I have adopted a Newfoundland. Apparently he is highly allergic to fleas. We have had him dipped, but his skin is extremely dry and he keeps itching to the point of losing his fur and bleeding. We have tried using fish oil capsules. Any ideas?

*EDIT* He is not bathed on a regular basis. So that's out of the question.

I have adopted a Newfoundland. Apparently he is highly allergic to fleas. We have had him dipped, but his skin is extremely dry and he keeps itching to the point of losing his fur and bleeding. We have tried using fish oil capsules. Any ideas?

*EDIT* He is not bathed on a regular basis. So that's out of the question.

That is too bad, he is a water dog after all. What did they diip him in ? I would add a supplement to his food, dry kibble I assume, as in a good quality vegetable oil, tsp at a time, one a day; will take a while to kick in where you will see a difference . A huge dog and I know for sure susceptible to hip dysplasia, so you have taken on quite a package of dog. However, lovely breed, effectionate, good with kids, needs a lot of excerise.

How old is he by the way ?

Tick

I have tried everything (as you can probably see by my posts) I ended up with giving 'baby benedryle' (SP?) (suggested from my Vet) when we have winds or dry weather.
Although Shaz says don't give human drugs unless your Vet has said to.

I tried and am still doing oatmeal bath, sweet potato and salmon food for allergies, home made cookies, etc.

I still have Salmon oil (to put on the food) in the fridge that only gave him pinkish skin on his belly, didn't look good, so held off. Waiting... to... try... again...

He doesn't bleed, but still is constantly scratching!

That is too bad, he is a water dog after all. What did they diip him in ? I would add a supplement to his food, dry kibble I assume, as in a good quality vegetable oil, tsp at a time, one a day; will take a while to kick in where you will see a difference . A huge dog and I know for sure susceptible to hip dysplasia, so you have taken on quite a package of dog. However, lovely breed, effectionate, good with kids, needs a lot of excerise.

How old is he by the way ?

tick

He's 4 years old. Was my father's dog, but when Dad passed the responsibility was given to my mother. He was chained to go outside as he wanders. We have a fenced yard, and kids and 3 other dogs for him to play with. Huge responsibility I know, but Mom wanted him to go to a good home where she knew he was taken care of properly.

I'm going to try an oatmeal paste on his hot spots. Any other advice?

Oatmeal paste will dry his skin out more, will eliminate his anxiety and itching but not much more. I would use a good moisturizer, J-9. He has a few layers of hair, maybe tough to get to all the hot spots but you can do your best. Do you have Gold Bond moisturizer, something non allergenic ?
Aveeno moisturizer is oatmeal based and non allergenic. It sounds as if he has had this condition like forever. Healing has to come from within, but he is still a young dog, out of puppyhood.

It won't be hard to get to the hotspots. We had him shaved as he moved from a cool climate to a HOT climate, so the hotspots are highly visible. Aveeno is on hubby's shopping list right now. My sister mentioned that it may be stress too.

Thoughts?

Hi J.

Congrats on the new addition.

I found a website that has a few home remedies you could try.

All about skin related problems & diseases in dogs, including natural treatments - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia - (http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/HEALTH/skinremedies.htm)

Our border collie has dry skin as well. When I do bathe him we use a mild dish detergent as recommended by our vet. It's worked wonders.

After his bath we rub him down with vitamin E cream (not gel, cream) and that seems to help.

As for stress, very possible. He's been moved into a new home, he's probably a bit unsure of his place. Lots of tlc and hugs and he'll come around. :)

Pictures? :)

We just got some hydrocortisone spray recommended by the groomer. Sprayed it on and he seems a little less itchy. We'll see how that works. Will start adding the veggie oil to the diet as well.

I don't really need to add much, you guys have said it all!

I will give you my case though,
With my white boy he was always itching and had dry skin.

Turns out he was having problems with Beef, it caused a bad reaction in his skin and staining around his rear (obviously with a newfie you wouldn't be able to tell if he was stained)

I switched from beef to lamb and started feeding a couple of cans of sardines a week (in oil) and now he has improved greatly.

