Itchy puppy

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

My sister has just bought a puppy he is about 10 weeks old now and has had red itchy skin since she got him. Vet has given anti b cream for the sores but he's scratching to the point he's making himself bleed :( our mums dog has eczema so has a sensitive shampoo so she has bought the same one from the vets for him but it doesn't seem to have helped she's put some baby t shirts on him to try him breaking the skin but is there anything else she can do as he's so uncomfortable? Vet said they won't treat him for eczema as he's too small for the treatment

[daisydotandgertie]

Don't bath him. What are you using to wash his bedding? What are you feeding? Was he like it when she brought him home?

[daisydotandgertie]

Oh and is there evidence of fleas?

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

No fleas no idea what she uses for washing but knowing my sister it'll b something packed full of chemicals and heavily scented already suggested she find something a bit more gentle for washing his bed etc and his nose and feet were bright red when she brought him home :(

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

Sorry forgot the feeding he's on a special dry food from the vet bcos he's not put any weight on yet. I have suggested some oily fish but vet has apparently said just this food and nothing else ?

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

Should add she's had him 2 weeks and only bathed him once bcos he was v stinky she got the shampoo from the vets as could c he was red & itchy so didn't want to use a standard shampoo in case it made it worse

[daisydotandgertie]

She needs to change the heavily scented stuff immediately and go for something more mild and less scented. The food from the vet will be either made by Hills or Royal Canin - and although the vets peddle them, they are nothing special and packed with junk. Try Lily's Kitchen food, Wainwrights from pets at home, or Burns or Fish for Dogs. I've not yet met a vet who has any knowledge of pet food, what's in it and the impact it has.

What breed is the dog and where did she get it from? It already sounds as though she has bought from a dodgy breeder; a red nose and paws? I can't quite work out what that means - red from scratching or something else?

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

I think he was red from scratching. He's a westie she was told he was 8 weeks the day she took him home but then found that he wasn't 8 wks for another 4 days when she checked his paper work her dh paid £700 for him and thought he'd researched well but now they're worried they've bought from a dodgy breeder as when she phoned they just said yeh well westies get eczema. Me and my sister grew up with westies we know they get eczema but we haven't encountered anything quite like this poor pup looks so sorry for himself :( she's just text asking to pop round to borrow my soap nuts (house full of allergy sufferers here) and iv told her to bring his bedding and I'll wash it for her so he will hopefully b more comfortable tonight and I'll send her packing with supplies. I used to work in a vets and I said to her the vet is likely on commission for the food and I don't understand how adding salmon to his dinner would b detrimental to weight gain if I'm honest. But hey it's been I while since I owned a dog. Have text her with ur suggestions I know a few ppl that have had good results from burns

[daisydotandgertie]

Evening primrose oil is often a suggestion for helping Westie's skin problems - as is one of those bio magnetic collar thingies.

Change vets if you're not happy with the one you have, and ask for a referral to a dermatologist. I would also ask if it's safe to dose such a tiny pup with piriton; that would take the edge off the itching.

The breeder doesn't sound good - and to be honest, I am at a loss to understand why anyone would hand over money for a dog which clearly had a problem. Did they see Mum and Dad? Did they have red skin?

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

They saw mum who didn't have red skin they have another dog also that they bought he's 4 now but they took him bcos the breeder said he's had enough of him and would b chucking him in the river if he didn't go today :( he has had nothing but problems but can't help but feel they've been conned a bit this time. Will suggest the evening primrose vet said he's too small for steroids or anti histamine but didn't say when he could have anything. Iv told her the vets I used but she thinks this one is fine tho if that were my dog I wouldn't have been happy with that.

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

Ok she's just told me that breeder was quite abusive when her dh phoned last wk for advice so her dh contacted RSPCA and has informed them so hopefully if they're dodgy they'll get found out

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I think from the sounds of him he needs further investigations as with a puppy of his age coming from what sounds like less than ideal background there would be several concerns. Skin work up to check for all parasites not just fleas (there are two right at the top of my list screaming here) would be my starting point.
Food allergies only account for about 5% of skin problems so I would be dealing with his weight first and only if other skin tests don't come up with anything think about skin.

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

I had thought this too she's taking him back to vets tomorrow to ask them to check for other parasites. I feel so sorry for him poor little thing looks so sad :(

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

Is there anything she can give him to help him gain other than my suggestion of oily fish? Or should vet be checking for a medical problem that's causing his lack of weight gain?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

You haven't said what period the lack of weight gain is, so difficult to tell.

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

If u mean time period she's only had him 2 wks he's not gained at all in that time sorry if details r vague but it's my sisters dog so I haven't been at vets appts or anything she phoned me in tears this morning she just wants to help him

[Rikalaily]

The skin and the lack of weight gain could be diet related. Grains like wheat etc are usually the main culprits and the vet food will contain them if it's Hill science plan etc.

We have our dog on Wainwrites food, the only grain in it is brown rice and his stomach is fine with it. He was a rescue and on Chappie when he arrived, what was coming out of the other end was not pleasant.