Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 7/21/2006

Question
hi,
my dog has sebboreah..his skin is dry,itchy, and it smells..i know he needs to be treated with steroids and special shampoo. do you know if i can get what he needs over the couunter? the vet i brought him to is insisting i bring him back yet again and will be charged another$300 before he will give the medicine and unfortunately i just do not have the funds. I am treating him currently as best i can. do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Seborrhea can be treated with special medicated shampoos that contain sulfur and salacylic acid.  Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse it.  It needs to be done 3 times a week for at least 2 weeks.  There are drugs that can help control seborrhea, but they would need to be prescribed by your vet.  Omega3 fatty acids also have a very beneficial effect in seborrheic diseases, but they take 30-45 days to take effect. Antibiotics and antifungals are used to treat the secondary infections that come with seborrhea.