AIBU to consider putting dog down?

I'm afraid it isn't.

I found these Dew products via the Allergy UK recommendations page: https://www.allergyuk.org/our-services/allergyuk-products/?product_maker%5B%5D=456&filter-type=4

I have auto-immune disease, asthma and serious allergy. I cannot use standard household cleaning products or any air fresheners, candles etc.

I use it to spray down chopping boards and knives before washing and can use it on food prep surfaces, toilet seats, flush handles, sinks, light switches, and even soft furnishings. Anywhere I'd use normal household cleaners.

I self-catheterise and have suffered multiple UTIs over the years. Since using Dew sanitiser I've had none. I can use it on my hands, vulva and surfaces on the very rare occasion I use a public toilet.

It's helped my blepharitis and can spray it directly into and around my eyes. I dilute it 2:1 to make an oral rinse to help my mouth ulcers. It clears up any problem quicker than chemical products sold for these conditions.

I use it on my DGD's dummy when she drops it and on her toys to sanitise. I've used it on her at nappy changes with no negative skin effects. If anything, it clears nappy rash quicker than normal.

I've used it to sanitise and freshen dog bedding between washes and directly on my dog to clean wounds as it doesn't sting and won't harm her if she licks it. It quickly takes down the inflammation on any sore spots she gets.

If anyone here IS interested in buying due to the science, it does have a few downsides such as limited shelf life, no lingering effect on surfaces or skin like products such as Zoono (similar ingredients to those used in Clinell), and is quite fragile in sunlight and heat so I wouldn't leave it in the car in summer. However, it also doesn't contain alcohol so would be great for any Muslims reading.

There are many other products using this technology out there: Leucillin for pets (expensive), Clinisept+ for skin and oral health, Aquaint (for babies and sold at Boots, John Lewis etc.), Optase Protect (for eyes, sold at Boots), Natrasan (sold at Amazon). Loads more but I'm sure you could search yourself.

I use Dew products simply because their products are cheaper than those I've listed. I can also bulk buy.

A few links to counter your quackery claim (but I think the proof is in the items I've listed above and the Allergy UK endorsement):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysed_water

https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/hypochlorous-acid-is-it-just-a-trend-

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6303114/ (this one might be of interest to people with skin problems like certain types of eczema).

Just out of curiosity and for the benefit of the OP (and others) who might want to use it, can you explain why you call it quackery?

This

If you are going to request a second opinion, possibly try some of the teaching hospitals- Queen Elizabeth hospital in Potters bar is run by the RVC. A determined vet student would love to get to the bottom of it (and they are overseen by qualified vets). Otherwise try Surrey University to see which their students train in.

I think OP said a springer spaniel

Oh, and @ConfusedDogMum - what breed is she, and is she losing fur in the area? The reason I ask is that it sounds a bit like sebaceous adenitis. It's a genetic disease that tends to affect Vizslas, Akitas, Havanese, springer spaniels, poodles and all their crossbreeds.

It can't be cured, but it can usually be managed to the point where normal life is totally possible.

Obviously, I'm not a vet (but I am an Akita owner who talks to a lot of other Akita owners, and it's a recurring topic), but it might be worth doing some research if only to rule it out?

Our lumpy old dog is on prednisone. 5mg every three days. We rehomed him aged 12 and he’s on it for life. FYI in case it helps, it’s cheap!
Whatever you do

@ConfusedDogMum This is so sad, awful, and my heart goes out to you for having to make this decision. But it would be kindest to PTS.

This is complete and utter quackery.

only you know what the best option is for your girl, I think in your position I would want to do the kindest thing for her too.

I’m really surprised your vet hasn’t prescribed steroids or looked into auto immune possibilities though. Any skin issues our dogs have had have usually been treated with steroid tablets or a steroid injection as a first port of call, one in particular was ongoing and I’d been to the vets 3 times and they couldn’t figure out these lesions on his face, my dog scratched one of these scabs off his face outside on our way in for yet another appointment and started bleeding quite a lot but just at the moment the owner of the practice happens to be on his way out and he stopped to assist me with the bleeding, we got chatting and it turned out he specialised in dermatology and he took over the appointment we had booked and sorted it straight away, with steroids and something else, we never figured out what it was but it didn’t come back.

Just in case you haven’t tried this, are you in any breed specific groups on Facebook at all? I am for our breed of dogs and everyone on there is so helpful with medical issues, there doesn’t seem to be much that people haven’t seen or heard in one form or another over their years of owning the same breeds and the good thing about those groups is they have some resident vets who look at pictures and point people in the right direction, it may be worth a try?

