Quote: randy allen

And make sure your vet knows what you have him on. Because things can really get screwy when meds start getting mixed.

DITTO.

And Prednisone is NOT something to fool around with. Please write everything down before you go so nothing is left out.

 Quote: Anna Hull

Fish Oil with Omega-3 Fatty Acids 1000 mg. .... So I give him 3 capsules in the morning and 3 at night of the Fish Oil? and then only 1 of the 400 IU Vitamin E?

The fish oil: You mean capsules, 1000 mg each capsule? There is just fish oil in the capsule?

Then yes, that will be fine.

Capsules, again, are more expensive that the liquid oil, but they work. :>

And yes, one E-cap.

The dog will almost certainly just eat them up if you mix them in his food.

Some years ago I had a Norwich Terrier that had horrible hot spots in the spring and summer. I spent a fortune at the vets trying to get rid of it with no success. I was told by a Daschund lady to dab it with peroxide and PAT dry. After that, put on some Goldbond powder. That took care of it and every summer when it started I stopped it in it's tracks with the same treatment.
Still a great idea to scrap the crap dog food and go with Connie's suggestions on the vit E and fish oil!

I am wondering what does everyone think of Evo? It is supposed to be grain free kibble?

Ok all. I woke up this morning and his hot spots, if that's even what they are, looked worse than ever. I called my vet at break time and let them know that he needs to get in immediately today, but I won't have the money until Friday to pay them. They first said that their policy is to pay the day of service. I told them that I know that, but I have been going there 24 years and they could bend the rules 1 time! The receptionist went back and talked to the owner/head vet and came back and said he said he would bend them this one time and I could get him in today at 3:30! I might have to wait until tomorrow to let you all know what I find out, because my internet at home is messing up yet again so I will get on here at lunch if I don't get my internet working tonight, and let ya know. Thanks for all of your help, and I'll keep you posted.

I have used the peroxide, and the gold bond to no avail! I tried it for 5 days and nothing. That's why I tried all of the rest.

 Quote: Lindsay Janes

I am wondering what does everyone think of Evo? It is supposed to be grain free kibble?

This request for dog food info should probably be on a thread of your own. I know food entered into the hot spot discussion, but that was a recommendation to the O.P. to get the dog off the crap food.

No offense..... not your error .... but the thread is hot spots. Thanks.

 Quote: Anna Hull

Ok all. I woke up this morning and his hot spots, if that's even what they are, looked worse than ever. I called my vet at break time and let them know that he needs to get in immediately today, but I won't have the money until Friday to pay them. They first said that their policy is to pay the day of service. I told them that I know that, but I have been going there 24 years and they could bend the rules 1 time! The receptionist went back and talked to the owner/head vet and came back and said he said he would bend them this one time and I could get him in today at 3:30! I might have to wait until tomorrow to let you all know what I find out, because my internet at home is messing up yet again so I will get on here at lunch if I don't get my internet working tonight, and let ya know. Thanks for all of your help, and I'll keep you posted.

Good job, Anna. We will be waiting to hear. Don't forget to tell the vet about the antibiotics and Pred.

Hey all, I took Chaos to the vet this afternoon. We just got home a little bit ago. My vet walked in the room and his mouth dropped! He said it's one of the worst cases he has seen in quite some time : - { He said it is definatly a allergic reaction to something, but we wouldn't know what unless we did testing! He gave him a shot and said the itching should calm down to next to nothing with in 24 hours. He said keep the clavamox that I got from work up, until it's gone, and to keep using the panalog on it. I asked him if I should give him the pred which I was just about against using it any way. And he said don't use it! So I won't. He said all we can do now is wait for the clavamox to do it's thing, and keep him from chewing on them. I will keep the E collar on him to stop him from doing that. He told me that the change of food was good to the California Natural Lamb and Rice and the Fish oil, and the vitamin E too. I am suppose to call them if there is no change in a few days, or he gets worse, and they will get him right in. They know when I call at any time that it has to be bad enough and urgent like I told them this morning when I called them. Here's a picture of what they look like now.

As everyone else has said, fleas and nutrition are the most common causes of hot spots. Back in a previous life when I knew nothing about canine nutrition I fed Eukanuba, another AWFUL and expensive food just like Hills which caused hot spots on my male GSD. I now feed raw, and the difference is dramatic to say the least. If I HAD to feed kibble, and cost was a major concern, I would opt to feed Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul and suppliment with salmon oil. To my knowledge, it is the least expensive quality kibble out there. California Natural is a good kibble from what I have read and heard, but I would go with the EVO instead. Grain free is almost always better for dogs. The vet will end up shaving the spots and giving you oral and topical antibiotic for him. These combined with a better diet will allieve the problem. FYI, and I know you are finding out about this the hard way now (and life is not always easy), but you will almost always end up spending more in the long run on an "inexpensive" food. The dog will eat at least twice as much of the cheap food because he does not get anything from it, combined with higher vet bills due to poor coat and teeth amongst other problems. Alpo is dirt cheap, but it has absolutely positively NO nutritional value. Unfortunately, a lot of the brands out there that are relatively expensive are awful too (Purina, Iams, Euakanuba, Hills Science Diet, etc.). Raw is best for most, but if you have to feed kibble feed a holistic kibble with only human grade ingredients and as little grain as possible.