Hi All

Not posted an update on here for a while about my westie robbie but just thought i would let you all know how he is getting on, well our last lot of ab's for the skin was back in January when he was very poorly after his booster vacs that the vet denied was anything to do with his boosters, i changed my homeopathic vet to a recommendation from our dog trainer and we haven't looked back since fingers crossed, we are still feeding the natural instinct raw diet as she was against us changing onto anything different but wanted him off of chicken so he now has the turkey complete from them. The change in him is amazing his coat is fantastic now no pustules since earlier in the year we have eventually cleared his feet up after the vet giving him steroid spray for his feet and wanting to do biopsies which i refused, we started using diatomateous earth powder well what amazing stuff we put it on his feet every night and he hasn't licked at them now for 4 months the fur is still stained reddish but they have said this will take a long time to grow out but the swelling inbetween the pads has all gone no redness no nothing i cannot believe what this powder does but it sure does work, would recommend it to anyone with a dog licking at its feet even the homepath is now recommending it to other owners with the same problems.
He has a once a week remedy from the homeopath and some aloe vera liquid to go onto his food and also in ear drop form to help keep his ears clear, the anal glands we are now down to once per month emptying from every week and hopefully in time we can drag that out more and more, she said this wouldn't settle overnight but hey you cannot expect miracles, he is a much happier little boy now and enjoying life and looking well on it at long last, just glad i stayed off the oral steroid and atopica route that they all wanted me to go down.
We are even looking at getting him a playmate in the near future as the homepathic vet thinks this will be the making of him as he is such a lovely friendly boy that he just wants somebody to play with, not sure whether a boy or girl to go with him for a companion though so any ideas would be very grateful, i would love another little boy but not sure if 2 westie boys are a good idea or not?
Never thought i would be posting such a positive message about him but truely i just cannot believe how well he is and especially with it being high pollen season at mo he is amazing.

How lovely to read such good news about Robbie :)

I'm off to google the diatomateous earth powder - my Tanzi gets itchy feet when they get wet.

That's really good news, and lets hope Robbie continues to show improvement.

Regarding a playmate, I think I'd opt for a girlfriend for him.

Thats a shame had my heart set on 2 boys, is there no chance 2 westie boys can live together then?

That's an impossible question to answer, as there are never any guarantees that 2 dogs will get on, whatever the sex. But I would say that a dog and bitch are more likely to get on, usually with the bitch being the boss!

great news,im glad your hard work is paying off.hugs to robbie!

Have often wondered how you were getting on, great great news, all the best to you both.

Great news about Robbie, long term allergies and problems can be soul destroying, looking for a needle in a haystack!!

I feed raw and a lot of the food does have a large percentage of chicken so you have to reed packaging very carefully. When dogs have upset tums many vets reccomend chicken and rice but there are so many dogs sensitive to chicken! Fish and mash for my lot when this happens.

Hope the improvement continues, I expect he is feeling much better!!

Before Freedom of Spirit had a bit of a 'posting personality' change she/he used to recommend Diatomateous Earth quite often and made it sound pretty impressive.  See an earlier thread and link here

> Thats a shame had my heart set on 2 boys, is there no chance 2 westie boys can live together then?

I know that popular wisdom suggests that a dog and a bitch is the best combination but I have 3 boys living together very happily.  One is neutered but two are entire.  It may be a breed issue though as my chaps are pretty chilled at the best of times so do talk to an experienced breeder before deciding.  Alternatively you could consider adding a different breed...

Great news about Robbie by the way - it must be a bit of a relief :)

Like dogs a babe, I have males with no issues.  A Border Collie, a Yorkshire Terrier and 4 Long Coat Chihuahuas.  No fighting, and any odd scuffle sorted easily.  (Usually me reminding them that, if there's any growling to be done, then I'll do it!)

But, in all fairness, I do have bitches, so any showing off is usually to impress the girls, and I won't allow it!  :-)

Thrilled to hear Robbie's news, as I have followed his journey all the way.  :-)

So pleased for and Robbie's good news xx

I'll pass on the earth powder to my friend.  Will you swap to a homeopathic booster/protection or try a differend brand.  Do you you know what brand the original injections were.  it might help other Westie users if they have similar issues.

i think he'd like a companion aswell, can't help you on what to get though, dogs a babe and jewansw manage with multiple boys. 