A lot of dry skin problems can be caused by diet.

If he has bad allergies then I would suggest not doing flea dips on him, buy a spot on treatment (the ones that go on the back of their neck) I have had less trouble with them and they are more effective.

And finally, thanks for adopting :)

The hydrocortisone cream worked wonders. He did not scratch all night and is still sleeping soundly. Catching up from all that missed sleep I'm sure. I know he does have a problem with diet, so we are lucky to be able to get the same food mom was feeding him, so there has really been no change in diet. We are adding the veggie oil to the food, and will try the sardines in oil.

Thanks guys!!

I hope he stays itch free from now on!

I hope he stays itch free from now on!

Oh, so do I. I just feel so sorry for him when he scratches, he's so lovable, I hate to see him hurting. The spray seems to have worked. Prescribed to use it 4x a day, but have only had to do it once yesterday, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Also, he is an indoor dog. He hates the outside. Probably because for those last 2 years he had to be put on a chain while outside.

I'm going to try the sardines :) You said a couple cans a week? Our cans I think come small, like maybe 4 ounces. Is that the size you were thinking? I have 20 lb and a 10 lb or so (pups) and they share the food (even though there are two separate bowls)

Do you chop them up? Or just give as a treat? Do they like them?

Sorry for so many questions.:eek:

I' not sure how big the cans are exactly... there are about 4-5 sardines in each can with a ringpull thing on top. (I have run out so I can't check)
I feed dog sausage so I just mix it through the chopped up sausage, they love it!
Mine also aren't big dry food eaters, pour a little sardine oil over it and they gulp it down.

I have a 10kg dog and a 8kg b*tch and they get a can between them twice a week.

J_9 - it makes me so angry when people chain their dogs up, what is the point in even having a pet if it's just going to be left alone all day outside :( Thank you for giving him a better life, and give him a cuddle from me ;)

Shaz, he wasn't chained up all day. Just for his potty breaks, twice a day for a half hour each time. He was an indoor dog and loved so very much, but mom knew we could give him a better life with more exercise (she is 73 and doesn't have the energy or strength that a newfoundland needs).

So, in essence he was very spoiled and very loved, and even slept in bed with mom, just needed more room to roam at potty breaks.

The story is this... Dad wanted a dog very badly, and mom gave in under the conditions that he walk, feed, and clean up after the dog. They got Xander in December 2006. In March, Dad went into the hospital and never came home. Mom was left to care for the dog, he was 2 then.

She is on a limited budget so can't afford the vet bills. She would only put him outside the house 2 times a day on the chain. He was very loved and very spoiled, but had to go on a chain or he would wander away. Mom is getting too old to walk him and doesn't have the strength anymore to walk him, thus the chain. She keeps in touch with us almost daily to find out how he has acclimated to his new family.

Everyone here has made some great suggestions. The only thing I'll add is that my dog used to have the same issue and I found an oil specifically for this problem. If memory serves me correctly, I believe I got it at Wal-Mart but you probably could find something similar other places as well.

It was specifically to treat dry skin in dogs. I'd put a tablespoon or so on her dry kibble at each feeding. Over time her skin wasn't dry or flaky and her coat was shiny and healthy.

Ahhhh sorry J_9 I thought he was a rescue case, I need to learn to read better :o

Sounds like she did the right thing then letting you take him, even if he was loved, finances come into play with animals.
At least they can still visit him :)

I'm still waiting for pictures. ;)

Alty, he'd be too embarrassed right now if I showed what he looks like now.

Shaz, in a sense he is a rescue dog. I rescued mom from all the vet bills, and I rescued him to a life with children and other dogs to play with. Mom was worried that he would die a young death as he had no one to play with and no one to exercise him. She refused to give him away unless she knew he would be taken care of and that she could visit him when she needed to. It was the last piece of "Dad" that she had left.

You must promise photos once he is all cleaned up then ;)

My mum is like that too, she refuses to rehome dogs. I was lucky to get the two that I have (they used to be hers) she just couldn't cope with the amount of dogs she had and had to do something.
Now I have my two furry babies.

