Need some ideas, please. Live in north Florida. 11 month old GSD. Raw diet (including vitamin e, vitamin c, salmon and other fish oil). Rarely bathes (dog, not owner). Use Frontline. No sign of fleas. In last month has developed itchies all over, but particularly on back (hindquarters). Has developed 2 hot spots, but they aren't infected (yet). Just scabby. I soaked them in warm water and mineral oil to soften and clean, then applied aloe gel, plus bitter apple to discourage chewing.

Anyone have any ideas? Commerical hot spot products seem overpriced - do they work? My first thought is to add more salmon / fish oils. Had the same problem, chronically and year-round, with my last GSD. We are lucky here in the South to have a dazzling variety of allergans year-round. Would appreciate anyone else who's battled and conquered (or at least mitigated) the problem.

Thanks, ya'll.

 Quote: AnitaGard

Need some ideas, please. Live in north Florida. 11 month old GSD. Raw diet (including vitamin e, vitamin c, salmon and other fish oil). Rarely bathes (dog, not owner). Use Frontline. No sign of fleas. In last month has developed itchies all over, but particularly on back (hindquarters). Has developed 2 hot spots, but they aren't infected (yet). Just scabby. I soaked them in warm water and mineral oil to soften and clean, then applied aloe gel, plus bitter apple to discourage chewing.

Anyone have any ideas? Commerical hot spot products seem overpriced - do they work? My first thought is to add more salmon / fish oils. Had the same problem, chronically and year-round, with my last GSD. We are lucky here in the South to have a dazzling variety of allergans year-round. Would appreciate anyone else who's battled and conquered (or at least mitigated) the problem.

Thanks, ya'll.

This is good to read (overview of atopic dermatitis):
http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/itch.html

I absolutely DO agree with your plan to add more distilled fish oil and Vitamin E immediately. I'd work up to 1 gram of fish oil (1,000 mg) per ten pounds of dog weight.

I'd be really careful about keeping the Frontline current.

How bad is the itching? Is it keeping him awake or waking him up? Is it seasonal (spring/fall, for example)? What is different about the last month? Playing in a new field? A new treat?

I have had more canine allergy experience than I wanted, but it's usually a detective process.

Have you tried Hydroxyzine in conjunction with the Omega 3s (salmon oil)? Have you seen the threads here about it?

Thanks, Connie. This will definitely get me started. I've never heard of Hydroxyzine, so I will look it up. No new treats or field or anything else I can think of. Can't tell yet if it's seasonal since he's just 11 months old, but that's a definite possiblity.

The condition doesn't quite fit any of the descriptions in the link you gave. But after thinking about it, I think it's closest to "a couple of fleas managed to get a bite in before the Frontline killed them". The itchiness and hot spots are concentrated on his back. He doesn't actually bite at them much - but obviously enough to cause some damage. The rest of him only seems itchy when provoked by, say, my scratching him.

So.... I will bump up the fish oil, try the Hydroxyzine, check with the vet to see if he needs to be bumped up to next size of Frontline (he's just a tad below the weight limit for his current dose) and see what happens. Any reactions, though, to my soak - remove scab - apply aloe and bitter apple regimen? Is that good / not good / indifferent? Is there a better way to spot treat the spots while working on the systemic problem?

Many, many, thanks.