin issues (i.e. itching, skin irritation, hair loss, etc.) include:



- Allergic reactions to flea bites, food/treats, grooming or house-cleaning products, etc.

- Mites

- Fungal/Bacterial infections (ringworm, yeast, staph etc.)

- Steroid use (also called prednisone, cortisone or the so-called 'allergy shot')



Scratching opens the door to skin infections. See remedy below.



ALLERGIES



For sensitive dogs just one flea can cause havoc. Even if not visible, you can always see the debris fleas leave behind that looks like finely ground coffee. If placed in water, they will turn red.



You can get rid of the fleas with natural methods to avoid exposure to the toxic chemicals of Frontline, Advantage and other popular flea medications which will cause harm sooner or later. For recommendations see http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fleas-Naturally Also, you can dust your yard where your dog roams with inexpensive diatomaceous earth. For more info see http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-toxic-flea-control.html

and http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth_fleas.html



The dog's digestive system is not designed to handle grains well. Discontinue any food/treat with corn, wheat, etc. Get ones with no grains and with meat as a primary ingredient – chicken, lamb, salmon, etc. If possible, raw meat diet is best http://www.healthypetjournal.com/default.aspx?tabid=19116



Discontinue use of grooming or house cleaning products that can be allergens. For a while, use white vinegar as the cleaning agent for your floors, counters, etc. Vinegar has strong cleaning and antiseptic properties and the smell disappears quickly after use. See http://www.vinegarworkswonders.com/faqs.asp



MITES



Three types of mites attack dogs most often: demodectic (not contagious and may itch or not), sarcoptic (very contagious and extremely itchy) and cheyletiella (contagious and mildly itchy). This condition is known as mange. The typical symptoms of mange as the condition progresses include hair loss and scaly or crusty skin.



Avoid the medications most often prescribed by vets that contain toxic chemicals which will harm your dog sooner or later. These are Ivermectin (also known as Ivomec) and Amitraz (also known as Mitaban). Instead, I recommend the use of natural products. Search the Internet to find them. I prefer the spray type treatment which is effective, easy to use, and inexpensive that will kill the mites but is harmless to pets and humans. You can get it at http://www.florapetnaturals.com/online-store.html



STEROID USE



As Dr. Karen Becker, DVM states - "Steroids (also called prednisone, cortisone or the nondescript “allergy shot”) are the least optimal treatment choice, as they work by suppressing your pet’s immune system. Not only can steroids have a negative effect on your pet’s liver, adrenal glands and kidneys, but suppressing your pet’s immune system with steroids also allows for opportunistic yeast and bacteria to grow on your pet’s skin..." Please read the information below: 'Steroids The Great Pretender - Even Low Steroid Doses Can Be Trouble'.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/steroids.htm



Many vets assume that pet owners just want to see their pets get better at all cost and prescribe steroids knowing the risks. Steroids are very dangerous and do not cure anything, they just mask the symptoms temporarily but the underlying cause remains and result in undesirable health complications, including skin problems.



SKIN INFECTION REMEDY



For many skin issues I recommend a powder called 'Flowers of Sulfur' (also known as 'brimstone' or 'sublime sulfur').



This substance has been used for thousands of years to cure all kinds of skin ailments including fungal and bacterial infections and if there is itching, it will stop within a few days. Google it to learn more about its healing properties.



Even vets have forgotten about this wonderful and inexpensive remedy but fortunately you can still purchase it at your local pharmacy for very little money. You can also buy it online at http://www.pennherb.com/search?mv_session_id=eDEGJydw&mp=s&s=Sulfur%2C+USP+Grade



Flowers of sulfur is safe to apply to your pet's skin but take care not to inhale sulfur powder.



You can dust this powder and rub on your dog's skin OR mix it with an oil to rub on the skin. The dusting can easily be accomplished if you use a powdered sugar duster or an empty talcum powder bottle. Separate the hair as you go around dusting to expose the skin until you have covered it.



Alternatively, mix 1 tablespoon of flower of sulfur powder with 1/4 cup of Jojoba oil and put it in a bottle. Always shake to mix well before applying to the skin as it tends to separate. This method works well for smaller skin areas. You do not need to wear gloves as it is not toxic to humans either.

Answer 2

Dog Chewing Skin Raw

Answer 3

She likely has a food allergy. There are many different kinds of foods that should work for her. The vet prescribed "anti-allergy" food is crap and won't do anything, it is way overpriced for what you are getting.



Switching her food should help tremendously, even reversing all issues within a month.



