Bacca's skin funk is back! Really bad!

I'm sorry I missed this thread before xmas. So sorry to hear that you're going through this with Bacca, you guys certainly have been through a lot together. Really relieved to hear that he's doing better after the round of antibiotics. Poor guy must have been so uncomfortable with all that itchiness!
 
Antiobiotics kicking in. Bacca is definitely getting better. Monday, he'll get another bath which hopefully will loosen up the rest of the scaley skin so that I can brush it out.

I truly don't think its diet. I think its just a symptom of his hypothyrodism that moved into its next phase.

There is no shortage of vet products out there, but when it comes to encymes, sometimes I just give the boys a heaping tablespoon of greek yoguort.

I'm no vet, but I assume if his thyroid #'s are in the normal range then there shouldn't be a next hypothyroid phase. His meds should be providing the correct hormone dosage that his body is not producing. If it is, then his #'s would be in the normal range and he shouldn't have hypothyroid symptoms like skin issues, lack of energy, weight gain, etc.

If he still has any low thyroid symptoms despite being on medication then you might want to get him re-tested to make sure his thyroid meds are the right dosage. If it is all normal, then his skin issues are most likely not thyroid related. At least biologically I don't think it would be. Of course this is something you should discuss with your vet if it doesn't clear up.
 
Yeast

Yes I agree, if his thyroid is under control then it could be a yeast infection. I think you feed Bacca raw so not sure how it could be yeast but Max had yeast infections and hypothyroidism and have had the same symptons your speaking of. Max is grain free food, no oatmeal baths, sometime I give him a tablespoon of Greek yogurt if I see the symptoms coming on?

Please make sure they do a test for yeast. Phoebe was diagnosed with everything under the sun but no one did a yeast test until I took her to Dr. Jan Hall at Guelph. Thousands of dollars, many vets, a few years and more than one time thinking it was the end of the road for her I took the advice of a breeder friend and treated her for yeast. Presto, she has been totally normal for several years now. What all the drugs did in those early days - well who knows if that has contributed to her current issue. At one time she was on an human anti rejection drug that was super expensive if I got it from the regular vet but cheaper at the university because they get so much of it. She does lick her feet when they are wet but not to the point of causing dermatitis and limping and she goes out willingly when it is wet out there - a real issue before as it made her feet itch. She had little hair left on most of her body, red inflammed skin, plugged pores, chronic ear infections and lip fold dermatitis and when she wasn't scratching she was chewing at herself. BTW, her yeast test came back as having slightly more yeast than normal but not enough that they would consider her "yeasty". I use Plush Puppy shampoo for sensitive dogs on her which I get from the dog show vendor. You can PM me if you want to know what the course of action I took with her was. My vet now uses it on her hard to treat cases with good success.
 
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Yes I agree, if his thyroid is under control then it could be a yeast infection. I think you feed Bacca raw so not sure how it could be yeast but Max had yeast infections and hypothyroidism and have had the same symptons your speaking of. Max is grain free food, no oatmeal baths, sometime I give him a tablespoon of Greek yogurt if I see the symptoms coming on?

Thought I would recap so that everyone knows what's what.

Bacca's skin funk surfaced a few months months ago. I considered this a new side effect of his hypothyrodism.

He also had his entire bloodwork redone for both hypo and liver a couple of months ago. Hypo is fine, liver not so much. He's on new meds for his liver...Zentinol.

His skin funk got worse, so I brought him back about 2 weeks ago. Now he's on antibiotics for infection and a special shampoo two times per week (a real treat in the wintertime) No oatmeal shampoo for him because that made it worse.

His condition is gradually getting better, but not finished yet. But his energy level is back, and he is scratching alot less.

On Thursday he goes back for an ultrasound for his liver. I don't know exactly what that's going to tell us. I already know he's got liver disease.

That being said, I see dogs coming into my store in alot worse shape...not by neglect necessarily. When I see these dogs, I count myself blessed with my boys!
 
Thought I would recap so that everyone knows what's what.

Bacca's skin funk surfaced a few months months ago. I considered this a new side effect of his hypothyrodism.

He also had his entire bloodwork redone for both hypo and liver a couple of months ago. Hypo is fine, liver not so much. He's on new meds for his liver...Zentinol.

His skin funk got worse, so I brought him back about 2 weeks ago. Now he's on antibiotics for infection and a special shampoo two times per week (a real treat in the wintertime) No oatmeal shampoo for him because that made it worse.

His condition is gradually getting better, but not finished yet. But his energy level is back, and he is scratching alot less.

On Thursday he goes back for an ultrasound for his liver. I don't know exactly what that's going to tell us. I already know he's got liver disease.

That being said, I see dogs coming into my store in alot worse shape...not by neglect necessarily. When I see these dogs, I count myself blessed with my boys!

Sending good thoughts for you and your sick pup. I have been catching up on all posts and wish you the very best of good puppy luck.

I have had great fortune with Fromms food for my sheltie girl. If you go to the Fromms site, they quote chapter and verse about their food and all ingredients, including what sources of meat they use and where their bone meal source is from. They are ethogyuin (sp.) free. They are so helpful if you email them as well. I found a lower protein and fat with no grains and though Harper is losing weight slowly she is losing. I decided to put her on lower protein and fat as our shelties, as you know, are prone to liver and gall bladder problems. Her skin is beautiful and her coat is shiny and bright.

Do keep us informed.

Hugs,
Kate
 
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Well, crap!

He would for his ultrasound yesterday. The vet tech left a voicemail saying the Vet is reviewing the results and is consulting with experts on whether or not he may actually have something called "hepatocuaneous syndrome"

My preliminary research on this this fits with his skin funk (which I thought was related to his hypothyrodism, but perhaps not). My also preliminary research on this is that it is usually fatal, but usually in older dogs.

Needless to say, I'm very upset but soldering on to see what I can find out more about this.....
 
As I have read from the beginning,and trying to piece together what has been done,and what has not,I have to ask the same question..why has'nt a skin scraping been done from the beginning.
I think after all the OTC meds,this & that,I would have had it done to begin with to rule out staph etc..

Sure hope they get it figured out,and it turns out not to be serious.
 
Well, crap!

He would for his ultrasound yesterday. The vet tech left a voicemail saying the Vet is reviewing the results and is consulting with experts on whether or not he may actually have something called "hepatocuaneous syndrome"

My preliminary research on this this fits with his skin funk (which I thought was related to his hypothyrodism, but perhaps not). My also preliminary research on this is that it is usually fatal, but usually in older dogs.

Needless to say, I'm very upset but soldering on to see what I can find out more about this.....

I'm praying, Barb, that this is not the diagnosis.
 
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