I'm sure he will love all the attention and walks he's going to get, he will love visits from his "mum" as well, mine still get excited when my mum comes around even though they have become very attached to me.

I'll post pics when I get them. He is strangely camera shy and runs, even backwards, whenever he sees a camera.

Many years ago I had a lovely Samoyed, male, and every summer I would have him shaved, not right down, because they burn easily, are as susceptible to melanoma as we are. I was told by the groomerthat he had to have a pom pom on the end of his taill because I regulates their body temperature. Apparently they can get chilled easily when shaved. I also learned over time that he didn't have to be shaved, their double coat protects them from heat and cold.

I hope they left a bit on the end of his tail.

Good for you, J-9, Newfies are lovely pets, big and lumbering, but very affectionate and very aware of their size. Love to swim, too, but I guess you know that.

Kindest regards

Tick

Tick, the groomer did not touch his tail or his head. They left quite a bit of fur on his entire body, it's just that he's scratching it off in what looks like stripes on both sides. Mom was told that he is highly allergic to fleas and that this has happened before, she just couldn't afford the vet bills any longer. I'm trying to avoid the vet if I can, but I can afford to take him if we have to. I just know that there are some home remedies for this dry skin.

As a nurse, I'm trying to use my critical thinking skills as to what to use. Someone told me to rub those areas with wesson oil, but I'm not too sure about that, although it does make sense.

We have decided to stay away from the oatmeal and are using Excel Hydrocortisone Spray. We feed him one fish oil tablet a day along with an odor free garlic tablet. We are hoping that the garlic will keep the fleas away naturally.

I have never tried garlic but I've heard it is supposed to work really well, same with lavendar.
Diatomaceous Earth is another natural remedy but it works very slowly.

It sounds like you have all bases covered. My training allows me to treat my dog with common sense and what I do usually works, although she is pretty problem free and always has been, just some minor glitches in her l2 years with me.

Right now I am getting her through her senior years with a supplement specifically for her sight, joints, muscles, appetite and it seems to be working, her step is perky again !

Tick

Fish oil and an egg yolk (remove white) a few times a week helps ,just add it to the kibble.I used it on my German Shepard for years.

There is also a possibility that he could have a bacterial or fungal infection which could be passed to your other dogs.

I have used the oatmeal paste for relief on hot spots and it worked.You would think it would make them even more dry but the vet recommended it and it did ease the discomfort.

I'm pretty sure it's not a fungal infection as mom told me that it happens with stress and/or diet, as well as a terrible flea allergy.

So yolk not whites huh?

Anyone know if the garlic will repel the fleas? We are using that on all 4 dogs now.

My sister is all green and she uses brewers yeast with garlic and is very happy with it.
The combination seems to be more effective than just garlic alone.Can be bought in a health food store.
There are also other benefits for the dog,but I don't know what they are.

My sister is all green and she uses brewers yeast with garlic and is very happy with it.
The combination seems to be more effective than just garlic alone.Can be bought in a health food store.
There are also other benefits for the dog,but I don't know what they are.

Very interesting. The combination, in humans, helps to keep our bodies free and clean of bacteria. People who use this combo also have fewer fungal infections and seem to have a healthier digestive system.

Very interesting. The combination, in humans, helps to keep our bodies free and clean of bacteria. People who use this combo also have fewer fungal infections and seem to have a healthier digestive system.

Thanks for the info.I did not know the benefit but she is happy with it and I know she researches everything she gives her dogs.

Don't know if it works for dogs, but it does for humans.

I'm trying garlic because I use it in my houseplants. Keeps all bugs away and is natural.

One quarter cup of brewers yeast in a quart of water and spray on. I went through my old books of old remedies. If you like beer then, you will have a dog that smells like it. No, just kidding. There are cautions apparently with garlic, it can make a dog lethargic. Best to check with vet first, is what it says. In this case it was a travelling vet or a person that did that as well as shoe horses. So, yes, the book is pretty old. But came from an old part of Toronto where our street had blacksmiths (they doubled up as midwives too). I knew you would like to hear that J-9 !).

