Anyone with a British Bulldog? Help needed please...

[itshothere]

Hi. We have a 3 1/2 year old male. He's a gorgeous docile lazy boy. Over the past few months he has been suffering from a skin condition, where he gets 'lumps' that turn crusty, itchy then his coat sheds in those areas leaving bald patches.
We have taken him to the vet many many times. We've been told it's fungal and were given meds and lotions. Then when it didn't go it was bacterial, he was on antibiotics (several times) more lotions and shampoos, still hasn't cleared up. Then we were told it's allergy's. We had him tested and now he's on desensitizing injections and steroids. We even had the garden dug up and replaced with gravel and paving because he's allergic to grass apparently.
He is still not better, if anything he seems to be getting worse . He has huge bald patches now with very pink looking skin and rolls around the floor seemingly trying to scratch himself.
My poor dog must be so fed up with this condition and the constant medications and treatments. We are spending a fortune too, which wouldn't be a problem if something worked.
Can anyone give any advice or suggestions? TIA.

[toboldlygo]

Hi - what is he fed?

[itshothere]

He has a mixture of dried food (Iams) with a tin of meat, like pedigree chum mixed in. He won't eat the dried stuff on it's own, he protests and strops off.

[toboldlygo]

Food intolerances often manifest in skin problems and it looks like it's the only avenue you haven't tried. Vets are sometimes not very savvy about diet related problems and tend to fall back on recommending expensive, well-marketed but nutritionally dubious things like Hills and Purina if questioned about diet.

Both Iams and Pedigree are chock full of common allergens - wheat is the usual culprit but some dogs can't tolerate maize, beet pulp, barley, rice etc. and some even can't handle specific protein sources like beef or lamb. Pedigree is really bloody awful stuff - I think it's quite telling that they don't actually list the ingredients clearly on the website, it's all gumpf about how your dog needs corn and added sugar.

I'd give him a month on a diet low in likely allergens - a fish and potato based diet is usually well tolerated, something like Fish4Dogs, Fishmongers or, if he will only take wet, Applaws or Nature Diet tins/trays. No processed treats or chews. If he makes an improvement you've got it. :)

[itshothere]

Thank you all. I will try your suggestions with the diet/food. X

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Did they do the food panel on the allergy testing? This will give you very specific answers for food allergies. a basic rule for exclusion diets is to use a novel protein and cardohydrate source and use it for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks you should challenge with the original food source to see if it causes a flare up.
I am very fond of the salmon and potato foods for exclusion diets as very few dogs are regularly feed salmon or potato. Though my favourite homecooked one is rabbit and porridge oats as it is even less likely to have been used.
Whatever you choose an exclusion diet should be for at least 12 weeks - 4 weeks is not long enough for the effects of the allergens to be eliminated.
I have to say IME with bulldogs there is never one thing there is usually a combination of environmental and food allergens along with Malasezzia. Often with secondary bacterial infections due to the multiple skin folds.

[itshothere]

Thankyou Lone. I am going to start this food plan today. Can I use tin salmon? Or does it have to be fresh and then cooked? Forgive me if the questions sound silly but I have no idea, added to that I never ever eat fish myself, personal dislike. Of course I'll get it for the bald prince though .

[Lonecatwithkitten]

There are commercial salmon and potato diets such as Wafcol and others which will be nutritional complete without you having to cook that would be what I recommend.
If he doesn't like dried food soaking it in boiling water for 45mins before giving it often helps.

[Lamazeroo]

My mum's dog had a skin condition which sounds quite similar. After going down all the medication routes it turned out she was sensitive to grains. As long as she was on a grain-free diet she had no problem with rolling around on the grass etc. Just one bowl of leftovers containing rice or pasta and she'd be back to an itching mess.

[itshothere]

Thought I'd post an update.... Success!! thank you so much to everyone for the suggestions. We changed his diet to the fish and potato as recommended, the change in his condition is remarkable. He looks like a new dog, we are so happy.
So again a big thank you from me and bulldog .

[LadyTurmoil]

That's great news! Unbelievable that the vet never suggested a change of diet... bit like GPs who never seem to agree that food and eczema can be linked in some cases....

Great that he is much happier and, of course, you as well