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#254462 - 10/08/09 10:00 AM
Alligator Skin
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Howard Knauf
Registered: 09/24/03
Posts: 1432
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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This thing is beating me to death. My 11 year old retired GSD is having a horrendous time with his skin. The underside of his inner leg and thighs have lost the fur and the skin has turned dark in color. It looks like alligator skin and I can't seem to clear it up.
I've had him to the vet twice and have had skin scrapings done. It's not mange and he has no fleas or ticks. He's been bathed with $30 a bottle special shampoo and it's not helping at all. He had been on omega3 fish oils and vitamin E but not recently, but it wasn't working before. His food is basically unchanged.
His licking of the affected areas has caused a major stink so he's been fitted with a cone for the last 2 weeks. Some of the areas are clearing up because the licking is stopped, but others are not. Gold bond and Neosporin is not working.
I'm at a loss on what to do. He's miserable, and rightly so. Any suggestions are welcome.
Howard
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#254465 - 10/08/09 10:31 AM
Re: Alligator Skin
[Re: Howard Knauf]
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Connie Sutherland
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 15451
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...
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This sounds like skin yeast overgrowth, and maybe particularly like Malassezia pachydermatitis ("elephant skin"). Is it thickened? Maybe started out waxy or greasy, maybe odorous?
Poor dog. (You too; I've been there.  ) (Of course, I am not a health professional, so this is all JMO.)
My first suggestion is "derm vet." And sooner rather than later. As great as our GP vets may be, very (very!) few have the knowledge of a derm vet (and why would they? It's a specialty for a reason).
It sounds like the poor guy needs a concerted attack (oral and topical).
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_yeast_infection_of_the_skin.html
BTW, IMO, he needs the fish oil and the E anyway. Virtually every dog does, and a dog with skin problems even more so.
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#254474 - 10/08/09 12:34 PM
Re: Alligator Skin
[Re: Connie Sutherland]
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Howard Knauf
Registered: 09/24/03
Posts: 1432
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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Thanks, Connie. Yes the skin is thickening. It started out crusty and the constant licking has produced a foul smell and spreading of the affected area. The skin is now oozing in some places a few days after the bath and topical treatments.
Will check out the Derm vet right away.
Howard
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