Hi my dog has recently started scratching much more than usual (she used to alot but then terriers do tend to so I am told) anyway - she has scratched so hard she has made herself blead and rash like. I know she doesn't have fleas - I just don't know what it could be - any tips on how to stop her ?
Her coat has also gone a bit greese down her spine - which is unusual because it was always very corse like it should be.

Anyway - hope someone can help........ Karen

Have you had her thyroid levels checked recently? If they are underactive, her hair and skin quality do change for the worse :(

My westi mix has been on Thyroid pills for about 3 weeks and her coat/skin have really changed along with her muscle tone for the better. No more scratching or licking :)

Or it could be something with the drier air in your house from the heat. Have you tried changing her shampoo?
Personally, I don't think Terriers scratch any more or less than other breeds....I've never heard of such a thing, but I could be mistaken -- WL, where are you? :D
good luck,
toodles

Hi Karen,

unfortunalty this is quite common on westies.

Can I ask?

What you feed the dog?

How often do you bath her?

Is she on the grass alot?

When did this start?

What age she is?

Without jumping the gun here I will wait and see what you come back with.

The greasy skin and scratching till bleeding is symptoms of allergies and the sooner you can deal with it the better. It is harder to control when it gets out if hand. I will try and point you in the right direction ans also could advice you of a few people I know with these problems who I am sure would offer you help.

BFN

Pam

Fortunately for me, I have little experience of treating allergies, Pam is right Westies are more prone to skin problems than many other breeds. I dont think it would be a grass allergy at this time of year but believe many are allergic to the house dust mite among other things.
Where is the dog scratching - is it all over or just in some particular places? Have you checked for ear mites as untreated they can travel into the coat?
Is it little scabs the dog is scratching at ?
Is he hot to touch?
Does he "smell funny"?
Is his skin a brighter pink than usual ?
My immediate treatment would be to change the diet to BARF or Burns complete food, or de-boned cooked chicken and plain boiled rice+SA37 vitamin powder.
If he is due for a drop on flea treatment I would use Stronghold in preference to the other brands as they kill mange mites - just in case it is mange.
Its important to stop the itch/scratch cycle until you find out what is causing it. Although we all try to avoid using steroids, a short course of prednisolone will relieve his itch/scracth in the short term, if he is making himself bleed he may get secondry bacterial infections which can be as hard to shift as the original problem. If your vet does prescribe preds, be aware you need to wean him off them gradually - dont give him one a day for 7/14 days and then just stop. If you have a magnifying glass have a good look for "scurf that moves" as it could possibly be lice, in which case there may be tiny brown eggs attached to his coat especailly on his hind quarters/hind legs. Dont be offended - he would have picked them up from another animal - not your fault!
Once you have ruled out many legged "visitors" then its almost certainly an allergy to something, but it may just be his is too high protein, so I would change the diet first, my preference being the "real" chicken and rice. If you use Febreeze or carpet powder - stop now!! If you can answer all of Pam's and my questions we may be able to help further.

Hi westie lover - will try to remember all your questions as I write this!!!
here goes .....
She tends to scratch in the same places - but then thats pritty much everywhere!! She also bites at her bum alot. I've searched her skin for fleas and all things moving and can't see anything. I don't think she has ear mites - as she went to the groomers a couple of weeks back - and she didn' say anything about it - and they look ok to me. I don't know whaty mang is? We did give her strong hold when we first treated her for fleas - but it wasn't so effective with the fleas so since then we have used frontline. We have wormed her and de flead her yesterday as she is due to be done this week as it happens.
She does smell funny (kind of swetty), and her skin is more pink and it is like little scabs in verious places - but then there is a big patch of broken skin on her back too. She bits at her feet alot too. So all in all - an itchy scratchy dog.

What do you think? Love Karen xxx

Hi Karen

I'd get the vet to take a look at her back.

>>>>> her skin is more pink and it is like little scabs in verious places

This sounds very much like my Golden lad who had a problem a few weeks ago. We don't know what sparked him off but this is what he had superficial pyoderma
A course of antibiotics and a medicated shampoo and he is now fine :)

It may be something totally different but worth getting your vet to take a look

Sara :)

Also while I think about it Karen - if she has a big raw patch on her back definately get her checked over :(

It could be an infection in her skin which can be treated BUT you will still have to try to get to the bottom of the problem that made her itch in the first place.

Sara :)

Hi Karen, It does sound more like an allergy to something. Mange is the name for an infestation of the mange mite - a microscopic insect that lives mostly in and under the skin. When they have mange they have a particular smell about them - the smell reminds me of mice! Biting at their bottom sometimes means that the anal glands need emptying, which the vet can do for him in a trice. Enlarged anal glands can be a problem for dogs on a too high protein/fats diet. Dogs often bite their/chew feet when they have discomfort somewhere. If she has had regular flea treatment then continue using Frontline, rather than the Stronghold then as it doesn't sound like mange to me, now you have expanded on it. We are no substitute for an experienced vet - but I really would change the diet asap to something already suggested, as it can do no harm and may just be the answer to it all. It can take a couple of weeks for a change of diet to show any improvement so dont expect miracles. Good luck, let us know what the vet said.

