Fedup of skin conditions

Just a little moan.

I am so fedup with poor Molly having skin conditions... demodex rather badly, mastitis still to be resolved and now a foot sore between her pads (i think from a yeast infection). Who knows how inbred he parents were horrible area we got her from.

Does anyone know of any products to boost her immune system? I will try anything!

I have no experience in this sorry, but I do feel for you both poor Molly its horrid when you just cant help them. Sure someone will be along soon with suggestions. Hope things start to improve very soon for you and Molly xx

There's a product calld Echinacea. It's a foreign antigen which causes no harm to the dog, displaying no symptoms, but it triggers the immune system. When the immune system can't find anything to fight, it just boosts itself and waits. However, these shouldn't be used 100% of the time - two weeks, then a week off should work. Otherwise, the body will realise that there isn't anything to worry about and will stop producing the immune response. It also contains a natural antibiotic similar to penicillin. However, you should contact your vet about this first if you want to use it, to make sure you have all the information.

Aloe Vera is also a good immune booster. It contains acemannan, which boosts the lymphocyte and macrophage response to antigens.

There's also garlic - great for the dog in a number of ways. I'm pretty sure there's a thread here somewhere about it. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Thank you. Would I buy them as dog products or human? Will research them

I'm not too sure about the first - I've never used it myself, which is why you should talk to your vet about it first, as I'm not fully aware of any negative effects it might have.

The aloe vera is available in dog supplements. You could try Pets at Home for that.

Garlic can be given fresh to dogs. Not too much though.

Vitamin B complex is supposed to boost the immune system.

With the yeast infection, try bathing in a solution of apple cider vinegar & put a couple of teaspoons of it in her water.

Dermacton spray is supposed to be very soothing.

Daisy had really bad demodex and the vets said she has a poor immune system, I give her echinacea powder for a month and then have a month off, have done this since last December. This is the one I have

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NaturaBoost-echinacea-powder-250g-dog-immune-booster-/190381700878?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Steamers_Cookers_PP&hash=item2c53a2370e

I have also more recently started giving her Vitamin B complex tablets, one a day, I used the 60 that I bought and have been giving her a couple of weeks rest from those too. These are the ones I bought.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vitamin-B-Complex-/200863120900?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Vitamins_Supplements&var=&hash=item2ec45ffe04

I also give her neem powder for a few days each week, this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORGANIC-NEEM-LEAF-POWDER-100g-pets-mange-scabies-flea-tick-worms-health-immue-/110998520655?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item19d807034f

and she has apple cider vinegar in her food too but I know a lot of people use that. It's now 5 months since she got the all clear and she's doing great.

Hope this helps

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Resist-Herbal-Supplement-CSJ-natural/dp/B009AR7OGM#productDetails What do people think of this?

I am going to order the vitamin B tablets as well as the apple cider vinegar and another vet trip booked tomorrow re her feet!

Looks good to me, the main ingredient is echinacea  

Do mention the supplements to your vet tomorrow. I did and they just said it was OK to try anything like that, it may or may not help but certainly wont do any harm.

I had bad problems with Axl's skin, he would lose hair so had bald patches, was constantly itching and licking his paws, vet said he may have to go on steroids for allergies which I really didn't want as he's still very young. Anyway I was told about Yumega Oil from Lintbells and I can say 100% that I've never known anything like it, within 4 weeks of having a spoonful a day on his food he stopped itching and his hair started growing back, slowly but still, it was growing. Anyway 6 months later its like he never had anything wrong with him no paw licking, no scratching and his coat is amazing, very shiny. I recommend it I also use Yumove for a limp he had for ages and that's gone too. The stuff is all natural too.. its good stuff

Thanks for the recommendation  

Yumega is brilliant, but it won't combat specific allergies.

I will speak to my vet tomorrow just to make sure nothing will interact with her current meds and then order lots. I was also thinking of changing her to a raw food diet, I just wouldn't want to order anything that wasn't free range (I own chickens and had pigs - wouldn't want another critter suffering in cages/crates). Need to be researching that.

If you have a look in the diet and nutrition section you'll find lots of threads and info about raw

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f29-staffordshire-bull-terrier-diet-nutrition

Yes, Louby has had nothing but skin problems since we got her, and isnt covered on insurance as they say her skin conditions are pre existing.. She had has Demodex which in the last 2 tests has showed it gone, but she was still itching etc, so now they say she has allergies, she is on james Wellbeloved hypoallergenic food, and thats it, and then she has an antihistimine am and pm, and they have put her on steroids too, which we are trying to reduce as time goes on.
Im not too happy about the steroids though, the vet said that they are not the best long term, but better to have a dog not itching for 11 years rather than a dog itching & uncomfortable for 12 years!! But a si say we are reducing them down,. But we did make a booboo this weekend, as she is going to training classes and we need to have nice treats for her, we took suasages, now she is back to itching again. We need a hypoallergenic treat for her that doesnt crumble.

Good luck with all the above (sorry about my long post) x

Another vet appointment later we have Surolan for her feet, the cone has to remain on her head and anal glands squeezed. Another appointment in 5 days or so and then the referral.

Our vet thinks that she may have a hormone inbalance as she thinks her bits are a little larger than normal as well.

Ah poor molly, she really is having a bad time of it  

Thanks Sazzle just worried now as I have been researching hormone imbalances and they can stem from tumors etc must stop research and trust the vet x

Yeah don't get yourself all worried unnecessarily  

Aww poor molly, hopefully your vet gets it under control asap

Sorry if you've already gone through this but what are you feeding her? I agree with Sazzle on looking up raw food diet. Fish will probably be good for her skin, for instance.

Aww poor Molly. I hope you can get this resolved soon! I would definitely order the vitamin b complex, it is great for boosting the immune system!

Aww poor Molly! Its a horrible feeling when they have something wrong, and no matter what you do, it doesn't help much! I know the feeling and what you are going through as Rocky has a bad case of Demodex at the moment, has been ongoing for almost 2 months now, and the patches of fur he is losing is insane, constantly itching, I feel so sorry for him, but the best thing is knowing you are doing everything you can to help! I hope she gets better soon! x

Oh poor Molly ... sore and itchy skin is just the worst! I do hope she has some improvements really soon  

I hear you with the being fed up bit! Chiquito is currently in a cone collar every day to try and stop him opening up sores from a particularly bad bout of allergies. Still working on his immune system and what works for him, can give some suggestions on dealing with the skin issues though ...

To echo all of the above .. apple cider vinegar (with the mother), fish oil daily (1000mg per 10kg of weight), a raw diet, daily antihistamine and washing feet and tums when they come in each time they have been outside all help. Chamomile tea (cooled) also gives some relief from soreness and itching and can be used as a wipe, and/or a mix of chamomile, frankincense and lavender oil with aloe leaf juice is good spot on for itching/cooling.

For the yeast issues a medicated shampoo and conditioner such as the one in the link below work really well (the shampoo can be used up to twice a week as a wash as well as a foot soak in between without drying the skin and causing further irritation, and the conditioner can be used daily)

http://www.pawbyblackmores.com/products/mediderm-shampoo

Hope all of that helps some