I am about to take in a foster who has mange and a thyroid issue. He has languished in the rescue so long, he is not doing well at all. He needs a home, and someone who loves him to bring him back to shape. They were almost close to putting him down, but then I came along.

I am going to keep dog inside a garage, that I will air conditon, and need to know more about how to help this dog. Rescue is suppling all medical needs, but how should I work with the dog in areas of letting him, run free in back yard some, I know heat and sun is bad, so wont be any of that. But please tell me what else I can do to help this dog. He should weigh about 90-100 lbs, the best I can guess, and is lucky if he weighs 50. He needs my love and my help desperatly, so I am going to give him 150 per cent.

P/S/ I am not sure rescue group will let me, or like it if I feed raw. personally I dont have a problem with it, but may not be total option for this dog...

Any suggestions would be appreciated

 Quote: Denise Rinker

I am about to take in a foster who has mange and a thyroid issue. He has languished in the rescue so long, he is not doing well at all. He needs a home, and someone who loves him to bring him back to shape. They were almost close to putting him down, but then I came along.

I am going to keep dog inside a garage, that I will air conditon, and need to know more about how to help this dog. Rescue is suppling all medical needs, but how should I work with the dog in areas of letting him, run free in back yard some, I know heat and sun is bad, so wont be any of that. But please tell me what else I can do to help this dog. He should weigh about 90-100 lbs, the best I can guess, and is lucky if he weighs 50. He needs my love and my help desperatly, so I am going to give him 150 per cent.

P/S/ I am not sure rescue group will let me, or like it if I feed raw. personally I dont have a problem with it, but may not be total option for this dog...

Any suggestions would be appreciated

First: Is it sarcoptic mange (scabies), or is it Demodex? If Demodex, is it localized or generalized?

What is the thyroid issue, exactly? Hyper, I'm guessing, since he's underweight.... except that hyperthyroidism (as opposed to hypo) is rare in dogs (common in cats).

Hyperthyroidism is usually caused by thyroid enlargement (functional thyroid edematous hyperplasia).

You'll want to read the paperwork and check on hypER or hypO.

If it's the far more common hypothyroidism, is he on replacement meds, such as Synthroid?

And if it's hypothyroidism, do you know why he's so underweight?

Thanks Connie, they have told me it is Demo, and he is probably taking synthroid, they say he has thyroid meds, (daughter was on synthroid) hmmm, anyway, he is covered from head to toe with scabs and the poor boy took a toy to play with today, so I know even though, he has been fighting this for about a year, he still WANTS to live, and I will do my damndest, to make sure he gets what he needs. I dont know if general or local, covered from HEAD TO TOE, HARDLY any hair left, he has been fighting this for over a year.
I think, it took 3 vets to find the thyroid issue, so he has been fighting that too, along with the mange. I researced and raw is recommended, by some folks for this, but I dont think they would like, what if I did some, anyway, maybe chicken necks to start and a better food, I know I have a lot of "I thinks", but only been two days, and dont have all info , but I think his donated food has been crappy to...so if diet plays a big part, then something needs to change. What would you recommend to do Connie, I would trust your advice FOR SURE.

I have a Demodectic mange info saved, and I will start re-reading tomorrow. (Making a Post-it note..... )

Can you look at his RX bottle and post what it is?

Has he had a recent check-up? You will want to know what his prognosis is. (Generalized Demodex can be fatal, so how or whether to treat him might be a decision that looms in the very near future.)

Also, if he does have a reasonable prognosis, can you post how the food works? I mean, do you get a cash allowance, or do you have to accept the actual food, and what is it? Any chance of fresh raw food?

I know we can work out how best to get him fed. He definitely needs the best he can get, with that low weight, and because generalized Demodex is an immune insufficiency. It's true that it's a specific immuno-insufficiency, but it still stresses the immune system in general.

Most canine thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism) is an autoimmune problem in which a dog's immune system damages his own thyroid gland.... so his immune system is troubled. Poor guy.

Can you check on whether he has had diabetes testing? Hypothyroidism and diabetes often go hand-in-hand. And how old is he?

So you post how the food works (what you can do), and what the poor guy's prognosis is, and we can figure out the best way to enhance his nutrition. (Yes, I DO think you can improve commercial food by choosing better quality and then giving inexpensive but wholesome fresh food in addition..... but again, tell us what you're allowed to do. Fresh raw food would be the best choice by far, if you can do it.)

OK?

P.S. Are you still using THK with raw for your other dog?

Jack has gone to his new home, so he is no longer on raw. They didnt keep that up.
Now as far as RX bottle I will get those when I get dog. Next day or two. I can tell you that more than likely this is generalized. It is all over him not in just one or two spots. He has been fighting this for months, and he is so thin, that he may well die. But I am going to try and get hime and give him the best chance possible. I will not get cash allowence, they send food, but that is no problem I will buy food that is better for him, just need to know what kind would be best. I was reading last nite, no bth and etc etc...They spoke of Blue Diamon lamb and rice...That is what they will send, but should I get better than that. Needs to be something I can pick up here in city. Also, they only feed once a day.....I feed my dogs twice a day and they get exercise, but this baby cannot exercise that much..

Yes I am sure his prognosis is grim, but the rescue has been holding on to him. Trying, and maybe I can get tested for diabetes also.

Something has gone terribly wrong here, when dog came into shelter around a year ago, he had hair, he was good on weight, so something went wrong for sure.

I have call into rescue to discuss meds and more so will post later when know more

 Quote: Denise Rinker

... I have call into rescue to discuss meds and more so will post later when know more

OK, good.

On the meantime Connie, I went and got Nutro lamb and rice. No corn no bht...think that outta work?? They will give me copy of vetting tomorrow and know more about that....Also, I dont want to startle his system, Nutro is rich, what about feeding, should it be more than one time a day, smaller meals ???? Give your recomendation and will try to follow....Should he have supplements like salmon oil too?? Treats, should he have dog treats or carrots or what ??? What about cottage cheese for him ?? What about neem oil for skin??? So many questions....sorry

I know I'm not Connie, but if I'm reading this right, and if this guy is so bad off that he might not make it...why would you feed him anything but raw? Clearly, a grainy kibble is not helping him, and Nutro is full of grains...as many as Diamond. Let me know if I'm missing something big, but it seems like a 180degree turn in treatment of this animal is in order; obviously, whatever's been going on the past year has not been good for him.

Who cares if the rescue doesn't like you feeding raw?

If there is no requirement (such as financial dependence on what the rescue supplies), I would absolutely be going with the best nutrition (fresh raw food).

That's why I asked what the rescue did about food.

Can you do fresh raw food for him?

Do you have any of the no-grain THK you had for Jack? If you do, then the THK could be used as a "gravy" over the RMBs, helping you to get a lot of micronutrients into him without a ton of cost or prep time.

I was also kind of waiting for that diabetes mellitus answer, because it would influence the diet significantly. (Most vets and vet researchers are strongly in fabor of adding fiber, because of its effect on blood sugar fluctuation.)

If you can give him the best diet (fresh raw food), then I certainly do agree that it will benefit.

Fish oil and Vitamin E are also very important for this dog (or any dog with skin problems).

So to recap: Can you do a raw diet for him? Can you get the diabetes answer? What is the thyroid med he's on? Do you know that generalized Demodex requires treatment, and that it's not always successful? Has treatment been started?

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1589&articleid=729

P.S. If you must do commercial food, then you can do better than what you mentioned. Tell us what your limitations are so we can suggest how to do the best you can within them, and ask about his blood tests. Hypothyroidism and diabetes are so often seen together.....