Dogs with sensitive skin.

[Fraggle78]

So, we appear to have acquired a second dog and he has very sensitive skin. He itched and scratched like a maniac at first and although that has now calmed down a lot after a visit to the vet he has come back from our morning walk covered in what I think is a rash from the long grass. It doesn't help that he has very very short hair.

I'm just wondering whether there is anything we can do in the long run to help him? He eats a mixture of raw food and Wainwrights and I've been adding salmon oil in to try and combat the dryness. You seem to be able to buy "senstive skin" foods, but are they really any better than a good balanced diet?

Thanks!

Try adding evening primrose oil to his food every day, definitely look at hypo allergenic diets, cut out the use of chemicals such as febreeze/ shake 'n vac etc, wipe him down all over with a damp flannel after he's been out in grass, wash dog bedding at 60 degrees at least once a week. Speak to your vet about medicated shampoo (malaseb) and possibly a skin work up.

Great - thanks. I'll give them a go.

Have you thought about a food allergy?

My Staffy itches, scratches and bites like mad if he has grains in his diet. Unfortunately he is also allergic to brewer's yeast which is in a lot of 'hypo allergenic' diets.

Speak to your vet as a first port of call. They will tell you how to do elimination testing.

I have a feeling it is a bit of everything. This morning was almost certainly grass related, but I think his skin is generally just a bit rubbish. It's certainly very dry and he can get sore spots. We are back to the vet in a week or so anyway so will see what they suggest.

Thanks

am just about to coat my staffie with aloe vera gel. he also has piriton and evening primrose oil daily to help with the allergies.

Aloe vera gel is fantastic will help with the healing and stop the licking as it tastes foul. My dane has grass allergy. You can give piriton or benadryl i use the latter and it works brilliantly.

My pup was the same, lots of scratching and he stank to high heaven. Malaseb is fabulous stuff if he has any kind of fungal skin infection. Once we switched Jas to Burns kibble, the scratching disappeared. He has also reacted to certain grasses etc.

Stank to high heaven as in like a stinky sock lol yep mine too will look for malaseb, thanks for the tip!

Funnily enough the vet gave us some Malaseb yesterday to use every week until the skin issues clear up and it has got rid of the horrible smell. I'd been thinking that he was just a bit of a stinker and this might be something we have to put up with, but turns out that was caused by his issues too. Can highly recommend (provided you can make your dog stand still in the bath for 10 mins with it on ....)