I'm glad you saw the specialist and got good straightforward advice.



PS
I always have a jar of Douxo pads on hand (also based on phytosphingosine). This is a formula that I like very much for skin pyoderma and yeast (Malassezia).



Note:
It's probably best to keep phytosphingosine products away from your face if you have asthma. In fact, when using large amounts of a phytosphingosine product (such as bathing a dog with a therapeutic shampoo containing phytosphingosine), it's probably best to have someone who is asthma-free do it. (I read an FDA caution a couple of years ago.)

After keeping my GSD on the powder supplement (Missing Link Product) and I dropped the Dream coat product. I continued the same diet. My dog is now cyst free for the last two months. I read some articles on eliminating any Salmon Food do the oil and I also stopped the dream coat as it was a mix of oils.

This may be a coincidence or maybe it was kind of an acne issue for the GSD. By eliminating the salmon oils and the other oils from the Dream Coat I may have helped improve his diet.

It could also be that he was going through a growth phase similar to a Teen Ager... He is 3 and 3 months of so now.... He put on some weight (presently at 105 lbs. Vet says to keep him at this weight) He really filled out during the last 6 or so months.

One change I did make in the Missing Link Product was I changed over to Ultimate Hip & Joint with Balanced Omega 3 and 6 With Glucosamine. I changed products because as a service dog he bears some weight keeping me up and walking and the doctor thought it was important.

I hope this thread can help anyone else who has this cyst problem with their GSD. At least give you a place to start.

Thanks everyone for your input and reading suggestions...I now subscribe to the Whole Dog Journal.
-Ken

Latest Post.... at 3.6 years old...

Three cysts appeared a month ago. One on his head below his ear, one on his leg, and one on his shoulder. No others. One went away. Two are still presenting. They are all smaller than a BB. They all appeared with in a week of each other, and then no new ones since...

I am still feeding him the same diet.

It seems like the vet was right again.... I may never get rid of them, but I like to think I have it under control...The dog could care less...

Just figure someone somewhere with the same problem will find this thread and it may help.

I think you're right, Ken.


BTW, good on you for getting Whole Dog Journal ... I've found a boatload of current info in WDJ for many years now ... one publication I never allow to lapse!