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skin problems

Sat, 04/08/2007 - 18:56 — sherry

our westie keeps getting bad skin problems. we have tried all sorts of different foods- we usually feed her raw meat and bones. we have also tried dog food from the vet which is supposed to be great for dogs. we have tried supplements and things from greenpet but nothing really helps. we have an ointment from the vet which helps after a week or so.
does anyone have any idea what to do or what food to give her?

cheers
sherry

UQ Research update ›
Tue, 10/11/2009 - 10:31 — Colleen (not verified)

skin irritations

I have two Westies (6 and 3 years old) that have great skin considering they live in the Kimberley.  Rarely do they get a skin irritation and if they do I use PYOHEX and it fixes them almost overnight.  I would certainly recommend it.

They eat vet quality dry biscuits with a small amount of cooked mince and liver, thats all....no treats.

I also use Frontline, not as often as recommended but enough to keep the fleas away.

Wed, 02/09/2009 - 10:37 — Guest (not verified)

THANK YOU

Thank you all so much as an owner of a beautiful westie - Bella - who suffers terribly from  dreadful skin problems which just breaks my heart - reading that others have the same problems helps so much as I thought it was something I had done to her... we are at our wits end and last night my Vet also said sometimes its easier just to put them down!! I was mortified there has to be some other way to make these beautiful animals be so itchy and miserable all the time  - I am scanning the internet continually trying to find something to help her... so thank you all your stories have given me hope - thank you again

Sat, 20/12/2008 - 04:00 — Guest (not verified)

my vet has told me its best to put my westie to sleep!!!

he is 4years old and has had bad skin since being a puppy, it usualy gets very bad in summer and better in winter.

but this year he isnt getting any better, i am so very upset and feel guilty to do this we have tried every think (foods, injectons, tablets)

 

does anybody have any ideas or suggestions please!!!

Sun, 24/08/2008 - 15:08 — colette sharpe (not verified)

skin problems

In my experience, only a minority of skin problems with Westie's are related to food allergies. It is more likely to be an inherited disorder similar in nature to asthma and ezcema in human beings. My reading of the quality literature says there is no cure. Managing the acute flares is important. Oral cortisone is effective but suitable for short term use only. There is an oral immune suppressant medication available in Australia. It can be effective in at least 50% of dogs suffering Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD). You need to discuss whether this is suitable for your Westie with your vet. I find regular salt water swims at Nudgee beach at low tide also helps and use quality low allergenic shampoos only at bath time. Tiles rather than carpet may also help.
Fri, 16/05/2008 - 21:17 — Guest (not verified)

westie skin problems

Here you go: http://www.westiemed.org/health/malassezia/ They have helped lots of rescue westies and you can see the treatment medicines the dogs got and their recovery. Good luck Max
Fri, 02/05/2008 - 21:12 — Guest (not verified)

I fogot to say about the bathing!

We use Malaseb shampoo and it is so very important to leave it on the skin for the full 10 mins each time. Also if youy possibly can do not use the water from a bowl theuy are standing in. Use the hose so it is all clean water. I set up a hose in a Y shape. Have two pieces comming down and then join that t one longer section so you can connect it to the washin machine taps or something like that and then take it outside and stand the dog on the concrete or a portable table and have a garden sower on the end. It makes it easy to set the water temperature at the laundry trough and take the hose out without makin a mess. You can of course stand ;the dog in the trough if you want. Mine just llike to have a big shake and it goes everywhere so we do it outside. I do this at the caravan even, set it upon th caravan shower taps and wash them outside. BUT you must leave the shampoo on for the full ten mins or it is just a waste and it is not cheap. I use a sponge to apply it as I used too much otherwise and they love it being massaged in for the ten mins. Because I have two Westies I do one then leave it on and do the other. Rince the first off and then the other. I wish you well and your dog lovely skin. With the food I was saying about earlier, raw vegies and roo meat it is important to keep the dog off red meats such as beef and possibly lamb the vet told me as they heat the blood up too much. Pork is another thing that will heat the blood and therefore the skin up. Rabit and roo are far better, it is a game type meat and is way better. If ou are near a Coles store and they do not carry it ask them if they will, most are vey obliging if you explain the problem. Fruit scraps are also good for the dog. They say you should give them the rotten bits of fruit, well that is to say the bruised patches but we don't. They also say give them the pealings off your vegies but we find it easier to just do the big vegie kitchen whiz thing and freeze a months supply each time. We pack it for the three dogs in one bag. Some times I microwave it to give them a warm meal on a cold night and they love that but as we travel witht he sun we more often than not just feed it at room temperature. Good luck! Bev,
Fri, 02/05/2008 - 20:59 — Guest (not verified)

