Hi all

I have been reading all about the Westie with itchy skin by HAMISH75.  I also have a Westie with a skin problem. My boy Hamish is 2 and a half now and it started a few weeks ago, a small bald patch on his hind leg, I took him to the vets and they prescribed Malaseb to bath him in, I tried that but the patch just got bigger so I took him back to the vets yesterday and they said its the equivalent of doggy acne !! (I must admit it does feel spotty but not red or sore at all) so they prescribed antibiotics and antihistime (Piriton).  He has been biting it a bit but not severely and he's his normal happy little self.  But I am so worried that this is going to turn into bad skin problems.  I cook all his meals, he has a little weetabix and milk in the morning and chicken, broccolli and carrots with a little star flower/ primrose oil added each evening plus a vitamin tablet each day, he has a few treats but mainly raw carrot sticks which he loves.  I have not changed anything in his environment and don't know what else to do.  Should I use the 'silver spray' that was mentioned (where do you get it from) and should I get some hibiscrub for him.  I am really worried after reading about what could happen to him, it must be heartbreaking for Hamish75 to watch her little boy in such awful discomfort I really feel so sorry for them XX  By the way when Hamish was castrated a year ago they put one of those collars on him and he hated it, so my friend suggested putting a babies vest on him and just undoing it when he needed to go outside to pee etc it worked a treat he couldn't bite his stitches and he didn't mind too much it was so much better then the awful collar, I just wondered if that might help Hamish75 XX

Hi

Sorry to hear about your little chap Hamish aswell, it is such a shame to see them not very happy i know how you must be feeling, does he lick his front feet like my little chap does? Luckily Hamish does not mind the collar on too much and i am surprised as he usually has a lot to say for himself!! I am not saying he is happy having it on but at the moment i feel there is no other option as he does too much damage to himself when it is off. What with his ear being sore at the moment he is in a pretty sorry state for himself. I have started today giving him some prize choice meat as i am not prepared to leave him on the Wafcol kibble that the vet said as he is just losing so much weight in not eating i feel he has got to start to eat something, you said you give your Hamish some broccoli and carrot do you cook this or feed it to him raw. Good luck with your little man.

Helen

Hello Helen

Yes Hamish does lick his front paws from time to time but not a lot, I was reading about the 'silver spray' where do you get it from, I also read on this site about Hibiscrub should I put that on him?  Yes I do cook the carrots and brocolli and mix it with the cooked chicken, Hamish loves it.  He also has carrots pieces raw as these help to clean his teeth as well as being really good for him.  I sincerely hope your little chap gets better soon, its heartbreaking to see them unwell isn't it. 

Jenny X

Hi Jenny

I ordered my colloidal spray from worldwide shopping mall and they posted it out to me the next day, somebody put the link on here, the postage was free aswell which was good. I received it this morning so am going to try it.
I have also read that hibiscrub is good but am using some special shampoo from the vets at the moment but am not convinced it is working.
Good luck
Helen

I have a 8 year old Westie who had skin trouble when he was younger. In his first year or so his front legs and at one time a rear leg had very little fur from him nibbling at himself in an attempt to relieve the itching. It turned out to be diet related, caused it seems by cereal ingredients such as wheat and maize - so personally for my Westie I wouldn't go near Weetabix. Many treats tend to be made largely up of these cereals so we steer clear of them as well; the only shop-bought treats we do give him are Nature's Menu ones.
I never found using the Malaseb to make much difference, although then again it did say to use it every day and  there was no way I was washing my dog that often as that'd probably do his skin and coat as much harm as good.

Many thanks brak3n I will definately steer clear of all cereals from now on, I'll have to think of something else for breakfast for him.  I agree the Malaseb does not seem to do any good.   Does anyone know where I can get the colodial silver spray from? and if anyone else has any ideas about my boy I would be so grateful

Jenny X

Our Bichon has had skin problems since being 17 weeks old.  He was on Atopicia a couple of months ago but it didn't do him any good.  He went to the vets last night and the vet has put him on Prednisolone tablets, Cimetidine tablets and Rilexine tablets which are for skin infections.  His anal glands were also very full despite having them emptied a couple of months back - this can also make them itchy.  He also gave him two injections and today he has hardly scratched at all.  I have tried Malaseb and Episoothe but they didn't seem to do anything for him.  Have you tried piriton tablets - these sometimes work -although our vet says they don't seem to work in dogs as well as they work for humans.

Hi Anna. sorry to see the Atopicia hasn't worked. When we last chatted we were hoping it might do the trick.  Sounds like he's going through the mill a bit as well. I take it things aren't any better then :(
Have you tried taking him to an holistic/homeopathic vet. I think some of things Safi is on are helping a bit. sprays to help desensitise her. PM me, and let me know how things are going
Anne