Hi Karen - my westie bitch was 7 months old when she started to chew her paws. She has been blood tested for allergies (cost £300 but she is insured) and is allergic to house dust mite,grass pollen and soya in food. For the house dust mite we were told to throw away her soft toys, let her sleep in a non carpeted room and to spray the carpets to kill the house dust mite (you can get sprays in Tesco).

Our westie gets very greasy,smelly and dirty purely due to the allergy (a healthy westie should have a dry coat) and as a result she has to be bathed weekly (twice a week when she was at her worst). We get Malaseb shampoo from the vet. When she is bad with secondary infections she has to have antibiotics also. She is also on steriods. She is worse when the weather is wet.

We are currently feeding our westie on cooked (was frozen raw) tripe (she won't eat it raw) plus a small amount of spinach,brocolli or cabbage. We use to feed her on tinned tripe and has definitely improved since we took her off it.

I don't know how much help any of this will be but it probably helps to know that you are not alone with this problem.

BFN
Ailsa

Hi Ailsa,

I can't speak for karen but anyones comments I feel help in these situations as I know people are almost in dispair when it is their puppy or dog.

The blood tests I used to think were great but in most people I know who have westies and had the test done they have all come back with the exact same result. If you are insured that is great but if not I always sugest trying all the suggestions first. Like some of the ones you have mentioned. ( The tinned triped aint got much tripe in it and that is why you see such improvements with the real stuff)

The supplements and good food don't actually fight the alergy but it helps build the dogs immune system which fights them and makes the dog more tollerant.

Glad you have an improvement Ailsa. Please let us know how she gets on.

BFN

Pam

oh yeah - and hot to touch!!!

Hi Pam - Jess is 6 months old (yep we are waiting with baited breath for her to become a woman!!!) - anyway - she's always been a scratchy dog, but over the last week she has got worse. We had her stripped a couple of weeks ago - but I know that the lady used proper shampoo for westies that is gentle on the skin. We feed her on science Hills - and at the moment she is on a special hills diet because she had some blood in her poo. It seems to me that she is going to be an expensive dog - ecuase it always seems there's a problem!!
She has also recently stoped weeing so much (just twice a day over the last three days) - and also less in the pooing department - but maybe thats becuase shes getting older and doesn't nead to go so mnuch (although she did have a problem when she was 4 months when she got a back log and kept throwing up because she was a bit bloked up inside and I really don't want that to happen again.

SDo like I said - she seems to be one of those dogs - but I love her (used to have a springer spaniel and he went to the vet twice a year just for a check up!!) - oh well!!

Ta - Karen xx

Hi Karen,

Right we have a start at least... first thing is get the dog off that diet..it is not suitable for westies at all. The protein amount in it is

mental. I have spoken with at least 20 breeders over the last 4 or 5 years and everyone has adviced against SP for westies or any of that

nature.

If you don't want feed a natural diet then feed burns, buy it on line http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/products.html#pups

Buy the one with the lowest protein count lower thatn 20% if possible.

It would be better if you fed a natural diet..I am not pushing raw down your throat but it is good for them. If you like a cooked diet of

chicken is good also. ( Never feed Cooked bones) Raw bones are fine.

Westies are best not shampoo'd regardless of the brand of shampoo the only thing that agrees with them is Hibiscrub which you can get

from the chemist, I would recommend this. it is also avaliable online at £2.56 +vat

http://www.selles-firstaid.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Biohazard_Control_3.html

The next lot is going to sound daft to you maybe but believe me it works.. I know irt works as I have seen it working on many dogs.

Kelp tablets, Garlic tablets, Spinach leaves ( ASDAS sells them fresh) Evening primrose caplets.

If you can get a bit of chicken roll put the tablets inside and roll up like a kebab put in the mouth and tilt the head back, rub the pups

throat..my lot think it is a treat now.

Apple cider vingear is good as a rinse for feet and their bodies it discourages them from chewing..

The blood in her poo may be because she is blocked up, get some veggies into her..mashed carrots in moderation.

I hoestly would advice doing all of this asap...tommorrow if possible as I swear when it gets out of hand it is hard to get on top of it.

I have some not so nice pictures of westies with skin problems and they are not pretty.

My westie bitch I have taken every precaution avaliable with her as there were a couple from similar lines who also had problems ( the

breeder did not know unfortunatly until it was too late) and touch wood my Holly is fine and now at 16 months, not sure if it is me that has

prevented it or that she is OK anyway but won't take any risks with them at all.

I have probably missed loads of things but at least you have some thoughts now.

Speak soon

Pam

Hi again!!!! wow you guys are so cool - with all your knowlede!!!! Its so kind of you!!!!

I don't get why science hills plan isn't good!!!! - I trust you - don't get me wrong - its just that its recomended by vets - doesn't make sence - and you'd think when you tell the vet you've got them on it they would tell you to change it!!!! - I think that made sence!!! - Anyway - so this burns stuff is popular? never herd of it myself! - and as good as the leading brands? Thats why I put her on hills in the first place - because I thought it was the best because its all they sell in vets!!

