Super Flaky Skin & Really Itchy

[Denali's Mama]

Denali is extremely flaky. Because the hair on his back leg is still growing back after his surgery, the hair is shorter and I can comb it more vigorously, it is SO flaky. He is also really itchy! If I tap on his back two or three times he just starts scratching himself. He is always scratching.

I have searched old posts to see if I could find some info, but I've tried a few things that were suggested and no luck so far. We've tried coconut oil, fish oil, etc. Our vet also thought it might be allergies (which he prefaced with "he's a little young to be getting environmental allergies already - this was 2 months ago and Denali was 8 months old). Denali took prednisone and it seemed to reduce the itching for a little while (not the flakiness) but then Denali got hit by a car and we couldn't give him the prednisone while he was on pain meds and antibiotics. While the prednisone seemed to be somewhat effective, it did not take care of all the symptoms. Our vet also said that when the season changed that the symptoms would go away, they have not and they almost seem worst.

Any suggestions? Remedies for flaky, itchy skin?

 

[shellyk]

We just recently went through a phase of super itchy skin with a lovely hot spot thrown in. Multiple trips to the Vet with lots of education about fleas, food allergies and environmental allergies. I did not believe that we had fleas! We had and have fleas and our one Newf is highly allergic to flea saliva. The culprit appears to be our one indoor/outdoor cat. The cats can only have topical flea treatment. The dogs have been doubled up with internal and external treatments. The flea cycle takes a while to play it self out...that being said that doesn't even rule out food allergies and or environmental allergies. They can have one, two or all three. The other thing I learned from this was to bathe them more often. I always thought frequent bathing would make their skin drier and itchier - not the case. Weekly baths with soothing shampoo has helped. Getting through the fleas has been tough - their bedding and the throw rugs are all washed and the cat walks in from outside with another flea! We are also keeping the two Newfs on daily does of Zyrtec just in case it's also environmental. Periodically one or both will have red eyes and start chewing on their feet. We began the one Newf with the strongest reaction on an elimination diet and that's a pain. I would make sure you are truly flea proof!

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

How much fish oil were/are you giving? That and coconut oil should help a ton.

Also, you could have his thyroid checked. Dry, flaky skin is a sign of hypothyroid.

Maggie had a ton of skin issues. Once we got her food on track and on thyroid meds, things drastically improved. Her salmon-based diet made her skin, eyes, and coat look amazing.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Ours takes benedryl...

 

[shellyk]

We were using Benadryl but the Vet recommended that we try Zyrtec or it's generic. It's working so far and it's a lot fewer pills. I thought it was unusual that the dogs need 4 a day and I only need 1.

 

[Denali's Mama]

That's good to know about allergy meds such as benedryl or zyrtec, we'll ask our vet about the dosage for him I've also worried about flees but we have 4 other dogs and only 2 of the 4 are itchy and only Denali has been really flaky. We've been giving half tablespoon of the coconut oil because I wasn't sure how much to give. He gets two of the omega-3 pills according to the bottle. Any suggestions with the amount of coconut oil?

 

[shellyk]

I hate to go on about fleas but I thought the same thing you did. We have 3 dogs and 3 cats. How could only two of the dogs have issues? Our Vet explained that only a true flea infestation bothers most animals but that just the saliva from one flea that only lands on an animal bites and jumps off can set off the allergic reaction. I assumed that if we had fleas that they would be jumping on us or we would see them - that I guess is only with a true infestation. Just casual contact with one flea can be a problem for some animals. He said our Lab was exposed to the same amount of fleas but they don't bother him. Our other Newf was scratching but didn't have a full blown allergic reaction like our other Newf. We were three months into internal and external flea treatment and my husband found two fleas in one of our bedrooms coming out of the wood floor boards! UGH:cussing2: Luckily we have freezing temperatures this week so the flea population next spring and summer shouldn't be as bad as this year.

 

[Denali's Mama]

I hate to go on about fleas but I thought the same thing you did. We have 3 dogs and 3 cats. How could only two of the dogs have issues? Our Vet explained that only a true flea infestation bothers most animals but that just the saliva from one flea that only lands on an animal bites and jumps off can set off the allergic reaction. I assumed that if we had fleas that they would be jumping on us or we would see them - that I guess is only with a true infestation. Just casual contact with one flea can be a problem for some animals. He said our Lab was exposed to the same amount of fleas but they don't bother him. Our other Newf was scratching but didn't have a full blown allergic reaction like our other Newf. We were three months into internal and external flea treatment and my husband found two fleas in one of our bedrooms coming out of the wood floor boards! UGH:cussing2: Luckily we have freezing temperatures this week so the flea population next spring and summer shouldn't be as bad as this year.

Thank you!! What did you do to address this? I'm willing to try anything at this point. Did you use a topical or oral medication to address the fleas? The boys were on prednisone for seasonal allergies, which seemed to help a little, but they're right back to where they started. We're in Colorado and the vet said that their allergies would dissipate as the weather changed, but it hasn't.

 

[shellyk]

We had been using natural garlic for the dogs and nothing on the cats for almost 2 years with no issues. With the full blown allergic reaction of our male Newf we added Trifexis for the dogs and doubled up with a topical too because the Trifexis could take a while to get up to speed. The cats now get monthly topical too. The Newfs were on a short course of steroids which worked immediately. The itchiness isn't totally gone but seems to be under control.

 

[Denali's Mama]

Thank you Shelly! That's super helpful!

 

[R Taft]

I have a HUGE issue with Lukey and skin.... He has a grass allergy. I cannot use steroids as his previous owner used so much of that he now has Cushings Syndrome, so be very careful with any product containing cortisone, even vet prescribed.

Lukey is on all the natural stuff, coconut oils, fish oil and he is RAW fed as grass allergy equals grain allergy too.... He still looks awful in Summer, but he is happy. We give him pinetarsal washes and camomile tea washes. He cannot have tick or flea product either as that makes him worse, so we have natural oils for the possibility of fleas, though he seems to have none. Skin issues are difficult and people look at you as if you cannot maintain your newf.... I kinda say, "hey look at the other five" but still feel bad. Allergies are a struggle, even if you know what they are. I cannot keep him off the grass as he loves being outside and he needs a life. We use Zyrtec and it helps to a degree. But we just deal withthe symptoms as they appear... Coconut oil on the skin also helps.

 

[shellyk]

I'm glad you brought up the danger of steroids. They worked so well that I was considering going back and asking for more but now I won't. Thanks!

 

[R Taft]

I'm glad you brought up the danger of steroids. They worked so well that I was considering going back and asking for more but now I won't. Thanks!

Yes they do, but long term they are no good...... There are some diseases/problems where you have no option and that is when they have to be taken, but we have to be very careful and consider all options, especially for skin problems..... good luck

 

[Denali's Mama]

Good to know about steroids...I think we're thinking the flea treatment route with fish oil and coconut oil, then some kind of allergy treatment (benedryl or zyrtec) if the flakiness continues after all of that. Thank you so much! This is so so helpful!!