Expert: Delores Beck - 1/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello Delores

I have written previously to get your advice about my naughty girl that has a habit of talking back - I'm pleased to tell you that just following your advise with the eye contact and "no" twice resolved that issue!

Khloe has a slight itching issue that I would like your help with.  She is now 19 weeks old and we are transitioning her from Wellness Puppy Food to Innova Puppy Food - (after reading your comments).  I'm located in Bermuda and no one imports the other quality food you mention.  Our vet recommended we bath her twice a week in Nolvasan and we did that for the first month, in the last four weeks I have reduced this to once a week as the itching is less but is still annoying to her.  A friend of mine has a Labrador that has allergies, she baths him in oatmeal shampoo and swears that it is better than anything the vet could give me.  Do you have any thoughts on this?  We are also giving her the Omega 3 oil capsules recommended by the vet.

ANSWER: I'm so glad she's learned not to talk back :)

Are you using Innova EVO or the regular Innova? (Puppy food is a marketing ploy).  Rotate proteins - don't stick with one formula.

 And tell me more about her skin?  Any redness?
Rashy areas? Any odor?  What are you using for flea control?  (This is the first thing I'd suspect at this age).  With most flea control, the flea has to bite the dog to die but the bite can cause some dogs a lot of grief.

When you saw the vet, tell me exactly what he did?  Why did he recommend Novalsan?  Did he do a "tape or scrape" on her skin and go away to analyze it (takes minutes)?  What was his diagnosis?

If the bathing helped significantly reduce the itching, then it's possibly an inhalant allergy.
Dogs don't "inhale" things as we do re allerges, they absorb them through their skin so a bath literally removes the offending irritant.  This can be seasonal as it can be with us.  So your friend is right and unless there's infection (then you'd need a medicated shampoo) the oatmeal shampoo would do fine.  Khloe may need more than once every 7 days...try going to every 4 days - then 5 and find out what she needs to be comfortable.

The omega 3 oil is a good idea and you could try a course of antihistimine.  Your vet can tell you which one he's had success with in Bermuda.  I can also give you a list & dosages.
Omega 3 plus antihistimine works together better than either one alone.

And be vigilant about her ears.  Skin & ears = same problem.

So I'd like to know the vet's conclusions.  If it's flea allergy - there are things you can use to help repel fleas (like lavender oil) - If it's yeast, bathing and a final rinse of half white vinegar/half water will help.  Sometimes you have to experiment a little :)
Also - some aloe vera GEL (not juice) from a health food store (not something with aloe "in it") massaged in after her bath while she's still damp can also give a lot of relief.
An Oatmeal soak in Aveeno 100% colloidal oatmeal also can work wonders. (Comes in a box with packets of powder - a generic version is okay as long as it's 100% colloidal oatmeal).

Let's talk - answer my questions and we'll see what we can figure out.  Goal One is to make her comfortable.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, I'm glad the talking back has stopped!  

I'm still in the (slow) process of transferring her from Wellness to regular Innova - there is only one store here that sells this and the Innova EVO and they only carry one protein (not sure which though).  I'll check to see - but are you saying that I can get the regular Innova EVO instead of/along side the regular puppy Innova?  I think they do have the different protein in that case.

No redness on the skin and no rashy areas, it just looks dry and flaky.  She arrived here on 4 December and was REALLY itchy but even then she had no red patches or rashes (a bit red in the vaginal area) - just consistent itching (poor baby!).  I didn't see one flea on her then and none since which.  A few days later we went to the vet, I told him about the itching and the excessive licking in the vaginal area.  He did a tape test (in that area) - came back and said that she had such a slight amount of bacteria and yeast that due to her age he didn't want to give her antibiotics.  He gave me the shampoo and some medicated dry bath wipes - said to bath her twice a week and see how it went - as the itching slowed down after a month I switched it once a week   He also administered Advantage flea control (the right dose for her weight).  When the vet examined her ears he mentioned that they were particularly clean (for a cocker) and seemed pleased with her overall health.  He noted specifically that she didn't have any fleas or mites.

We are going back on 1 Feb for our booster shots so I will ask about the combination Omega 3 plus antihistamine.  I like to be fully armed with questions when I go to the vet office - visits are so expensive so I like to get my money's worth!  They seem quite vague about nutrition and its effects on her skin - so I'm grateful for this forum and your advise!

So that I'm clear on the Aveeno - are you saying I should soak her in a bath or that I should use this as a sort of shampoo (rubbing it into her skin etc) after its diluted in water?  I've seen some puppy shampoos that say colloidal oatmeal - should I give one of those a try?

ANSWER: Personally I'd go for the Innova EVO (no grains - great for cockers).  They have a red meat formula and a chicken/turkey formula.  You could use your regular Innova and mix in half red meat formula.  She's in a massive growth spurt right now and needs top quality food.

So her skin is dry & flaky..hmm..your vet sounds cautious, which is good, and didn't pump her full of antibiotics for a minor infection.  The fact she has both yeast & bacteria is common but that's why he gave you a medicated shampoo.  Which, he probably explained to you, must be left on for 10 minutes?  And to rinse like a maniac? :)

And no, vets know zip about nutrition.  They spend about 4 hours in vet college on that and it's all seminars sponsored by Hill's (Science Diet) - the worst food on the planet.

Okay - get her checked out for the infection.  Ask about an antihistimine (they often don't know much about that either..but never mind, I can tell you).  However, if this is due to yeast and/or bacteria, an antihistimine won't help.  

Yeast is a common problem with cockers, especially in warm climates.  I'd definitely give her a final rinse with half white vinegar/half water.  Yeast can't survive in an acidic environment
plus it's soothing for itching.

Aveeno - you take a packet of powder, fill the tub up and mix powder in it.  Pop dog in up to her back and sit there bored out of your mind for 10 minutes.

I really don't like Advantage for flea control and instead would use Revolution.  The reason is Advantage (like most of them) is a pesticide.  Revolution is a med.  I hate using any of it, but in Florida I'd be living in a flea heaven.  It also does mites and heartworm...and somewhat effective on some ticks.

All in all - I'm betting the minor bacteria has gone but yeast can be stubborn and if she's prone to it you may always need to intersperse a medicated shampoo along with her regular shampoo.  I'd keep using the Novalsan until you see the vet & follow with a vinegar/water rinse.  If she still has yeast, don't use the oatmeal soak.  Doesn't work - go for the vinegar rinse..and if there are certain spots, you can use a vinegar/water compress.

I think you may have cut the time between baths down a bit too much, too fast.
Please let me know how it goes.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'll check out the Innova to see if we can get the red meat formula.  Yes, we leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes......and then rinse like a maniac!

Unfortunately, the humidity gets to be 100% here so it looks like we're in for a lot of yeast infections.  I'll try the white vinegar rinse and see how it goes and try the bath once every four days - thanks!

Answer
I had no idea Bermuda had such high humidity.  And yes, that's hard on cockers.  I'd keep her short (puppy clip) and definitely do the water/vinegar rinse.

What I am concerned about is the dry, flaky skin so I'd really like to know the vet's assessment and I can recommend specific shampoos if it continues.

Do write anytime, Jodi.

I'm curious about your dog food store.  Usually if they carry Innova they carry other premium brands.  Ask if they have Addiction or Sojo's Complete.  These are raw, dehydrated - you just add water, wait, and serve.  
Delores