My new shitzu puppy is kennel club registered but was a bit quiet and reserved and didn't bark for a number of weeks after I brought her home. When I got her home she was in real need of a bath which I did but even after bathing there was an odour off her but I just put this down to the saw dust that she had lived in, but after a few days I noticed that she scratched a lot and seemed to have dandruff. The vet put her on an anti biotic low protein diet and a special shampoo treating for a yeast infection and allergy to food..

This worked for the duration of the antibiotic but symptoms are returning.  She has since scratched herself so much that she had bald patches but hair is returning.  Now there seems to be a pain in her feet and she licks them a lot.  She is now on a prescription diet and I use Malaseb shampoo twice a week.

Has this happened to anyone else?  Any advise would be appreciated.

hi cierac ive also got a 4month old shih tzu :) ...i think im lucky up to yet shes not scratching much only (around  her ears ) did you know this is a big problem with this breed?
if i was you i would get intouch with a good breeder and ask them about it ,even better ask her breeder ?

Good luck with your new baby :) 

My poodle Jack was put on a prescription diet and malaseb shampoo for a while when he was a pupp.  Sounds like your baby has a food intolerance which has caused all these symptoms - that was Jack's problem.  I found a really good hypoallergenic food that was miles cheaper than the prescription diet.  Glad to say he has never had any problems since - I think he must have been about the same age as your dog too.  Now that he is all grown up his digestive system is so much tougher and he eats goodness knows what now lol!

Hi, i had a similar problem and spent a  few hundred at the vets and found out in the end that it was down to the fact that my dog is allergic to soap in shampoo hence i now use soap-free shampoo called epi-derm. Hope this helps

Also, i have the same breed as you and mine always chew there feet and scratch like mad when they need their anal glands doing!

The best way to treat this is to put your puppy on a raw food diet (Barf) "google" it and you will find loads of info.
I have bichons which also suffer with itching and they are all on raw and don't itch anymore.The pups are weaned onto it
and I encourage their new owners to continue with it.
These vets special diets will cost you a fortune, a good natural diet will be much more cost effective and better
for your puppy.

Licking her feet is a sign of itching, it's something they do when they itch, it doesn't mean they have pain in their feet.
Her dandruff will probably improve when her diet improves.

Good luck with her.

Liz

You could have a blood test to test for sarcoptic mange - my Bichon puppy suffered for 18 months before the vet decided to do a blood test - they told me it was food allergy.  He also used to scratch and lick his feet a lot.  A few doses of Stronghold and he was fine.