calliecritturs
Posted : 7/20/2011 11:50:59 PM
Got any idea *where* the sore bits are? Face? neck? paws?
In an abundance of caution I would ask her to ask her vet to do a skin scraping -- given this dog's history and recent difficulty it *could* be demodex. Demodex is typically a puppy thing, and when it occurs in an older animal it's sort of a warning sign that the immune system has been severely compromised -- and typically it's a sign to "look further cos something is wrong". (More than just heart problems -- but like the typical jump might be to Cushings or similar).
Not a pleasant thot **but** far far more treatable if you find it than if you don't. Now given -- I know **NOTHING** about this dog's health history and like I said, where is it? etc. Demodex has a very very specific tell-tale smell and if it *is* demodex and she wants help, give me a holler.
Keeping the teeth clean is critical when there is heart disease. Hawthorne is generally acceptable even in main-line vet practices just because it's so well known that it's helpful for heart stuff. Generally you don't just stop heart meds -- 1/8 tsp. hawthorn powder (half a capsules) twice a day would be easy and benign (and it doesn't taste bad at all -- sorta like dusty strawberries).
The skin? You could go two ways with that -- it sounds almost like staph (and if there's any infection even allergy-sore skin won't heal easily) -- I'd use Selsun Blue on him -- that's not as weird as it sounds (the red topped one here -- the 'medicated' one). It's incredible to kill staph -- don't leave it on long but it can really help itchy skin (and it was my vet who told me to use it that way).
OR -- she could do a really super gentle shampoo (not a dog shampoo -- I would totally avoid anything with artificial fragrance, conditioners, etc. TOTALLY because it can exacerbate allergies) - but something like castile or hemp soap (like Dr. Bronners - I'd assume you have that in CAN? Dilute it considerably). But it will keep off allergens -- if his immune system is drained just plain atopic summer-green allergies could be riling up the skin.
In either case -- with either type of bath -- after rinsing while the dog is still wet and warm take a dishpan and put about a gallon of warm water in it and maybe 12 - 14 drops of pure tea tree oil (not a conditioiner with tea tree in it -I mean the actual essential oil) and just use an old china mug to pour it over and over and over him til it cools him to room temperature. That's going to both kill bacteria *and* any yeasty skin funk and it will do a darned good job of conditioning his coat.
Probably my biggest suggestion is milk thistle. No matter what -- he's had a bunch of meds and likely they're all hard on the liver. I'd tell her to use just plain milk thistle powder (get a darned good quality -- you may be able to find it packaged in bulk sold as a 'tea' - it's not bad tasting) -- probably start with a 1/2 teas. twice a day in his food and increase it to a teaspoon twice a day if you can.
That will help calm down the liver a bit and will help detox his liver.
If he were mine I'd probably ask to have a senior blood panel done with a urinalysis. That will tell you a whole lot of stuff -- if the liver values are seriously whacked out the skin is GONNA be bad.
However - given his age and all he's been thru, the other logical thot would be to have the thyroid tested -- the thyroid won't 'cause' skin issues, but it will keep them from being resolved by anything. Pred always doesn't a major number on the thyroid -- so this isn't a far off weird guess. Her vet may have discussed it with her.
The milk thistle isn't going to do anything specifically FOR the skin, but it may help right the liver which may be part of the root of the problem if that makes sense. Straighten up the liver and it will help the skin resolve and heal.
Omega 3's are important -- but he's little and it's tough to find something a battered little immune system *can* handle. I would give the little guy a sardine (or half one of the big ones) once a day for a good long time.
He probably also needs a probiotic. Even a good quality yogurt (my crew LOVES the new Greek yogurt -- it's not sweet, has good quality fruit in it and it's just plain YUMMY) would likely go over really well and be a gentle probiotic for him.
That's kind of a shotgun approach -- bless his heart.