Hi im new here this is my first post .... I have just rehomed a westie bitch which was going to be dumped if I didn't take her , I already have one westie. She is three year old and has large bald patches which are really itchy for her she is also quite thin . The person i got her off said shes sometimes itchy and the vet gave her atopica i think it was called a tablet in a green box . I am gonna take her to the vet but literally have no money until I get paid in three days so can't untill then . I know westies can have really bad skin but I couldn't let her be dumped because she's so sweet .
   Also she smells really bad even though I have bathed her in exmarid shampoo from the Petshop .does anyone know of anything I can do to stop her itching and make her more comfortable till I can get her to the vet . Also any advice about the smell .
   Thankyou all advice much appreciated

I would get your vet to rule out other issues with similar signs such as lice, flea infestation or sarcoptic mange. Food allergies can also cause similar skin problems and can exist concurrently .I have  evening primrose spray , but you would have to be careful what you used  for the smell .My vet certainly wouldn't worry about me paying him , he would rather see the dog  and I would pop in later to pay , depends what relationship you have with your vet .Very kind of you to take on this westie ,,,they are known for skin issues, so you have taken on a life of vet bills as well . Hope you can sort it .

I'm afraid to say this looks like a dog that is going to demand deep pockets.  Probably why she was losing her previous home. 
Are you in a position to register at the PDSA?  This could well be a chronic condition and you will not be able to now get her insured.

Unfortunately some Westies do suffer with skin ailments, agree first port of call is the vet to have the problem identified, anyone about to dump a dog they own I wouldn't listen to a word they say, get the official report on the problem, I agree that it could be indefinite and an expensive problem.

Your wonderful to have taken her in, but if you can not cope financially then don't, if you can then I hope you will keep her as she will need a good home as she is very unlikely to be a first choice for anyone else.

Best of luck, let us know what the vet says. :-)

I'll let you know what they say but it will be a few days I just want to keep her comfortable till then

well done for taking her and btw welcome to champdogs. Hoping the vet can help you , can you use the pdsa at all ? thinking costs.

Not sure about the Pdsa think I'm out of the area
Found a few ideas hunting on here so I'll try a couple of them too I've read about bathing in hibiscrub I'm a
Nurse so I have dome of that so I'll try that too . She hasn't got fleas but I front lined her anyway her bald skin is black I read something about that can't remember what now though . She is insured I insured her with pet plan as soon as I got her as I've learnt from experience ( i owned an uninsured great Dane which got bloat a heart breaking mistake on my part ) she's insured with pet plan

I insured her with pet plan as soon as I got her

Don't forget she won't be covered for the first 15 days ( I think it's this number of days ) How long have you had her. I speak from experience, my new dog was very ill in the first couple of weeks of insurance and cost me over £1500 before the cover started, and then was not covered for this illness from then on.

Well done for offering her a good home it sounds as though she needs a caring owner.

>She is insured I insured her with pet plan as soon as I got her

How long have you had her? You might well have a dilemma, because if she needs vet treatment before the insurance kicks in then that will be a pre-existing condition and they'll never cover it. On the other hand, if she's suffering (and it sounds as if she is) then you're morally and legally bound to seek veterinary treatment for her as soon as you can.

I won't let her suffer she'll be at the vets as soon as I get paid on tues wether the insurance pay or not .

Ellie well done on taking this Westie on especially with bad skin shows how caring you are. Id a westie on Atopica. She was put on it after prolonged use of steroid injections There have been previous posts on Atopica. Run a search on Westie Skins and on Atopica. The vet also gave me Maliseb Shampoo for bathing Rosie. Hope all goes well for you and the wee dog
Jean

> hibiscrub I'm a
> Nurse so I have dome of that

Assuming that you don't mean you have taken it from work you do not have to be a nurse to have hibiscrub, anyone can buy it :)
I am not sure the insurance company would cover this as I doubt they could be persuaded that this condition has only occured after the policy commenced.

The skin problems are likely to come up as a pre existing condition for insurance.  She is obviously in an advanced condition and your vet will need to say this when they describe her symptoms and treatment when making a claim...

I have a dog that was diagnosed at 9 months old who suffers from pollen/grass allergies.  He is worse at certain times of the year but it never really goes away and I have to be vigilant.  IF I were ever to stop, or leave him, I cannot imagine how bad he would be - it doesn't bear thinking about. He is on monthly injections from the vet and is insured, however the bills for his treatment are roughly equal to the amount I pay for his insurance which is £700 per year.  On top of this I need to pay his excess of £70.  Other costs include a minimum of 2 Piriton per day and a Hibiscrub wash after every walk.  I also buy Dermacton Cream for any sore patches and a hypoallergenic washing liquid for all his bedding.  He cannot use fleece for any length of time as it exacerbates his itching so I keep him on wipe clean Tuffie beds with natural fibre covers (he has 2 beds but the others have to have them too - 7 beds between 3 dogs!!).

On top of all this, and because of his daily care regimen, there are only 3 people I'd trust to look after him which means that going away is a bit tricky as well :)

Well done you for taking her on but do not underestimate the cost of dealing with a dog who has allergies.  The investigations alone, with the 'trial and error treatments', were expensive (York test £200, creams, steroids and umpteen consultations).  I wouldn't swap my boy for the world but I could buy a whole new dog every year for the amount his allergy costs me!!l

You need to get to a vet as soon as you can but yes do start with a twice daily wash in a dilute solution of Hibiscrub - it will do no harm - but remember to dry her thoroughly or she'll keep licking and making herself itch

Would not touch this dog with hibi at all!! It's very drying and could make the skin worse. Malaseb is the way to go for this dog or try something with aloe vera until you get tothe vet. And insure insure insure!!! BEFORE you go to the vet. Go to the vet and you'll have an immediate exclusion for skin disease. Insurance will probably require a 2 week period before any claims so think very carefully about it!!

Thinking about it malaseb could be POM only but allermyl isn't you could buy that and try it. Been a while since I've had a look at meds cupboard at vets 

> And insure insure insure!!! BEFORE you go to the vet.

That would involve lying in the declaration.  Apart from the moral consideration this would be a criminal offence which would be easily exposed on the first vets report.

> That would involve lying in the declaration.  Apart from the moral consideration this would be a criminal offence which would be easily exposed on the first vets report.

It's a rescue dog. They are usually given a blank slate where no previous veterinary history is available.

> It's a rescue dog. They are usually given a blank slate where no previous veterinary history is available.

But the owner would have to declare that at the time of the Insurance the dog is believed healthy and showing no signs of ill health or medical conditions and that would be untrue.

> But the owner would have to declare that at the time of the Insurance the dog is believed healthy and showing no signs of ill health or medical conditions and that would be untrue.

Exactly and with the nature of this condition, particularly considering the breed, the insurance company is likely to be on the ball in confirming with the vet when the symptoms are likely to have been first apparent.

> But the owner would have to declare that at the time of the Insurance the dog is believed healthy and showing no signs of ill health or medical conditions and that would be untrue.

Then that is all the new owner can abide by...
There may be some vets out there who are sympathetic to the cause and find a way of playing it down.... My point is, work with the vet and don't fill in any forms or say anything to the insurance company beforehand.