memechose

Unfortunately global pets is in ON and I am on the west coast. I haven't had luck so far finding it here. Do you happen to know the ingredients?

memechose

Thanks for giving me your honest opinion. I do appreciate it even if it isn't the answer we always hope for.

I did do Pitcairn's 'raw' homemade diet for a good portion of her first year with us. It is not grain free, however. Unfortunately while she liked it, it did not solve her problems and she had immense trouble keeping weight on. I realise that there are more basic raw diets but I have concerns/reservations that I suppose aren't uncommon, but I would appreciate your input on them: the primary concerns are I am pregnant and have small children, which is a concern for things like e.coli/salmonella...but also she will not eat bones at all, nor does she chew her food. She swallows it whole and I am worried she would choke because she will often choke even on kibble. Finances are unfortunately a concern as well at the moment.

poo lover

they have a web site Canine Caviar bosley's is part of Global
Kruz would not touch any of the kibbles the vet gave me this food he is begging for good luck (krus has totally stop itching and he's gas is gone ,eyes not running)

memechose

That is good advice...does anyone know the approximate cost of this test? I am in Canada if that makes a difference. Unfortunately we have recently fallen into hard times and are struggling to make ends meet. There's no way I can spend the 1000's it would take to hire a specialist at this point. She lived with a vet when she was abandoned for many months and it wasn't fixed even that point other than the steroids. I feel terrible to have to put a monetary limit on what we can do but we just don't have it to spend right now. Cost of living here has increased so much where we are that we are now considered below poverty. It is really discouraging but I am also certain that if we tried to rehome her she'd be likely to be put down and that feels even worse. She didn't do anything to deserve her lot in life, that's for sure!! We had no idea the extent of her problems but have done the very best we can.

I can say that she had improvement and hair growth from an herbal cream with essential oils last year, but it too was temporary and she started reacting to the cream so I had to stop it. She has been on olive leaf without success. We put grapefruit seed extract in her water and use selsun blue to aid in the treatment/prevention of excess yeast (this does help to some extent). She does not have any parasites/worms nor fleas whatsoever. We have tried benadryl and the like but it made her worse (she reacted to the corn filler in it with one, and was so drowsy she scratched herself to bleeding without even caring).

She has had essential fatty acids and reacts to many of the pre-made formulas due to fillers I suspect. So we give them to her with straight flax meal in her dinners and fish oil and/or anchovies. All of the things we do help to the extent that she doesn't mutilate herself to bleeding anymore (we have come home to her blood all over our couch at one point - mostly elbow/chest area and ears). It's a strange way to judge things but as good as we've been able to manage with her off the steroids.

I have studied homeopathy for many years but she was on the steroids so long that it has not been possible to find a cure in that regard. As I mentioned we have also tried herbals and had mixed/limited success. The Olive leaf made her worse. She was on ivermectin for a time to assure no mites (sarcoptic or demodex) without improvement/change.

I keep her hair short because the airflow helps and her scratching rapidly causes mats. This time of year is tough for her and we have trouble with her going in the house at times because she dreads the cold/wet. I may need to try her sweater for just outside to see if that remedies things and remove immediately upon coming inside (can't leave it on or she'll tear her skin). I wish I were rich and could just throw more money at it but alas we are far from it, especially right now due to sudden changes at hubby's work that have left us struggling.

Thanks to all who have weighed in. I hope the further details will help!

memechose

Oh ok I didn't realise that and will check again at Bosley's.

papoodles

I am so sorry that you have so much on your plate at the moment, I wished that I could help you. I do know a bit about SA and can share that with you. My 12.5 yr old white standard poodle has had it for many years now, but I am able to keep it under control with a series of oil bath/soaks, followed by multiple washes with Dawn detergent. She has a pretty severe case but I can keep on top of it with those oil treatments and it hasn't gotten worse during the years..
Missy doesn't have any of the painful symptoms of your dog - the SA does not cause her any discomfort at all- she just looks 'moth eaten' because the hair falls out due to SA and grows back with a different texture, and is much more sparse- the shafts of her hair have silvery scales that you could really feel, there's severe dandruff, there's lots of scaling and thickening of the skin. The most severely affected parts of her body show a rust color to the fur...that's how I know that the scaling is starting again.If left untreated, pustules develop which could become infected,( but that has not happened to her) also she always has a slight rancid odor now.
She is perfectly comfortable though, and never scratches herself at all, unlike your poor baby.
Maybe yourlittle dog does not have SA?

Chagall's mom

memechose: Just sent you a PM relating suggestions I received from a poodle breeder and groomer. If you find anything of merit, perhaps you can share it on the forum. I continue to hope something helps!

__________________

Just be nice.
Cabryn Chagall, CGC

HerdingStdPoodle

Hi Memechose;

I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I hesitate to write, because so many people have given you such thoughtful, insightful posts. But I really wanted to give you another possibility, that worked beautifully for my Louie:

My Louie used to have itching problems until my vet recommended "ResiCORT" leave-on lotion. I bought it on Amazon:


Amazon.com: ResiCORT Leave-On Conditioner (16oz): Pet Supplies
Wow---what a help! Louie does not itch any longer. After a bath, you rub in the lotion and leave it on. You have to use quite a bit the very first application, but after that, you use less and less of the product.

Memechose, ResiCORT may not be the solution to the problem, but it may, [hopefully] provide some relief!

HerdingStdPoodle

Petey's Mom

An antifungal shampoo could help, I have read different places where Oatmeal can intensify the problem as well. Hope you find your Baby some good help.

__________________
Peace,Love, and Poodles

outwest

The biopsy for SA is around $100 (depends who you go to- go to someone who does them frequently) and $60 to send it to the lab. At least, that's what I paid.

Here's the instructions in case your vet hasn't done them:

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Sebaceous Adenitis