 itching/scratching
#236416 - 04/16/2009 06:57 PM |
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Funny enough, i have the same symptoms. My GSD has been somehow itchy for his entire 8 months now. At first was fleas (my first vet..now ex-vet told me at the time "dogs are itchy"), then after getting rid of these, just light itch but since 2 weeks he's scratching enough to make blisters under his eye and some hot spots on his knee.
he also happily scratches with his teeth, front paws and hind legs enough that it makes a rather disturbing sound of teeth on bone.
Went to see a vet (Coastal Holistic in pacifica, not sure if you know them Connie) and he said it was probably Liver Blood Deficiency since there was itchy skin/superficial dryness at the feet, skin, anal area, ears (not smelly but very dirty almost every two days)...
The now very bald spot on his knee is bumpy but not red.
so I'm giving more liver and eggs. so far its getting worse, can't wait for the recheck in 2 weeks!
I've been also using Embark from THK every day to give them the supplements, not sure if it's just a coincidence...
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#236418 - 04/16/2009 07:01 PM |
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Originally Posted By: Mike Bellemare
Went to see a vet (Coastal Holistic....) and he said it was probably Liver Blood Deficiency since there was itchy skin/superficial dryness at the feet, skin, anal area, ears (not smelly but very dirty almost every two days)...
Exactly what tests did the vet do? Does the dog have apparent pain? Any seizures?
Was the ear debris examined under the microscope?
Was there a thyroid test?
Does the dog have any inflammation inside the ears?
Between toes? Inflammation there?
Are you saying that the dog is 8 months old and has been itchy the entire time?
Mike, please give details of the tests done that pointed to liver blood deficiency and exactly what treatment the vet recommended.
not real tests, just observations were done...it wasnt that bad when i went there and he didnt seem too alarmed by the state of the dog. there is no pain, no seizures, although he does scratches with conviction.
there is inflammation in the ears, and he said in the paws too (although i can't really tell).
he said to give more liver/eggs/sardines (which appropriate quantities) and to come back in 4 weeks to see how it went.
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#236419 - 04/16/2009 07:09 PM |
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Did he look at the tongue? Is it pale, or lavender-ish?
No blood draw, right?
The paws: is the dog biting at the paws, between the toes? If you spread the toes, does it look red?
In the ears, does it look bright red, pinkish, or what? Is the debris black and gummy? No grayish slime, right?
Is he pawing at his ears?
Can you clarify the dog's age and how long the itching has been happening?
P.S. I'm not a health professional.
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#236423 - 04/16/2009 07:23 PM |
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tongue is just a bit pale
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/mbell2/IMG_3119.jpg
i think you can tell a bit by the picture...im not very good with color nuances...
he pawing at his ears, but only once in a while. He had yeast infection before (busy 8 months eh  ) and it's definitely not that, at least smells very different. debris is black and gummy...
dog is 8 months and itchin has been constant since we got him...fleas at first and then mild itchiness and recently hot spots...
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#236425 - 04/16/2009 07:26 PM |
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Did the vet know how itchy the dog is?
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#236426 - 04/16/2009 07:29 PM |
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i think so...i told him all that...
what's also weird is he never scratches when we are outside...if we spent the day out he spends the day without scratching...i always suspected it was carpet related (we have carpet wall to wall)
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#236434 - 04/16/2009 08:06 PM |
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I wish I knew more about Chinese medicine (that's a Chinese medicine diagnosis).
But you know to call back if the ears do not improve and you know to let him know about the worsening hot spot.
Is the carpet new? If the dog did have an allergy, you know that it would be inhalant rather then contact, right? That is, contact allergies are quite rare in dogs. Still, the dog can certainly be allergic to something in the house (including dust mites, which are much more ubiquitous with wall-to-wall carpet).
OTOH, a dog who is distracted by the outdoors and fun is far less likely to pay attention to his itches.
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#239004 - 05/07/2009 01:13 PM |
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so the itchiness is decreasing slowly with the increase in liver/egg/sardines in the diet.
he's also supplemented with Quercetone to ease the itchiness while the diet changes takes full effect (i was told it can take a while for diet to take effect).
My question (apart from is the above BS) is since i'm using peanut butter as a transport mechanism (one tablespoon) should that be factored in the daily food portion?
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#239007 - 05/07/2009 01:16 PM |
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All food should be factored in when there is any kind of diet (or weight) issue. 
Similarly, all training treats should be high-quality and good food, because they are part of the diet.
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Re: itching/scratching
[Re: Mike Bellemare ]
#239008 - 05/07/2009 01:17 PM |
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re: the peanut butter - I use PB to give Teagan her meds every day (less than you do though, maybe 1/2-1 tablespoon) and I don't factor it in to her total food amount.
but listen to Connie! I was thinking you were meaning in terms of calories, not any other issue.
Teagan!
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