Honey and colloidal silver aren't going to do anything when conventional medicine isn't helping. There's zero evidence that colloidal silver has any health benefits for anyone.

Just as a thought...is it the side she usually sleeps on? Could it be something in her bed, or perhaps in the area that she lays during the day?

Personally, I'd be looking at other vets - possibly two or three - before considering PTS. This is the kind of thing that a bunch will do all the tests they can to figure it out, when just one has already been there and seen it before, and knows what it is. It's not a comment on the vet's quality or qualifications, but rather experience. And, when they have to deal with so many species, you can't expect them to be like a GP and have all-encompassing knowledge at their fingertips.

It's interesting that the specialist you saw was an internal specialist when this is clearly an external problem, though (unless you meant something else by "internal"...?).

For what it's worth, we're in the "spend all the money we have, and then some" camp - been there, done that, five figures in and don't regret it one bit. We did, however, learn our lesson; we pay for insurance on all three of ours, as well as a standing order of £50/month to our account at the vet - it covers all the stuff that's too small for insurance, and the result is that we just don't have to even think about money when we take one of them in.

Occasionally, when the account gets too big, we tell them to pay the bill of somebody who's struggling with some of it; we've been there, and we were desperate for help that some kind souls we've never met just handed over without a second thought, so it seems right to do the same.

My cat has an ongoing problem, he's recently had more surgery which the vet seems to be pleased with but he's pretty poorly. He's 13 now and I think we have decided that this will be his last operation. If it flares up again we shall let him go quietly. It's heartbreaking but I think it's the best we can do for him

Would you be considering this if there was no cost involved in treatment OP?

This. I am so sorry you have this dreadful dilemma. You sound like you really love your dog and only want the best for her.

No need for what? I didn't say the dog should have another operation I said it would destroy me but the dogs best interests would be thought of, meaning pts.

With regards to insurance - I think unless you get a lifetime cover right from the start, it's probably not worth it.
For our rescue we just put money into a savinga account every month, as the amount for insurance was absurd. This covered most things (although she was on long term steroids towards the end - cost about £70 p/m extra on top).
Four our latest dog, we got her as a puppy so have a lifetime insurance out, plus I still put a sum away in a savings account which will hopefully cover any excess etc.

For @ConfusedDogMum I think there should be no guilt in you going the PTS option. You've done more than enough already. I'd personally never put myself under financial hardship, even for a much loved dog (sounds mean I know). The steroids option is a good avenue to maybe try first though, and the product @agent765 mentioned. Then if no improvement there will be minimum guilt for PTS, imho.

There’s no need for that is there? Regardless of insurance the dog shouldn’t be put through another operation.

I'm so sorry, this sounds immensely stressful for all of you 😔 it doesn't sound like your poor doggie is having a good quality of life any more and the vet hasn't been able to find a treatment that works long term. I wouldn't put her through any more operations, I think it's probably time to let her go and rest in peace. So sorry OP 💐

While you're deciding would you be willing to try one more thing on her skin?

It won't do any harm but may help and at the very least will help with the smell and infection.

It's a product for pets called Dew from Dewproducts (Dundee Electrolysed Water). They have products for pets but they're basically the same as the sanitiser and disinfect (but don't buy the Superclean as this is totally different).

This stuff has made such a difference to our dog's skin problem that she scratched constantly. It turned out to be a granuloma caused by an embedded thorn.

Before it was removed we managed to stop most of the smelly weeping and the scratching that made it worse. It helped with the healing, too, as it's the stuff our bodies make to help us fight off infection and heal.

I use it for everything as I have chemical allergies and was already using it on the dog's stuff before they brought a pet version out.

It's recommended by Allergy UK and the sanitiser is great for kids, too, as it's skin-safe and can even be used on dummies.

It's available direct or from Amazon (though they seem to be missing lots of the range). Ignore reviews that say it's bleach (it does have a faint but weirdly reassuring smell of bleach but it's something to do with Free Available Chlorine (as explained on the website) or too watery to be a sanitiser. Try it on something smelly. It kills the microbes that cause bad smells so you know it works.

I hope you can help your dog somehow, even if it means PTS. It's awful when you lose a family pet.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you and your dog. Sounds really random but have you been seeing the same vet? You could try posting images and test results on pet vet corner on Facebook as there’s vets from all around the world on there, so someone might have seen it before and have a better idea? Wishing you luck with whichever route you take x

@ConfusedDogMum springers are sadly known for autoimmune diseases which don't have to present as described in the literature.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9969658/