Kord and his issue's. (UPDATE PAGE 2)

Oh, the poor big guy.  Watching them scratch is so disheartening. .

A few things:  So far the best shampoo I've found for the itchies (recommended by my vet) is Vet's Best Hypoallergenic Sampoo-----I do pair it with their Moisture Mist conditioner------the shampoo has aloe and Vit. E and really soothes the skin.  http://www.vetsbest.com/index.php

I have been able to find the Vet's Best at my Pet Supplies Plus, Petco and sometimes Petsmart, as well at some boutique stores.

I would not do a baking soda mixture as it may be too drying to the skin, but a tea tree rinse is a good idea--anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. 

As for the diet, 2-3% of body weight sounds about right--I know that my dogs eat about 2% of their body weight to maintain, so you may want to feed closer to the 3% range (so long as he can tolerate it).  Too much, too soon can cause it's own issues.  I would not feed chicken of any sort--my vet says it is a "inlammatory" meat, and since Kord is already in a constant state of inflammation, chicken would be like adding fuel to the fire.  Turkey, pork, buffalo and beef are all fine.  I also would not add any dairy, even yogurt, to his diet at this point.  Dairy, even, yogurt, can be inflammatory to the G-I as well.  If you want him to have the added benefit of the friendly bacteria that yogurt offers, I would add in a good probiotic---I use a human brand for my dogs, but you could ask your vet for Forti-Flora---also good stuff.

At any rate, your plan of action sounds good.  I hope you can find the answers to his "itchies" real soon.

Thanks for the reply, ok so no chicken and no dairy, easy enough. I will look for the forti flora.

As for the rinse. It is my own concoction so to say. I let a bar of neem soap soak in the water a bit, then add a couple of drops of tee tree oil, ketoconazole  and a 1/4 tsp of baking soda. The neem, tea tree and keto are to combat the yeast and bacteria. The baking soda is to dry it faster on the skin. I do not rinse it off. I basically sponge it on his belly and groin area and then brush it into the top and the rest of his coat. So far it is helping, not a fix, but a reliever.

thanks

 Dawn I'm sorry he and you are going through all of this.  FWIW B had very little weight gain issues, I reduced his food but it was also about the time/age I would have anyway.  His hypothyroid was the autoimmune type and it is much better but even after 6 months on supplement his autoimmune factor was high.  In conversation with Dr Dodds we were just happy to see it reducing.  It will get into the normal range, may be has already.  His itchies improved tremendously and after living on benadryl for ages we hardly use it.

OK things to consider.  Make sure you feed plenty of bone with the meat and organs.  If he has a touchy GI go slow with it all.  Don't over do pure meat, meaty bone is best.  Lots of bone.

As for yogurt as long as it is plain there shouldn't be added sugars.  I have used Dannon and Stonyfield and various greek ones for B.  BUT I think you likely need to give him a concentrated acidophilus (sp?) supplement to really address the yeast.  You may also consider something like Prozyme.  That helped B a lot and you only need a bit.  I would say that we used it for about a month after we had figured out his food allergies and moved towards a diet that worked for him.  We didn't need it after then although the surgery has knocked him off kilter so if once he is fully back it hasn't improved we'll try again.

I know you are done with baths but want to suggest Malaseb if you haven't tried that - also Zymox is great for ears.

Wish you both some answers and improvement!

Thanks Karen. I am just at the end of my rope, we have tried everything. Callie has helped tremendously with some of the issue's, but it basically boils down to there is something causing all of this.

Kord has no weight gain problems, if anything he is a bit thin, not something I or the vet are concerned about due to his breed. He is high energy and sometimes very anxious. He is 3 years old, will be 4 in August.

I will do some bone in material as well. I sent a message to Tzu-mom to find out what probiotic she is using. I need to get him out of this constant yeast rotation. I am not going to put him on any medication for the time being either, at this point they don't do anything more than throw his system out of whack.

The kicker was that his skin in the groin area is starting to get black. He does have some hair growth back but im concerned.

Does it make me a bad mom if I wish and hope that it is Hypothyroidism? Because if it isn't I am not sure what else to look for.

Don't be silly Dawn....you could never be a bad mom....you are simply trying to figure out what is wrong with your boy. 

Is he on a Fish Oil supplement?  Heidi was itchy for a while; changed her food to grain free and that helped tremendously, but she did still itch a bit; not nearly as bad.  But, I was giving Buddy Fish Oil; and decided to just start giving it to the houligans as well.  It really helped her a lot...I was amazed at the difference.

Not now, but he was and his food was a primary fish base and we feed him alot of fresh fish as well.

I did not see an improvement with it. But that could be all the meds he was on.

Thanks for the suggestion and letting me know I am not a bad mom.

Anyone have any expierence with butterfish?

Truley

Does it make me a bad mom if I wish and hope that it is Hypothyroidism? Because if it isn't I am not sure what else to look for.

Other than that I would say it is a food allergy.  B had ear issues from about 6 mos old until we figured out the chicken, turkey, egg, flax problems.  Anytime I see some issues with his ears now one little bit of Zymox drops and it is cleared.  It is great for yeast and has hydrocortisone in it so reduces the itchies immediately.  Bought mine off Amazon.  The Malaseb is a shampoo and that works instantly too.  Neither is a systemic thing.

Truley

I will do some bone in material as well.

