Rash, upset tummy, allergies - help!

Chiquito has had a recurrent (most days) rash on his tummy/neck/under arms - he chews/scratches at his belly often as well as his sides and paws (may be a rash there but I can't see anything through the fur) .... today I found that he has a ten cent piece size crusty sore just behind his arm pit area and two dry bleeding sore spots around two of his nipples. (He has also been off his food for just over a week, has eaten little since Monday, nothing today and ..... his poop smells disgusting ).

The vet gave him a full check over today - other than weight loss, the rash and a mouth full of very wobbly puppy teeth/erupting adult teeth all with him is well. So we now have anti inflammatory meds, wet food (sooo not looking forward to that coming out the other end, but at least he is eating) and a cream (neocort) to apply to the sores and rash. She has also suggested that I do need to look at his diet.

The problem is that I have looked at his diet - this is the fourth type of biscuit I have tried him on, and he now has a mix of raw/dry .... each time we change things go well for a time then we end up back at the rash and upset tummy

Any advice, thoughts, suggestions would be hugely appreciated!!

Have you thought about a fish diet? I had massive probs with Moo and from advice here I put her on a fish kibble, cut out all chicken and it did wonders, for now ><

Have you had an allergy test done if you think it's a reaction based on food

janey wrote:

Have you thought about a fish diet? I had massive probs with Moo and from advice here I put her on a fish kibble, cut out all chicken and it did wonders, for now ><

I did the same with darcy, she's on a white fish & potato kibble, & the odd raw fish. She improved massively, we do still have the odd flare up but the vet thinks its a grass pollen/sap allergy, we rub her down after walks and wash her feet too to try and tackle this, I hope he feels well again soon, >< >< for you both

janey wrote:

Have you thought about a fish diet? I had massive probs with Moo and from advice here I put her on a fish kibble, cut out all chicken and it did wonders, for now ><

Thanks Janey. What kibble are you using?

Darcy-may wrote:

janey wrote:

Have you thought about a fish diet? I had massive probs with Moo and from advice here I put her on a fish kibble, cut out all chicken and it did wonders, for now ><

I did the same with darcy, she's on a white fish & potato kibble, & the odd raw fish. She improved massively, we do still have the odd flare up but the vet thinks its a grass pollen/sap allergy, we rub her down after walks and wash her feet too to try and tackle this, I hope he feels well again soon, >< >< for you both

Thanks Hayley. I do rub him down all over after each walk and when he comes inside at night for the same reason - the vet (and here) suggested grass allergy when it first starting happening.

What kibble do you use?

We use Arden grange, ocean whitefish & potato

jstaff wrote:Have you had an allergy test done if you think it's a reaction based on food

Didn't know you could do this - up and to today the vet has said that the most common (and likely) reason for the rash is contact allergy so we haven't really discussed food allergy.

Have you thought, as Janey says, trying a fish based food, or even going completely raw?

Have you tried putting anything else on the sore spots other than the cream the vet's given you? That sounds like a steroid cream?

She was on Fish4Dogs, and prior James Wellbeloved White fish

Caryll wrote:Have you thought, as Janey says, trying a fish based food, or even going completely raw?

Have you tried putting anything else on the sore spots other than the cream the vet's given you? That sounds like a steroid cream?

With advise from the forum we use dermacton cream, it works wonders, as caryll said your vets one sounds like steroid cream.

Caryll wrote:Have you thought, as Janey says, trying a fish based food, or even going completely raw?

Have you tried putting anything else on the sore spots other than the cream the vet's given you? That sounds like a steroid cream?

On the rash itself I have used aloe ointment, green and chamomile tea/oatmeal rinses and rubbing coconut oil into the dry patches. He has fish oil tablets each day and I've added salmon to his diet. I have also tried wiping his skin folds (necks, underarms) with apple cider vinegar (I am told it can remove yeast etc that can cause issues). Happy to try anything else you can think of though as yes, the cream is steroidal.

I have not tried fish based, am definately open to the idea though. Have definitely considered a full raw diet, but to be honest Caryll am really unsure how to go about it

Darcy-may wrote:

Caryll wrote:Have you thought, as Janey says, trying a fish based food, or even going completely raw?

Have you tried putting anything else on the sore spots other than the cream the vet's given you? That sounds like a steroid cream?

With advise from the forum we use dermacton cream, it works wonders, as caryll said your vets one sounds like steroid cream.

Thanks Hayley - will look it up