Fantastic news Helen so plaesed it is all working out and I hope you find that new playmate for Robbie soon

Wow Helen....That's fantastic news....! :) I often wonder how Robbie is getting on and it's great to get an update...!

In response to whether to have a boy or a girl as a friend for Robbie....I would say either...!

If you opted for a little girl....then there would be nothing to rule out maybe having puppies in the future...as your experience to date is now invaluable...

I'm so glad that you and Robbie.....came through the horror and misery of a skin condition in such a positive way....and also that your Homeopathic Vet is now recommending Diatomaceous Earth....

Give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for that...! :)

Namaste xx

Another Helen :)

Before theres a big arguement on here re robbie having a family of his own he has been castrated so no worries on that score i wouldn't have bred from him anyway carrying the skin problem gene as i wouldn't want to pass on bad luck to other people, i want a companion for him and always wanted 2 boys as i do like the boys but have had mixed reports on whether 2 boys can live together or not, some westie breeders have said yes and some have said no, ideally i know a boy and a girl would live more in harmony but i have never had a girl before so not sure what they are like.
As for the vacs i will not be having him vaccinated this year, the homeopath suggested having him titre tested possibly end of next year to see what his levels are and then go from there, he had such a bad reaction that i said never again.
The diatomateous earth powder is amazing stuff and i cannot praise it enough i know it won't work for every dog but hey it worked wonders for our robbie, i know we probably will have spells of up and downs but i am making the most of the ups at the moment and he is much happier for not being on ab's all that time, just glad i never took the vets advice and gone down the biopsy route and went homeopathic route instead, my vet was of the opinion i was being cruel to robbie in not having the biopsies done but i think it was more cruel for his bank balance than anything and he said that homeopathic drugs were so watered down they would never work, the last time we saw him i said you know you said they would never work well look at him now and he was gobsmacked and didn't know what to say, must admit i enjoyed the look on his face and when he checked his feet he had to admit how much better they looked, although he said they still had some way to go before they were back to normal but i said they won't be back to normal overnight
Gonna see the homeopathic vet as my main vet now she is amazed how well he has got on and so am i.
Looking forward to getting a friend for him but just need to decide boy or girl now and then get on the waiting list for a well bred pup i guess.

Please keep this thread on topic so that Helen can share her good news and glean a consensus of opinion on a companion for Robbie.

Good to hear that Robbie's doing so well - that must be a huge relief to you - and him! Fingers crossed he goes from strength to strength.

As for a companion for him; I'd suggest you contact the breed club/s and ask for advice. They're the Westie specialists and will know what combination is likely to be best, and will be able to tell you what to look for in a breeder to minimise the chances of getting another pup with problems. However I'd also listen to my gut instinct - if you prefer dogs rather than bitches then go for another dog; there's a large enough age gap for you to be able to give a new pup the attention it needs without putting Robbie's nose out of joint, and as Robbie's castrated it's very unlikely the pup will challenge him.

Does Robbie enjoy playing with other dogs, just out of interest?

> he is a much happier little boy now and enjoying life and looking well on it at long last

Great news :-D

I'm so pleased to hear Robbie is better, as I seem to be going through much the same thing with my Westie.  He doesn't have problems with paws and lips but his skin started going black last summer and he sometimes comes out in scabby lesions on his back which is very itchy.  Malaseb helps the itch, but not the blackness and the vets don't seem concerned.  Now, since January he has anal gland problems too and is also having to have his glands emptied every two weeks.  I don't know why, I hadn't changed his food, he'sd been on Burns Fish and Rice for years with no problems and firm (tho not hard) poos.  I did change him eventually to Wafcol Salmon and Potato for 8 months or so but that didn't seem to help.  The vets keep emptying his glands and have given him anti biotics and steroids and I changed his food a week ago to Burns high fibre food plus a small carrot with each meal but he has started scooting again today so it doesn't seem to have done anything.

Was it the the diatomateous earth powder that cured Robbie's glands do you think?

It is a very confusing issue, I don't know if the skin and anal issues are linked or separate (the vets don't think they are linked but don't seem that interested and haven't suggested any particular foods or anything to help) and some sources of information seem to say to increase fibre to address anal gland issues whereas other sources say a high fibre diet is the cause of anal gland issues.  Well, I've tried high fibre for a week and it certainly makes things more productive but doesn't seem to express the glands so I'm thinking of trying Chappie.

I'd be interested and grateful to learn from your experience!