BUT there are much more knowledgeable people than I on this subject.  Those are the things I at first struggled with but now understand.  i currently feed the beast Orjen fish, and at least a green tripe based meal and a bone meal each week.  He's done better on this than anything.  His bloodwork is excellent and in fact Dr Dodds asked if he was fed raw because of the results.

I really am pulling for you.  I would in your position not vary his diet too much.  Base it on one type of protein and stick with it.  Keep the additives consistent and simple.  He needs a break from being attacked by whatever it is.

kpwlee

Other than that I would say it is a food allergy.  B had ear issues from about 6 mos old until we figured out the chicken, turkey, egg, flax problems.  Anytime I see some issues with his ears now one little bit of Zymox drops and it is cleared.  It is great for yeast and has hydrocortisone in it so reduces the itchies immediately.  Bought mine off Amazon.  The Malaseb is a shampoo and that works instantly too.  Neither is a systemic thing.

We know he has an allergy to corn, flax and flea's. He did excellent last year on Purina Pro Plan sensitive skin and stomach. I did switch him back to it. We see no changes or problems with beef, fish, bison, pork or chicken, though I will limit that.

I have drops for his ears. And a wash solution.

 I have fed him fish gutted fish with head, tail and fins removed, we leave the skin and bones. And bones are not an issue, he gets plenty, but I do have to take them away when the pieces are to small due to my fear of him choking on them. His idea of bones is that they are to munch on after they have stewed under a pillow for 48 hours...blech.

I have a source for tripe. I know about the beef heart and other organs. Less is best, but some is needed.

Thank you all for the tips.

Truley

Does it make me a bad mom if I wish and hope that it is Hypothyroidism? Because if it isn't I am not sure what else to look for.

No, I was hoping for answers to some of Willow's problems and felt the same way.  I understand exactly what you are saying you don't want him to have problems but you want to know it's something so you can fix it.  I get that. 

After Willow was tested for thryoid and it was negative her vet suggested testing for Cushings and Addison's--two adrenal problems. 

I hope you can get to the bottom of this.  Hope Kord is feeling OK. 

You could also try bathing him in Selsun Blue-the medicated one.  It was suggested to me by the veterinary dermatologist we saw.  And, it does help with odor and the itching.  Of course, not forever, but it does help.  I usually put it on her  Willow twice each bath. 

kpwlee

I would in your position not vary his diet too much.  Base it on one type of protein and stick with it.  Keep the additives consistent and simple. 

This is, IMO, really important when you first switch to raw.  When we made the switch, we fed one protein source for two weeks before adding a new protein.  That way we knew what the dogs could or could not handle.  We add kefir to their meals daily & skip probiotics.

Dawn, if you haven't tried it, you might want to take a look at Douxo Calm Shampoo & spray.  The dermatologist sent it home for Shooter, & during his really itchy times, it is a godsend.  If you want to try it, pm me & I'll send you a bottle of each.  I'm friends with one of their reps, so I have quite a few bottles.

Amanda thank you for the offer, I am willing to try anything at this point.

So today I learned. And by the way my head hurts!

one protien source. Easy enough.

Bones, lots of bones

Kifer, or probotics......will have to choose one.

Going to get blood work done on the 30th, that is after the thanksgiving holiday, but I might wait one additional week to make sure I miss holiday vacations.

I talked to the DH, no more handouts. The poor thing is going to think he is being punished.

I am going to switch him to bottled water as well. We drink the tap water and use it but I want to see if that also helps.

Thank you all very much.

 I would not leave the soap mixture on him. Not rinsing well often causes flaking and itching.

Keep it all as simple as you can, and try to change ONE thing at a time That is the hardest!!! Otherwise, you never know what is working, and what is not working.

Baking soda is not good -- it will increase the itching

Neem OIL is fine -- soap is not ... not to leave on.  And man, I would NOT use ketaconazole -- it's too strong, and it's tough on the liver (even topically).

Boric acid is a far far better 'bath' -- a tablespoon full to about half a gallon of water.  It also has anti-fungal properties.  You can add tea tree to that.  The psoriasis I have on my feet is mind-bendingly itchy -- UNBELIEVABLY itchy.  The only way I survive is to soak my feet every single night in boric acid/tea tree oil.  JUST to assuage the itch. 

Where there is inflammation there is usually yeast.

The baths in Selsun Blue are **awesome**.  Use the red cap -- don't leave it on a long long time -- just suds up completely and then rinse well.  But get him dry -- that's a biggie.

Have you been giving him the sam-e??  This truly has all the ear-marks of liver ... including the yeast.

Grapefruitseed extract would be a better probiotic than yogurt.  It's a darned good anti-fungal as well.  That and the oregano (FRESH not dried).  Oil of oregano if you can get your hands on some.  Likely will give him the burps.  But if you can grow your own (Ms. Green Thumb lady if I recall) you can do a whole lot.  Either crush it with a mortar & pestle or cut it up fine and add to his food.  You want to really bruise it and release the oils.  But you want the oil of oregano IN him not on him.

Just an update. I did a fish source and some rice for 5 days now. If anything he is scratching and itching more. I have taken to placing an old tshirt around his chest to ward off more damage to the skin from scratching. I think he objects more because it has flamingo's on it more than anything. He has had 2 baths in 5 days.

I do not know who is more misrable, him or I.

I am going to get the blood test done on Sunday and send it overnight on Monday.