Hi,
I did read the vet link sites that you posted. I have not had the cysts biopsied or drained with a a needle. That sounds like money grubbing vets. My vet told me to leave them alone and most of them would go away on their own. He had seen quite a lot of them in his day. He said that if they became a problem we would deal with it then.

He did not offer to send my to a derm vet, although, the VetDogs people have resources here that probably extend to making one available. In the past I he has given me a referral to an eye specialist. I do not pay for Vet bills so it is not a money issue. It seemed to me, he was very familiar with the issue.

In the beginning when I had one grow large and rupture I treated it with antibiotic cream. It healed nicely. My vet said that this was a genetic issue with some GSDs, he was very familiar with them and told me I would be dealing with it for the rest of the dogs life. He had no problem prescribing the supplement. He said that if it worked to let him know. He was not familiar with it working, but he said it would not hurt. Since it came highly recommended from another GSD owner with the same problem, he thought it was worth a try. Why it worked, or if it did work, I have no idea.

I have not had to use warm soaks or hot packs because the cysts have stayed very small and dried up/ reabsorbed into the dogs body. I noticed the one cyst that he could lick, he paid attention to it, but it has healed nicely. I wouldn't say he is prone to licking them, since he cannot usually get to them. They have been on his neck, back, side, and upper legs so far.

I ordered some turmeric, but will probably hold off unless the problem gets worse. Right now, after the change of diet and the addition of that supplement over the last month, I am now at a point where I have no new cysts. I just checked him again today.

I was really hunting around for a dietary answer to the issue. There may be something in the supplement that he is getting now, or from changing back to his previous food that has influenced their appearance.

Once I run out of the supplement, I will discontinue it, and see if the problem stays away just with a change in diet.

Why would Salmon Oil cause the problem?, I at a loss... I would think he would do better on a more salmon rich diet too. Since I did changed the two things at once we don't know which one of them helped.

Right now the problem seems to have decreased to the point of very few cysts, and none at all right now, although tomorrow is a new day. I have been battling it for two months.

I will be watching and as soon as I get a new cyst, I will post again. I will hold off on using the turmeric.

Jynx... just found a new one on his left side. 3mm the size of a pimple.

I have a big sticky note on my computer to do some deeper research on the topic in spare moments.

So he has not had any bacterial skin infections, then?


I don't know a likely dietary link, like there is for human acne, aside from the overall recommendation to provide an anti-inflammation diet (and supplements) for most derm issues, and maybe less fat in general ... ?

For me, anti-inflammation leads to long-chain Omega 3s, and, like you, I have no idea how salmon could have adversely affected the cyst-production of the dog of the poster you read elsewhere (aside from a pretty unlikely food allergy factor).


When you say two months, do you mean he never had them until two months ago?


"I have not had the cysts biopsied or drained with a a needle."

No, none of the vet sites I saw were actually recommending this, except in extreme cases. I read a lot of "keep it clean and dry and don't squeeze it."

Your dog is gorgeous.

Is he by any chance getting these in the areas where he wears his harness?

That's a good question!


Also, something came up today on another thread (about atopy) and I realized when I posted the link to this skin-barrier topical that it also claims to help in controlling sebum and scale production. (Sebum and scale, of course, are what constitute the pasty substance inside a sebaceous cyst.)

http://www.drugs.com/vet/douxo-seborrhea-spot-on.html

My experience with it has been pretty successful, using it to enhance the skin's lipid barrier against bacteria, and I had completely forgotten (if I ever knew) that it's supposed to help with sebum and scale.

Seems worth asking the vet about.

Thank you for the compliment.
He has never had a bacterial infection.
Yes, this started two months ago.
Diet change and supplement at the beginning of this month.
I found another small cyst today, so now he has two.
The lumps are not all in a an area where the harness touches his fur. Many are on his sides, shoulders, and neck. So I don't think it is harness related. His Harness is lined with real Sheeps wool.

The lumps are hidden very well under his fur and unless you paid a lot of attention to your dog, you could miss them. Since my diet and supplement change, they are staying very very small and then just disappearing back into his skin. Prior to my diet changes they used to become inflamed and grow in size before healing. Now they are just remain a hard little lump under the skin with kind of a scratchy rough covering. Sometimes the skin on top of the lump flakes off.

When I find them and take a look at them under his fur, he definitely does not like it. They must cause him some discomfort. I have seen him lick one on his side a couple times, but for the most part he ignores them.

Would it be helpful for me to take some pictures?

I will check out the link you provided.

Yes, I would like to see a picture. Mainly for my information ... I certainly cannot diagnose. But I'd like to see.

Can you get a close-up with the fur parted? Perhaps when the dog is tired and not too antsy? Someone else might take the picture while you hold the fur?

You could link us to Photobucket or another photo-share account.


BTW, that flaking fits right in with vet-site descriptions of sebaceous cysts.

I sent a copy of the product page on the link for the medication you provided to my vet. He will most likely just send it to me in the mail, or he may want to check the dog over again. Thanks. That medication seems right on spot, but I am still going to try for a dietary solution.

Nutrition as medicine is something I fully support and aspire to.