We have a litter of 11 goldens and I just noticed that one of them has a lot of dry skin in it's fur. It has the thickest fur of all the pups but when I took it out in the sunlight I could see dry dry skin flakes not just dandrif but skin flakes many many of them. It looks kind of like it's stuck in the fur. Any ideas?
Thanks Debbie

Sounds like Cheyletiella. It's a mite that borrows under the skin, loosening large flakes of skin as it goes. Treat it with Frontline spray quickly because it can spread through a kennel very quickly. If you have an "old" breeder to guide you, ask them about using benzyl benzoate.

Hiya
If it is cheyletielle, frontline WONT work im afraid. You would need to first get straight down to the vet and get skin scrapes and coat brushings taken to study under the microscope. Cheyletiella mites remain on the SURFACE of the skin and are often described as walking dandruff. They are also contagious to humans, and although they will not last very long on a human host, they will still bite and cause nasty red patches. If it does turn out to be cheyletiella, you would need to get an organophosphate preperation with repeated treatments after 10-14 days to make sure all the immature stages are killed off.Also, treat the environment that has been in contact with the dog.
It could be something as simple as dermatitis. Either way. You need to get him down to the vet to get properly checked out. The microscope would show up what is wrong.
Good luck
steph
x

Interesting Steph. On the one occassion that I had it here, I used benzyl which my Vet said killed everything like that stone dead but I wouldn't recommend anyone else to use it without experience. He also said that we have nothing licenced for it in this country but that Frontline spray is the only thing that does any good. That was about 4 years ago. Maybe things have changed.

Hi val
where abouts are you? I am in the uk. Im not sure if you are somewhere else.
I am talking from experience as a vet nurse and what I studied. Cheyletiella isnt a nice mite at all...its even worse cos it can hop onto humans...not nice :(

Unfortunatly frontline wouldnt actually work and i dont know of any vets who would suggest using it.
Benzyl is used for disorders of the skin. It loosens the horny layer of the epidermis and causes it to seperate from the deeper epidermis.
Basically, Benzyl is used to treat mange in dogs. Unfortunatly though, mange is very different to cheyletiella (although they are both mites). I would seriously suggest the original poster (sorry..crap memory, cant remember the name) to get the dog down to the vet for some skin scrapes etc.
Glad you got it sorted when yours had it though.
x

I'm in Berkshire!! I was a Vet nurse MMAANNYY years ago!! Yep and that's what I was told, straight from the horses mouth, so to speak!
I'd treated my pups with benzyl (after looking at the scraping with a microscope) and paniced (that doesn't look right!) because two days later they were still scurfy and due to go to their new homes at the weekend. So I took them to my (then) Vet, and was told that what I had done would have killed anything that crawled anyway, but he then proceeded to sell me £90s worth of Frontline spray! Like everyone else, I become a 'wally pet owner' when it's MY dogs and I took it. When I came home and thought about what he'd actually said, I bathed all the pups again and the dandruff cleared, and I did all by big girls with benzyl, No problem. I returned the Frontline!!

Hiya
Im glad you got it sorted out in the end. Its not nice at all.
£90s worth of frontline???? God, thats very excessive. Dont worry, I too am a "wally pet owner" with my dog. I would sell my right arm for her if thats what it took. I think everyone is wallyish when it comes to their own pet. :D
Good idea on returning the frontline. It wouldnt have done anything to the mite ( but you would have very flea free dogs ) :)
steph
x

Thank you everyone for your posts I have 3 with it now and I'm going to the vet in 2 hours I'll post what I find out and what they give me. I'm in the US (Oregon to be exact) Thanks again. I hope I can get it cleared up within a week or so as they go to their new homes soon.
Thanks, Deb

just got back from the vets, we have cradle cap or dry baby skin. No mites. I got some conditioning shampoo and will be bathing them all shortly. Thank goodness. They will be 5 weeks old on Sunday and I've read a lot of posts regarding first shots. In the UK it appears that you wait until the 8th week if I'm not mistaken. My vet said that they can have the first shot at 6 weeks, what do you think and why do you wait until 8 weeks instead?
Thanks, Deb

Hi Deb, the timing of the pup's jabs depends very much on the area of the country you live in, at what age the pup left its mother, and the different vaccines. My vet won't give the first jab until 10 weeks (because you have to wait until all the antibodies it received from its mother have worn off), with the second a fortnight later.
:)

Thanks Jeanie, one more question if you don't mind. I do care very much about the homes theses dog go to. When you interview new owners how can you tell what kind of owners they will be. What questions do you ask? I have not sold pups before, and don't intend to again. So I'm not experienced in this. What is the best way I can insure a good healthy loving home. I have half going to reliatives but half will be sold. I plan on selling at the 8th week. Do you visit the potential home or is that to invasive? I'm feeling very uncomfortable about it. HOw can I give them the best chance. I don't care how long it takes I want good homes. Also, how do you say no. Do you come out and say you don't think it will be a good fit?

Oh, Deb, that's the very worst thing about breeding, and why I haven't had a litter for nearly 4 years! I hate vetting people and having to be suspicious.

I do the first 'interview' on the phone. If the first question they ask is "how much are they?" then the person is told they're all sold. Otherwise I ask why they want a dalmatian (my breed)....if they've had a dalmatian before...if not, have they had any other breed before...how old was it....do they have a secure garden....is someone home most of the day...do they have children...how old are they...where will the dog sleep (I won't sell to anyone who's going to keep the dog in a kennel)....are the people active, because the dog will need a lot of exercise....are they very houseproud....even does anyone in the family have to wear a uniform to work (white dalmatian hair on a navy-blue uniform is not an acceptable fashion statement in most jobs!!)....

I try to visit the homes if I can, or ask other people in the breed club to visit for me if the people are miles out of my area.

Saying no is very difficult. The best way is to honest, and say "Sorry, but I don't think these pups are suitable for you" - trying to be 'nice' only seems to make it 10 times worse (even though I have had enquiries from people who wouldn't make a suitable owner for a dead rat!)

I hate this bit!!!
:)