Another Itchy Skin post

March 11, 2011 at 7:17 pm 8 comments

"Yo, squirrel!"

Hair Loss & Crusty Dry Skin – What is it? is possibly one of the most visited posts on Boogie’s Blog, and our vet had diagnosed this recurring problem as an allergy-related staph infection.

Recently I came across an article that confirms and sheds more light on the problem: The Killer App for Canine Itching and Skin Infections

In fact, this reads EXACTLY like what Boogie suffers from. Every summer, something in the air sets off an itchy skin reaction with crusty sores and hair loss, and poor Boogie has to take cortisone shots and excessive quantities of oral antibiotics to get some relief.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the antibiotics once relied on to clear up both human and animal infections are becoming increasingly less effective against “superbugs” like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP, formerly known as MRSI — same bug, new acronym), which makes dogs miserable but almost never causes problems for people, and its well-known human counterpart, MRSA. The more frequently antibiotics are prescribed for infections, including canine skin infections, the more bacteria develop resistance to those drugs.

According to the article, the solution = MORE BATHS.

Dogs with atopic dermatitis whose bacterial infections are under control should be bathed once or twice a week, but for dogs with resistant staph skin infections, Fadok recommends daily bathing. Dog owners should use shampoos containing chlorhexidine, an antiseptic, followed by rinses and leave-on solutions with specific fatty acids thought to restore the skin’s barrier function.

I looked up the ingredients of Boogie’s shampoo & leave-on conditioner – no chlorhexidine…

In any case, the weather is warming up and Boogie’s itchies have started. I will be giving him more frequent baths. Fingers crossed.

Entry filed under: Articles, links, Skin issues, Supplements.

Two interesting dog training videos Boogie! by Jeroen Teunen

8 Comments Add your own

1. Sarah | March 11, 2011 at 8:32 pm

Hey there. I too have a boston with horrible skin issues. I haven’t gone through your posts to see what you’ve tried, but mine does well with 2-3 baths a week with either mal-a-ket shampoo or epi soothe shampoo and epi soothe conditioner. I also drizzle flax seed oil on his food. He is currently taking atopica, and hydroxyzine for the itching. It’s been a rough battle, but we are finally getting somewhere. Have you taken him to a dermatologist and had him allergy skin tested? Anyway, hope this helps from one frustrated boston owner to another!
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- 2. lili | March 12, 2011 at 2:55 am
  
  Hi Sarah,
  Poor bostons. It’s tough. 😦
  The vet and I have discussed allergy testing with Boogie but the thing is, it is super expensive … and we’d still be battling the symptoms if he were allergic to something common, like say pollen or dust. Boogie also takes Salmon Oil in his food. Good luck with your little fella!
  Reply
3. elizabeth | March 23, 2011 at 5:30 pm

I have come to the same conclusion myself with my bullies. When they start to have skin issues, which isn’t often but often enough, I bathe them about every other day. It has always cleared things up with 2 weeks. I am never sure what sets it off, but frequent baths seem to take care of it.
Thanks for the post.
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- 4. lili | March 23, 2011 at 5:52 pm
  
  thanks, Elizabeth. I am bathing Boogie twice a week but he still has the itchies and flakies. I am going to bathe him more often and hope for the best.
  Reply
5. Sarah | May 31, 2011 at 10:26 pm

I have a boston terrier who also has itchy allergy issues, and gets particularly bad hot spots during the season. I have been giving him Duralactin with GREAT success! I give him a double dose on bad days and he is waaaay less itchy, eyes are less watery, etc. You can buy it online, and it’s basically a milk protein that acts as an anti-inflammatory. It’s often used to treat arthritis, and my vet said it’s a great option because it’s not super harsh or invasive like cortisone or other allergy treatments that poor Mister Boogie might have to endure.

I get it here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9886
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- 6. lili | May 31, 2011 at 10:49 pm
  
  Thanks, Sarah! How often do you give this to your boston? And how long is it safe to use this? (eg. 1 week? 2 weeks?)
  Reply
  - 7. Sarah | May 31, 2011 at 11:37 pm
    
    Hey Lili,
    I give him a half in the morning and a half with dinner, unless it’s a really bad day and then I’ll double his breakfast dose. My vet didn’t have much experience with it, but advised me that it would be safe to use indefinitely, along with benadryl when it gets bad. Between the benadryl and the duralactin, he hasn’t scratched at all! The benadryl makes him a little bit sleepy, but the duralactin doesn’t seem to affect his energy, appetite, bowel movements or personality. It is seriously life changing 🙂 He is a MUCH happier puppy these days. We also recently switched him to Hill’s Prescription brand D/D hypoallergenic food. It’s a little pricey but it makes a HUGE difference!
8. anti aging skin | July 6, 2011 at 11:38 am

i guess that is definitely true, you just need more baths.
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