I've just realised I mis-read your earlier post.  I thought you put the powder on Robbie's feed, not on his feet!  So it probably isn't the powder that solved his anal gland issues - doh!

I would be glad though for any more details on what you feel has turned Robbie around.

That really is great news for you both. Ike has been having anal gland problems and foot chewing (just one paw!)
for some time now as soon as the paw starts to improve  he starts to lick it again!
His anal glands need doing internally by me every few weeks. The vet said it's because he's very muscular and the exit is not clear thus makes it almost impossible to empty them fully. Have given him oats & veg with his food. He does a perfect poo twice a day; no problem there. He's just unable to empty gland sacs properly.
I have cleaned his paws with diluted HiBi scrubb and then used Thornit. I think I'll give D E Powder a shot.
I'm still left with the anal gland problem but a unstained paw healed could be a start
All the best to both....Jill

Hi All

Sorry not replied to your messages but been out of action for a few weeks had a fall and fractured my back so back and forth to hospital at mo so apologies again, as for robbie he has been back to the vet this week and he is amazed at how well his feet are doing the D E powder is amazing stuff and i would recommend it to anybody who has got a dog that licks their feet, my vet was not impressed when i first mentioned i was gonna use it but he has now had to eat his words because he can see the marvellous results it has done the redness and swelling has now all gone in his pads and he wanted to put him onto steroids which for me was a big no go.
As for the gland issue we are now having them done every 6-8 weeks which is marvellous to what we were at around christmas time which was every 7-10 days i personally have stuck with the natural instinct dog food which i know some people on here don't like but myself have found to be very good with robbie and it has done him good he has gained the weight he had lost his coat is looking fabulous and his glands are getting better, his poohs are firm and the company themselves have been extremely helpful they even sent me free samples thru until we hit on the right food that agreed with him and that to me means they care in the 1st place, he is now having the turkey complete and it has been brilliant he has been on this now since June and we are slowly introducing tripe into his diet and then going to introduce another protein at a time, i am not sure whether his glands will ever not need emptying but keeping our fingers crossed that maybe we are now on the right track, i certainly would never go onto a kibble again i know that for sure.
As for robs playmate well that has now had to go on the back burner until i am back on my feet again, not sure if i am gonna need surgery myself so perhaps next year.

Great news about Hamish but sorry to hear about your back. All the best to you both.

Glad to hear positive news about Robbie. There is no right or wrong, if this works for you and your dog then just continue as you are.
Sorry to hear about the back hope it improves quickly.

Absoltly brillian. I agree with sawheaties if it works thats great dont worry about the rest of the world. Just really pleased for his good progress.
Do hope you feel better soon and they can sort you out.

Thank you very much for this.  I think I'll have a look at the Natural Instinct dog food then.  Pip has now been on Fish4Dogs for two weeks and is still having problems with anal glands but has now progressed to licking his paws and making them sore too.  :-( 
He's having to wear an Elizabethan collar all the time to stop him.  Sigh.  I hope we manage a fantastic turnaround like you have with Robbie!  I've been hoovering like a demon just in case he's allergic to dust mites.  The house has never been so clean!

Get better soon,

Hi

Have you tried the diatomateous earth powder this worked wonders for robbie and we use it every day in the evening when he has been for his last walk and he has not licked his feet now for over 5 months which is marvellous, i know it won't work for every dog but i cannot sing its praises enough the vet was talking about steroids or atopica as the last resort for his very sore feet but even he has to agree that this stuff has worked wonders. Do you have carpets in your house we have laminate flooring so not sure if carpet could be agravating him but good luck and let us know how he gets on, what breed is he again?

Hello
Pip is also a Westie, but he's not a youngster, he's nearly ten and has been fine all his life until last summer and he's lived in 4 houses with a mixture of carpets and hard flooring!  The only thing I can think of that could have triggered it is that we had a new carpet put down in the living room in the summer.  BUT the dogs aren't allowed in the living room all the time, the door is kept shut all day until the whole family goes into the living room in the evening to slob out in front of the TV (so glam!) and even then the dogs don't sit on the carpet, they sit on a leather chair with me.

Fish4Dogs doesn't seem to have worked so I'm going to try him on the Natural Instinct food, and if that doesn't do it, I'll have to assume it's something other than food and try not using the living room for a couple of  weeks I think.  And maybe invest in some of that powder too.  I wonder if I could put it on his bum as well as his paws?!