Here are some options, some being less expensive then you would think:



- Natural Balance L.I.D Sweet Potato and Fish

- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon

- Wellness Core Ocean

- Wellness Core Wild Game

- Natural Balance L.I.D Sweet Potato and Venison

- Natural Balance L.I.D Sweet Potato and Bison

- Merrick Grain-Free Buffalo and Sweet Potato

- Merrick Grain-Free Pork and Sweet Potato

- Merrick Grain-Free Texas Beef and Sweet Potato

- Wellness Simple Diet Salmon and Potato

- Orijen Regional Red

- Orijen Six Fish

- Acana Ranchland

- Acana Pacifica

- Natures Variety Grain-Free Salmon Meal

- Natures Variety Grain-Free Lamb Meal

- Natures Variety Rawboost Venison Meal and Lamb Meal

- Natures Variety Grain-Free Rabbit Meal



*It is important that the food is grain and chicken free. These are the two most common allergies.



You can buy most of these at Petco, either online or in store. Also most can be bought at Petsmart or at any online pet store. Always do a slow switch when switching foods, over 10-14 days or longer. Some gas or soft poops are normal at first and should resolve in 2 weeks.



You can also add 500-1000 mg of wild fish oil to her food everyday or every other day. I buy in bulk at Costco, $15 from 360 capsules - so $15 worth last almost a whole year. (Crack the capsule into the food) This helps keep the skin soft and healthy as well as creating a shiny coat. You can also buy it at any vitamin store or pet store, usually a little more expensive.



Give the new food a try for a full month, if she still shows no improvement go to the vet for answers. However, I think the new food and wild fish oil will do the trick.

Answer 4

First, get a different vet. What moron throws up hands on a three year old dog? Was there any testing done? Any suggestions of finding the cause and eliminating it? Vigorous chewing is often caused by allergens. Think back to when the chewing began. Had the carpet been shampooed? Were new drapes installed? Was a fertilizer put down in the yard? Was her food changed? If you can't think of a thing that was new in the week or two before she began to yank fur, then we may be dealing with a food allergy that has built up over time. Does her food list any wheat, soy, or corn in the first five ingredients? Wheat is a common allergen. Go shopping in a food specialty store and find one without wheat. Switch your dog to that food and don't forget to check the ingredients on her treats. A lot of those have wheat also. Ask your new vet for a corticosteroid shot to block her urge to chew until the new food has a chance to work.

Answer 5

Some of the biggest allergy issues for dogs are chicken, corn, wheat, and sometimes rice. I would recommend you to try to find a food that is a lamb and roce formula first to see if that will help. The lamb is generally really good for dogs with sensitive skin issues because it is something they generally don't eat. If the lamb and rice doesn't work, you may need to go with a grain free formula.



Personally, I like to recommend Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Whole Brown Rice. It is all natural with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It also has no corn, wheat or by-products and lamb is the only meat protein. My lab eats the Natural Choice and does amazing on it. The Natural Choice is the only brand guaranteed to improve your dogs skin and coat on the bag.



If your dog still has issues with the Lamb and Whole Brown Rice still doesn't help, Natural Choice also has a grain free formula that might help. There are four different formulas in the grain free part of the line. Lamb and Potato, Venison and Potato, Fish and Potato, and Turkey and Potato. That will help to eliminate a lot of allergy issues.



I hope that helps!



Geoffrey

Pet Nutrition Specialist for The Nutro Company

Answer 6

She could be suffering from a yeast infections, allergies, or any of a dozen forms of dermatitis. Just because "someone" told you it MIGHT be food allergies doesn't mean that's what it is.



Take the dog to the vet and have a skin scrape done - it's not that expensive - so that you can find our for CERTAIN what she is suffering from and then you will know how to treat it. She may or may not need a diet change depending on what the vet tells you. But, if it is food allergies and you have to spend a little more for a special diet, that is certainly cheaper than constantly medicating your dog, trips to the vet, and watching her suffer. Just give up a few extras for yourself, cut corners a little and you will be able to take care of her.



So, trip to the vet is in order



ADD: You can't medicate something until you KNOW for certain what it is!

Answer 7

Check the label on the dog food. Stay clear of any food containing corn, wheat, soy, by-products or chicken. Feeding a good quality kibble is every bit as cheap as feeding a cheaper food because you feed less of it. If changing her diet doesn't help, then your vet need to run a thyroid panel, a FULL panel not just the T4. Hypothyroidism can cause these symptoms and the test is not all that expensive, and the condition is cheap to treat.

Here is an article that might help you understand;

http://www.newmanveterinary.com/Hypothyroid.html

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Sounds like allergies. There are OTC allergy relief medicine for dogs at various pet stores and even walmart.

Answer 10

Have you ever used Eating for Energy (120 raw food diet recipes) strategy? Proceed to this site : http://StayEatingRaw.com/Access . This might definitely help you!