Also - how do you wash a westie if shampo is no good for them? - That stuff you recomended (sorry I forget how to spell it!!!) - will that clean her then?

Someone else sugested it may be pyoderma? - we wll take her to the vet anyway on thursday as I booked an appointment just incase - and we will get her started on some of your famous wraps!!! How many of each do you give? Just once a day?

Ta again for everything!!! Love Karen xxxxx

Hi Karen,

Been there with the Science plan etc.. Vets are paid commision and lots of it. These big Comercial maufacturers also donate heavily to vetnary research..there is you answer. ( well in my opinion)

I had a boxer who continually threw up her food after eating...£100s of pounds later at the vets, someone adviced me to change her onto a natural diet. I am not kidding when I say this she stopped being sick within 48 hours and was not sick again.

Re the Bathing of the westie. This is where it pays people to research thier breed fully before buying one. We have all been there so don't worry and asking advice is the best you can and have done.

Westies have a harsh double, waterproof coat. You waste it by bathing them, because it is so thick when you do wash it (if you insist) soap can get trapped and cause irritation to the dogs skin,

Daily brushing and some light chalking ( corn flour or baby powder) helps take the excess muck out the top coat. The problem is when you start bathing you get in a cycle as you soften the hair which then gets dirty easily.

The Hibiscrub it a great antiseptic wash and it is also good at combating any mites or fleas that are there you may have missed or think the dog doesn't have.

I use garlic tablets for flea control and spray on frontline 2 times a year.

Vets are great people but they do run a business and have to make money.

I went to the same vet for 10 years until my boxer was cured over night, I changed to a agricultural vet who was very pro natural diets and did not sell comercial food on his premises.

Right that is it for me , off to bed.

Pam

PS karen,

6 months is early for these problems it is more common if they are going to have then for it to happen after the first or second season , this would make me moce quicker on it.

Also all the supplements I mention below and the Apple CV are avaliable at any health food shop such as Holland and Barrett.

Pam

My Westie dog has been treated for itchy skin. He nibbled his legs alot which caused alittle bleeding and scabs. Vet gave me some shampoo to wash him in which did help. Discussed with Vet his diet and it turned out i was giving him too much protein and bread. I tended to mix tinned puppy food in with his Nutro dry to get him to eat it. He loves toast and i used to give in to his pleas. I stopped all treats and mixing his food (he now has only Nutro and only occasionally toast. His itchyiness has improved. He does scratch but not excessively and definately not to the point of bleeding.
I recently bought some Thornit has he's had ear mites in the past which i think transferred to his paws as he was always chewing on them. I've not had to use it yet. I took someones advice on rinsing puppy's feet in apple cider vinegar to help break the habit of chewing paws which seems to have worked.
So far so good.
Good luck with your dog.

Bugmad was that me that told you about the Apple cider.. :-)

Maybe not :-( LOL

Pam

Yes Pam I believe it was.
I've only had to do his paws a couple of times. Apart from the improvement with chewing on them the apple cider brought them up really clean with a lovely shine.
I rec the Thornit the other day but have not used it yet. I know this will sound stupid but should you use it if their not showing any signs of ear mites. I mean can you use it as a prevention as well as a cure.

Also i'm acting on your advice about giving Buddy garlic and evening primrose oil daily in the hope it will help with the 'orange stripe' problem down his spine. I will let you know if it works.

Many thanks

Budmag

Hi Bugmad,

I keep the thornit in my drawer and only had to use it once but as soon as I see a change at all I will use it. So I guess the answer is use it only if his ears are itchy or and red. It does work and I know alot of the people on here also swear by it.

Glad the ACV is working.

Hopefully you will notice a change with the stripe , I think I noticed it clearing after about a month ( I think) LOL

Most of the tips I have gotten from elsewhere but when I speak to the people I alway say " Hey I passed your tip on to....."

PS keep at the diet as this is crucial. When there is too much protien and waste it comes out of them one way or another whether it be throuhg skin . poops or combination.

BFN

Pam

Hi , don`t know whether you might find something on the link below. Hope you do.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_itch_relief.html
Christine, Spain

I use Thornit preventatively - each dog gets a tiny pinch in each ear once a week - just in case - my cat brings ear mites home from his wanderings - little darling!! He's a wizard mouser/ratter though, so I forgive him all!

Hi everyone!

Took Jess to the Vet today and he gave her some anti biotics and special shampoo - its called MALASEB - got to be used twice a week for three weeks and then once a week - so thats a whole lot of bathing!!!

He thinks she will be ok with that, and said we can give her half a piriton a day in the future to stop her feeling so itchy. He didn't know why it had started but said it could be a tick or something. We've sprayed the house for flees too!!

I guess its just one of those things - and we have looked on the web page you gave Pam for the Burns but can't find one with less than 20% protien in it - it says 21% - is there one less than that then?

Still not sure what amounts of the tablets to give the kebab?

Anyway - i think thats everything - thanks everyone for all your help - its been really kind of you all!!!!!

Take Good Care - Love Karen xxx and Jess!! xx