Westie Skin Problems

Hi everyone, I have had four Westies and still have tow of them. They both had shocking skin problems until I was told by a vet that does holistic health. She advised me to put my dogs on roo mat fit for human consumption (often sold in Coles and some butchers in QLD. She also said to five them raw vegies, no onion of course. We buy thigs such as pumpkin, broccoli, celery, zuchine, carrot, caulie, sweet potato, potato, and anything else we can find like that in the shop. Take it home and put it thru the kitchen whiz, bag it into little zip lock bags and freeze it. they get one serv of this each night with a serv of roo meat sometimes it is mixed with a raw egg. We put things such as oil high in omega from the vet, we used to add flax seed and psyliun husk but have not done that lately however their skin is great. They get a chicken wing to clean their teeth every night afte their meal. we have a silver Cloud (like a Red Cloud) X Kelpie as well and he has the same and they are all in fantastic condition. The Westies are each 14 yrs and 3 monts and 14 yrs and 6 months of age now and gooing like a pair of beauties. We travel all around Australia all the time for the last 4 years and it is so easy to keep them in food. It is so cheep too. They get a huge serving spoon of vegies each in a serve and about 450 grams of roo meet. I find that if I give them ANY processed food such as some cheese or ham, dog treats, bread etc, their skin breaks out within days. Oh yes ad as sad as it i to have to keep a Westie with short hair I do that too as we travel with the sun and it helps their skin so much to keep the air to the skin. When their hair is longer the skin will break out again too. It is all about their comfort to me, that is the most important thing. I love to see them happy and frollicking about lie a two year old. Good luck.
Tue, 27/11/2007 - 21:48 — Debra (not verified)

Dougall's skin problems have

Dougall's skin problems have disappeared since eliminated sugar from his diet...the only sugar he was getting was in dog treats, but now we only get 100% meat treats and no skin problems since. Incidently, he actually has an allergic reation to Alvoleen!
Sat, 22/09/2007 - 11:33 — Guest

Skin, more skin

Last year Molly developed really bad pacthes that looked like eczema & she was chewing her coat away. We found a couple of fleas (from the garden?) so we quickly flea bombed the place. It worked a treat. We also got Molly some of the Skin-Eze from USA, and also wash her only every couple of weeks or so (not every week, so we dont dry out the natural oils, unless she gets really smelly from rolling around) uing the Dermacare Oatmeal shampoo & conditioner. As for food, Molly gets good quality doggy bisuits & sausage for breakfast. Then hypnotises us so she can share our toast & marmalade for breakfast #2. Around lunchtime Molly asks for her main meal. Often it's something with rice and vegatables. The something can be raw or cooked steak or can be cooked fish or chook. Then in the evening she hypnotises us again for her traditional left-overs of whatever we're eating. Every now and again a good beef bone to clean her teeth. She's not fat & now definately doesnt have any more skin issues, although we have been in the cooler months over winter. Watch out for summer, the main thing for us is I think she's a little alergic to the fleas which can just pop up out of the garden so I keep a daily vigil of brushing & checking. See you at the next westy walk, LoL Molly.

Thu, 20/09/2007 - 11:58 — Guest

skin problems

we bathe her about once or twice a fortnight with maloseb shampoo. we vary her diet- she gets lamb bones or turkey necks or meat. i make up balls of raw mince plus vegies and flaxseed oil and cottage cheese etc etc...nothing seems to help and i am dreading summer as it always gets so bad then. i may try the stuff mentioned that comes from the US.

Thu, 13/09/2007 - 14:37 — Guest

Atopy Research Project

Hey Sherry, have you seen the research article on the website? Perhaps you could volunteer and in the process get some advice on managing things?

Sun, 26/08/2007 - 09:45 — Zac Tynan

Skin Issues

Hi Sherry

How often do you bath your westie. From what I have heard bathing them frequently isn't the best thing for them as it will deplete their skin of their oils.
Not sure what everyone else thinks but I am not a believer in giving dogs just raw meat as I don't think they get all their nutrients from raw meat so this could be a contributing factor to the skin condition. My boy only eats Eukanuba dry dog food and has done since being a puppy.
Zac showed signs of a slight skin condition when he was younger (he is only 1 yr old now) and I found bathing him less has helped.
Good luck - unfortunately it is a Westie trait and a process of elimination

Sammy

Thu, 09/08/2007 - 14:00 — Maggie

Skin Trouble

Hello

Westies are known to have "skin conditions" which are often attributable to allergies. Sometimes though its just because its either dry or very humid - just like us. Its also genetic. We don't know whether its Maggie's heritage or anything we do, but this is our routine - we add Megaderm (an omega oil supplement) to Maggie's breakfast every day and she often gets some avocado pear (also rich in omega oils) mushed into her vegetables most evenings. Twice a week she gets a mackerel fillet for breakfast (fish is rich in omega oils) and twice a week I empty the contents of a very small vit E capsule into her food.

The non-food options include the following: We wash her with soap free hypoallergenic Aloveen shampoo and apply Aloveen conditioner every 2-4 weeks and brush out knots in between. Some people in Westie Walkers have recommended and tried a product called Skin-Eze, a product from the USA which they have found to be absolutely wonderful. Available from www.allergicpet.com

Maggie The Philanthrapooch

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