My 3yr old whippet has a skin problem and scratches till he bleeds particularly in the ear and mouth, Vet gave antihistamines but they don't help. Can anyone suggest anything please!!!!

Washing with Tea Tree oil in water and then rubbing in Aloe Vera gel can help. Urtica cream/pillules will also help with the itching. Alternatively Sulphur cream/Sulphur pillules will help skin problems.

I take it your vet has ruled out ear mites? for which Thornit is very effective (available by web).

All of these can be purchased from a good health food shop.

Better still take the dog to a homeopathic vet for a consultation. The Homeopathic vets here charge around £50 for the first consultation which lasts around an hour, and included a remedy.

Thanks Julia

I will try uticara cream and sulphur. The vet thinks its an allergy as it seems much worse after he has been outside. He wants to refer Harvey to a dermatologist & do skin scraping and blood tests to identify an allegen & make a vaccine. Does this seem extreme or should we have these tests?

Hibiscrub is very good for skin complaints.

Pam

My personal response would be to go homeopathic first. In the long run it is far less expensive, and usually works very quickly.

My young lab is allergic to gorse and comes out in large pus-filled blisters around his inner rear thigh. The vet suggested scrapings and making vaccines, but simply by washing him well with Tea Tree and aloe vera after he has been out, we are able to keep it under control. Hopefully he will grow out of it.

You could use Hibiscrub, which is also antiseptic, however I don't know where to buy that.

Thanks Julia
Do you add the tea tree oil to a carrier oil, before applying or do you put it straight into the bath. I have heard that if it is neat in the bath it floats on the water and doesn't absorb. Advice greatfully received.
Christine

Hi Tamarind, you should find some info on aromatherapy at the link below.
http://www.caninecaregroup.net/dogframes.htm

Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine

I tend to use it as a few drops cooled boiled water wiped on with cotton wool, or mixed together with Aloe Vera Gel.

regards

Julia & Hooligans

Have you tried Mixed Vegetable Tablets from Dorwest Herbs? One of my bitches had the same problem and we tried all sorts of treatments before discovering these tablets. She stopped scratching within a day or so of starting them. Hope this helps.
Ruby