You should have a pretty good asrsenal gathered by now, or a pretty good list. Maybe you should add vet to your list of accomplishments too, after this !

Tick

I have never tried garlic but I've heard it is supposed to work really well, same with lavendar.
Diatomaceous Earth is another natural remedy but it works very slowly.

Shaz, diatameceous earth is pretty abrasive. I know it doesn't look like that. I use it to kill snails around my flowers. It tears them to pieces if they try to cross over it. Nice try:rolleyes:

Tick

LMAO Tick!! They were not human midwives were they?

I'll keep a watch on the garlic... got some brewers yeast in the cupboard.

Sorry, but have enough on my plate without adding vet to my list. LOL

LMAO Tick!!! They were not human midwives were they?



Of course, that part was a man's world and I guess if they thought they could deliver livestock, it was the same for a human baby ! Deliver the foal and then run in the house and deliver the baby and get paid $l0 bucks. Good business ! No wonder the mortality rate was so high in the l850s. Well they did their best with what they had, you have to give them that.

Tick

of course, that part was a man's world and I guess if they thought they could deliver livestock, it was the same for a human baby ! Deliver the foal and then run in the house and delivery the baby and get paid $l0 bucks. Good business !

tick

Glad those days are over!!

Just Dahlia agrees: well.. now I am crying :(

No reason to cry Dahlia, cause you'll just make me cry.

What is dahl crying for ?

Tick

Cause he was the last piece of Dad that Mom had. Now I'm teary too.

It is a celebration of life, J-9. It isn't sad. I think its wonderful that your mom had that lovely dog to pass on to you for care. Nothing to be sad about. Think of it as a piece of your dad in that dog, no don't do that... your dad would not have care for fleas, or being shaved like that or all this stuff put on him to make him better... I had better stop there.

Hugs to all

Annie

Annie, I'm only teared up because of te love my mother had in the dog to let us care for him as I was the one who cared for dad in his last days.

This dog is a priceless member of the family, as are our other dogs. This one just has special meaning to me.

To keep fleas out of your yard plant lavender and put cedar chips around flower beds and such. Cedar and lavender scattered about the house will drive the fleas out. My husband got laid off and I haven't been able to keep up with the cedar and lavender in the house and the fleas are back yuk!

Diet change is in the works. Got to drive over 40 miles tomorrow, but it will be well worth it. Apparently his food has too much beef for his breed. The other dogs will adjust to a Lamb, Chicken and fish diet.

Just got home with some toys for him, like he used to have back home... he was SOOOOO excited to see them. Hopefully this will help alleviate some of his anxiety.

Swee, thanks for the advice... I grow lavender here at home and have one of the biggest bushes you will ever see, guess I'll just have to add some cedar chips.

Apparently, according to my husband, he has adopted me. He used to sleep with my mother, but has been sleeping with my daughter since he's been here. Last night she spent the night somewhere else and he shadowed me up to bed and back down in the morning and has been following me around ever since.

Sounds like you have a wonderful new addition to the family, J9. Don't let him take over the garage office. Another helpful plant with fleas in the yard is mums. Their pollen actually contains an insecticide.

Here are some pics... I hope they work...

Xander preshave

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/j9seagrave/random584.jpg?t=1248141516


Post shave

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/j9seagrave/random586.jpg?t=1248141568

Notice him running away from the camera in the post shave pic.

Oh, he is beautiful pre and post shave!:)

OMG! He looks like my Indy with long hair.

He's beautiful J. Those eyes see right through you, don't they?

He's so lucky to have you and I'm sure he'll make you feel lucky to have him. :)

Thanks for the pics. Give him a hug or 20 from me. :)

Newest info. It appears that he has thick crust on his skin. Much like a baby with cradle cap. We are adding veggie oil to his food, got a new expensive food, but what can we do tonight to stop his agony?

Aloe vera gel J, it will easy the pain and it's okay if he licks at it.

Aww poor pup,
With you looking after him the way you are though, he will be back to his beautiful self in no time ;)