I've finally come to the conclusion when my gsd blows her coat she goes crazy with the scratching causing damage to her top coat and sometimes her skin. If anyone remembers I posted before about her scratching, but I thought it was related to her heat cycle and did not realize it is her shedding cycle. A couple vets automatically assumed allergies, but this is not the case (even did a food trial). She had been on allergy meds and they, in all reality, sedated her to stop her from scratching. This time I let her scratching and biting down the fur to run it's course and watched her skin for damage. Her main vet said it is obviously self inflicted damage to her fur, her skin was never broken.

I use the furminator on her daily and bathe her once a month or if she gets muddy, she even gets vacuumed. It seems to me her undercoat takes about a month to come completely out even with all the brushing.

Her undercoat is almost fully blown and she has stopped scratching and her coat regrew where she bit it down. Does anyone know, if it's even possible, to get the coat to come out quicker? Thank you.

Kimberly

Hi Kimberly,

You may be over bathing her and drying out her skin. I only bath my big dogs once a year or when they are really stinky or dirty. Regular brushing (no furminator) takes care of their coats (and they all have beautiful coats).

IMHO I would back off on the bathing and start using a regular brush for daily brushing, her natural oils will start building up again and you would probably have less scratching and biting.

Sandy

The fact that the food trial failed to reveal a food allergy, doesn't mean that there isn't an environmental allergy at play here.


Just sayin'...

The only reason I didn't mention environmental, is because nothing new is introduced to her when it happens. It only happens when her fur starts shedding twice a year, I do notice a lot of fine dander when this is happening on metal portions of her crate. Once the shedding stops she returns to normal. It's quite odd to me.

I guess it could be seasonal allergies?

Connie would probably have a lot of insight here.

Are you giving salmon oil and E?

 Quote: Kimberly Bunk

A couple vets automatically assumed allergies, but this is not the case (even did a food trial).

Food allergies are by far the least common of dog allergies. And for a cyclical-type event ... ?? I don't understand the food trial.

What made you (or the vet) conclude that there is no allergy? I mean, it may be absolutely true, but how was the decision made?

 Quote: Kimberly Bunk

The only reason I didn't mention environmental, is because nothing new is introduced to her when it happens. ...

Allergies develop on repeated exposure.... nothing new needs to be happening.


These twice-yearly episodes: How long do they last? Is it strictly itching? No ear infections, skin pruritis, etc.? Is the itching bad enough to interrupt sleep?

This may have all been posted in the past -- sorry. I'm old, and you know what they say about memory.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

.... Are you giving salmon oil and E?

I'd be doing that, yes, even with this problem apparently being cyclical.

Also, Kimberly, when you say that allergy meds sedated her into less scratching, I assume you mean antihistamines? What one(s)?

I'm not sure that I would conclude that the sedating effect that some dogs experience was the cause of less scratching; I'd probably be more likely to assume that the antihistamine was blocking the histamine receptors (in the skin, in dogs), and also causing the sedating side effect. Even though only about 30% of allergic dogs get significant relief from antihistamines (somewhat more if they are used with long-chain Omega 3s), that 30% does get itch relief.

P.S. I know how frustrating this kind of thing is.

The more details, the better.



Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/04/2009 04:48 PM)
Edit reason: ps

Connie and Alyssa have more experience with allergies but are you sure it is allergies? My GSD blows her coat twice a year also, but does not scratch or bite at it. Connie, don't you think that over bathing can dry out the skin causing the same symptoms?

 Quote: Kimberly Bunk

If it was an allergy it would continue and not be cyclical.

Sadly, that's not true<g>. Seasonal allergies are cyclical.

My GSD blows her coat twice a year as they all do, and is much itchier when doing so.

She also has seasonal inhalant allergies, and itches a lot from spring thru fall, with the most intense times coming with the worst pollen times.

Good luck with your dog and figuring this out.

leih