calliecritturs
Posted : 6/3/2010 3:11:25 PM
Westies can have some serious skin problems --
Please don't think allergies are JUST food. And "food allergies" are HUGE in any event. FAR more than just corn/wheat.
Honestly, please don't just endeavor to bounce around this on your own -- particularly if her skin is THAT bad to start with (blackened skin means miliary dermatitis -- dermatitis of long standing so much that the skin has actually changed color).
And truly -- if you want to cut to the chase to do something that really may help significantly, I'd tell you to try TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) -- not instead of your regular vet, but literally in addition. It can truly be way more cost effective than a ton of allergy testing, and often you will get super good dietary help as well.
http://www.tcvm.com -- that's the URL for the Chi Institute and there is a locator on the left. (by state or zip code -- or a sentence link underneath if you are out of the US).
acpuncture truly can be incredibly helpful for allergies (meet Billy -- the biggest allergy dog on the known PLANET!!! *sigh*) --
I'm going to tell you that what you're dealing with may not just be straight atopic or food allergies -- what you describe on the back, buttocks, feet sounds like flea allergy dermatitis as well. That doesn't mean lots of fleas -- all it takes is ONE flea ... just **one** to bite the dog and you can spin into several months of horrific skin problems (because it's actually the flea *spit* that is the allergen - no joke!)
This dog honestly needs to be evaluated and then gotten to a level place to reduce the inflammation so you CAN begin to maintain. You can't just give a few omega 3's and reduce the diet by ONE potential allergy source and expect really to resolve something like that.
If you want help locating a TCVM vet holler at me email -- I know a lot of them (my vet teaches at the Chi Institute actually -- and she knows a ton of folks) and I'll help you any way I can.
Callie