My Dog has severely irritated-red skin and hair loss...any help?

For the past 2 yrs. I have been in and out of the vet with medications for my, now 9 yr. old, shitzu. Since then his skin continues to worsen. He's always been very sensitive w/ his skin. He developed very early as a puppy an ear infection (which also we have tried and used everything to eliminate as much as possible). His vet tells me that they really have no idea what else to give him--I've even switched his doctor and went other places, nothing has helped yet. All they tell me is that they believe he is allergic to fleas, and although he has always been on frontline, it of course is not helping much because as soon as the flea bites his skin the damage is done. I am out of alternatives already...I have tried everything!: Changing his food, bathing him in oatmeal shampoo, skin oils, medication. I am willing to try anything...even home remedies. I can't do this to my baby anymore, he is miserable, he no longer has any hair on his bottom and has very thin hair on the rest of his body, only his skin is showing... his skin is inflammed and he is bleeding in several areas from his excessive biting.Any ideas would be of help, although it would be devastating to me to put my baby to sleep--that might be my next option, I think he's suffered enough...but I don't want to give up on him.

Thanks in advance!

luvexotics2009-05-16T22:25:50Z

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If it is for sure the fleas. Hire and exterminator to spray your yard and house every month. This will help make it less likly she will come in contact with a flea. Also try revolution it is a more effective flea control.

For food allergies I know you switched foods but what to what. It's best if you can find a food with no corn, soy, or wheat. There are a lot of people who switch to a raw diet to cure allergies and have great success with it. If done correctly a raw diet is very healthy.

For shampoos if she has such bad allergies use only plain shampoos ones that have almost nothing in them.

There is a spray sold for hotspot (one that treats not prevents licking, it has a collie and other things on it) that helps sooth skin, we used when we had a rescued shephard allergic to grass. Our vet also had him on an antihisthamine and prednizone. Is he on something to help.

If nothing works and he's in constant pain I understand not wanting him to suffer, but try these first if you haven't already maybe you'll get a break through.

Good luck I hope your pup feels better soon.

Anonymous2017-01-22T10:48:41Z

1

Anonymous2015-02-11T20:29:39Z

I felt embarrass and insecurities when everyone looked at me, my hair had been lost almost all and it looked so weird! But now, I can be proud of my hair, it's very shiny, voluminous and soft. Let's see!

Anonymous2016-10-21T10:58:25Z

Dog Red Skin

USMC792009-05-16T23:40:41Z

The first thing that you should do when your dog seems to have any sort of skin reaction or hair loss is to change his diet immediately and call a Veterinarian. Some dogs have food allergies and even dust allergies so in the mean time switch the type of food that he eats. And make sure that his living area is always clean. I have limited information so I cant determine if its mange or a skin allergy but in any case his poor immune system is weak and he should see a vet right away.

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