Moulting/itching?

[Willo]

Olli seems to be scratching a lot and is also moulting like there's no tomorrow. I'm brushing him at least twice a day and quite frankly I'm amazed he has any fur left! There doesn't seem to be any damage to his skin but he's constantly either scratching or grooming himself, he's also very sensitive when being brushed - his back legs give it yippity when I touch him.

Is it normal for him to be so sensitive and itchy during a moult or should I be taking him to the vets?

[wildmoor]

no its not normal
how old is he now? maybe bathe him in something like quistel it will help sooth the skin and loosen dead fur
if he is still then scratching and you cant see any evidence of fleas or other parasites then you need to take him to the vets

[Willo]

Thanks for your reply, I have already bathed him but just used a natural remedy in soaking some oats in water and then using the drained water as the shampoo before rinsing him thoroughly and towel drying him in between brushing him.

There's definitely no evidence of fleas or parasites and as I say there's no actual damage to the skin anywhere on him.

Olli's just gone six months old.

I'll phone the vets in the morning for an appointment :-) wouldn't care but we popped in on Monday night for a weight check and to pick up his advocate dose (which I put on him that night). He's 26.5kg now.

[wildmoor]

was he itching before you put the advocate on him?

[Willo]

Yes he was, I had hoped that the advocate would have helped but there doesn't seem to have been any difference.

Olli has been swimming a couple of times in the River Tees/ pond fed by the Tees over the last few weeks so I'm wondering if it's got something to do with that. I'd thought that maybe the advocate had worn of quicker because of the additional water exposure but there's been no difference since putting it on on Monday night.

I think it was thurs evening I noticed the more frequent scratting.

[Willo]

Well, we went to the vets this evening and we've come to the conclusion that Olli has an allergy to something but we're not entirely sure to what. So he's been prescribed piriton which I've given his first dose immediately (3 x 4mg twice a day) so I'm hoping that helps with some relief and tomorrow we start a lamb and potato/rice diet for three weeks with absolutely no treats at all.

Vet said to feed Olli as much as he'll eat but didn't give me any idea of ratio eg 50:50 or 75:25 lamb to rice/potato. Anyone got any suggestions?

I'm grateful I've got a cash and carry card so was able to pick up some minced lamb straight away at a decent price to give me chance to source some more. I paid £9.99 for 2kg of lamb mince. Does anyone get lamb any cheaper from anywhere else?

Oh and does doggy piriton have the same effects as human piriton in that it makes me drowsy so will it have a similar effect on Olli or do they use the none drowsy version for dogs?

Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance

[wildmoor]

do you have any halal cash/carry or large store as your lamb would be half that price

[Willo]

Absolutely no idea about halal stores or cash n carry but will have an ask about. Thanks for that thought :-)

[GypsyGSD]

I give Aisha a piriton tablet daily I buy it from the local chemist but never tell them its for the dog lol this was on advice of my vet it helps when her allergys flaire up x

[Willo]

An update on Olli;

We've got the itching under control which unfortunately has meant the use of steroids which I'm not overly happy with so hoping to get him off them asap. I've also swapped him from Eukanuba large breed puppy food to Wainrights Large Breed puppy food. Whether that makes any difference I don't know. I had the devils own job with food for Olli - Lamb and potato went straight through, chicken and rice was vomited back so he refused rice but was quite happy on just chicken though he didn't gain any weight that week. Last week he was on the steroids and i changed the food over he's put on 2kg so is not 28.5kg and not looking quite so desperately thin!

The reason I'm not liking the steroids is because of the side effects - he's drunk like a fish, eaten like a horse and sounds phlegmy on occasion too. His coat isn't as good as it has been with the odd tiny bits of dandruff and when I'm brushing him there's a white dusty residue on the brush which I assume is skin.

Olli had blood taken last week so I'm waiting for the results of the allergy testing, was hoping they were at the vets when we went this morning but they weren't. This morning Olli was sedated for skin scrape tests to be done. He's still a bit Space Cadet like now but seems to be none the worse for it. The vet said he would phone if there was anything of note on slides but haven't heard anything as yet so fingers crossed (i think!)

Poor Olli wasn't too chuffed this morning when he couldn't have his breakfast and despite being a bit wobbly this afternoon he soon polished off his bowl - consequently his dinner is now sat there with little interest (it'll get taken up soon if he doesn't eat it).

So the plan for the time being is steroid tablets every other day and because he's had a few red spots on the underneath of his legs we'll be having a bath twice per week with hibiscrub (I know he loves water but suspect he's not going to like this!) being left on for ten mins before being washed off.

If the blood tests show anything up then maybe we stand a chance of figuring out exactly what to avoid so he can come off the steroids altogether.

Fingers and paws crossed we find out soon!