Goldens are known for sensitive skin. Every summer (he's an indoor dog BTW - but it's still warm in the house) he gets lesions when the hair comes out in spots and gets raw. They aren't hot spots - he's not scratching. He stinks and it's gross. Last year he needed an antibiotic though this year's not that bad. Do you know of any over the counter meds (I'm currently giving a tsp of Benadryl for the last 2 days) or treatments I could give him? I've already shaved him. Thanks!
2006-08-09 16:04:14 · 7 answers · asked by thislifeisnotforme 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Thanks to all of you that answered! I'll look into every suggestion and really appreciate your time.
2006-08-10 14:46:38 · update #1
I'm not a vet, but I am a mammalian biologist. Of course you'll want to check with your vet, but it sounds like the heat is putting the dogs sebaceous glands in high gear. They are what produce the oil in your skin and you can guess what rancid dog-skin oil smells like. Since the secretions are fairly acidic, try mixing a small (~1 Tablespoon per gallon) amount of baking soda in the water you use to bathe the dog. Wash the spots gently every day and ask your vet if a little hydrocortizone might help dry things up.
2006-08-09 16:19:04 · answer #1 · answered by harque2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time these things are allergies. You have to find out what he is allergic to first then you can elliminate the problem. The most common allegies are wheat, red food dye, chicken, beef, detergents, pollen. Start with the food switch your dog to Nutro lamb and rice and make sure he gets no other source of food for at least 2 months. This will usually help in most cases. If this does not help you may need to get a prescription diet of Deer and potatoe or Vegitarian diet food. Antibiotics are needed to help clear up any skin wounds, most skin woulds are created from the body reacting to the allergens inside the body so an external remedy will probably just mask the problem. Don't use Selson Blue it can worsen the condition. Try a tea tree pet shampoo or a vet prescription shampoo like Etiderm which is formulated for yeast infections and other skin problems and smells nice. Bathing weekly will help keep the bacteria level down but it is important to dry the dog after the bath a dog left to "air dry" will breed more smelly bacteria just like leaving a wet towel on the floor will smell. If you can put him in a crate with a fan blowing on him on a warm day this will help a little- the best solution would be to get a force dryer which would dry him quickly. Hope this helps as a pet groomer I see lots of stinky goldens.
2006-08-09 23:42:24 · answer #2 · answered by Helping hand 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree it might a yeast infection, often times related to skin allergies. An OTC treatment would be to bathe him every other day with a dandruff shampoo (like Selsun Blue). Leave him lathered up for 5-10 minutes and then rinse well.
A golden retreiver weighing about 70 lbs can take 50 mg of benadryl (2 regular adult capsules) up to 3 times daily.
I used to have a golden with skin issues and this would help, but I definitely had to take him for a doctors visit when things got bad.
2006-08-09 23:23:03 · answer #3 · answered by say910 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you probably have already done this but a warm bath might give your dog some relief .My family had a dog with a similar probuble and nothing helped the benadryl is good they have tablets .Its best to use 25mgs twice a day no more than that.Some dogs end up on predisone.You might end up at the vet for that.I don't like the use of predisone but you just might end up there,Theres more than one type of benydrle one has only one chemical and is safe for dogs and one has two chemicals and is not safe.My parents dog stunk to and lost hair they had allergy tests done and thyroid tests and nothing helped.It almost seemed like there dog skin was scaling like yeasty. Every dog is different you might find something that works .Good luck.
2006-08-10 03:46:12 · answer #4 · answered by deedee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a possible yeast infection or mange. Both cause a foul odor and clumps of hair to fall out along with sores. Get some antibiotic ointment on the sores, add a little calcium to his diet and look into a high protein diet. Another thing you may look into is a possible humidifier for your house. If his skin is getting chapped you may be able to help with the irritation. Good luck!
2006-08-10 00:59:00 · answer #5 · answered by Mama23Girls 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's kinda rare for even retrievers but, it sounds more like a yeast infection. I'd try sneaking some yogurt into his food. Also you should use a dogfood that has more meat in it than fillers like riceand the like. The change will be gradual as in a couple of months but eventually, with this diet the symptoms should abate in about a month.
2006-08-09 23:15:03 · answer #6 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not bathe your dog with human shampoo...they have a different ph balance than humans.....I have a Golden and quite possibly it is a combination of his food and an allergic reaction to fleas or something when you take him out to re leave himself.Science diet sells a sensitive skin food for dogs that helps alot....Good Luck
2006-08-09 23:46:51 · answer #7 · answered by Tasmanian Devil 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