Question For Bambina

[elfe]

hi

my old long-haired german shepherd has a severe skin problem since about one year. his lower side gets somehow humid and the skin dark and greasy. after some time the skin produces sticky black discharge which also tangles the hair and after some time smells awful. some parts of the skin even look 'elephant-like' thick and grey and can be peeled off. he doesn't seem well and has clear thick eye discharge and is more tired and the skin is itching. i had him washed several times with fungus shampoo and amitraz once a week for some time, after that he's fine and the skin ok but after about 3 weeks it always returns. he doesn't get wet outside, always sleeps in the house. he also got cephalexine for some time and another time amoxicillin as he also had nose discharge at the time. after treatment he's always better but still gets worse after some time on the other parts of his body the skin and hair looks healthy and shiny. another problem are his ears, they are itchy as well and produce dry and greasy discharge, i tried many eardrops but nothing seems to work

now i think the cause could also not only lie in the skin but another sickness which i don't know of yet? any ideas or suggestions what else i could do would be very much appreciated!

thanks

elfe

[bina]

has he had his hormones /endocrinology.......thyroid etc checked ??

allergies?

do u have a photo or so?????

[leisurely]

Do you have a vet near you?

[BambinA]

my old long-haired german shepherd has a severe skin problem since about one year. his lower side gets somehow humid and the skin dark and greasy.

is it bilateral lesion? if so,It is homonal imbalance

1)hypothyroidism

2)hypo- testosterone( due to neutering when he was 6-8months old)

Anyway , Alsatians are risk to get skin problem ,such as seborrhea ,Malassezia and bacterial dermatitis (folliculitis and pyotrumatic dermatis)

Could you please take a foto fo the lesion to me ?

some parts of the skin even look 'elephant-like'

It is called lichenification ..

well ..please give me more information as

1) if he has got neutered,how old was him that time?

2) photo ,photo and photo -face ,head, ear flaps ,back and etc .. just take all of his body

3)ear discharge .Using Q-tip (cotton bud) pick it .. take the foto .. and smell it(tell me what's kind of smelling (flatid /cheesy..etc)

[elfe]

thanks very much for your replies

to answer your questions...

its on both sides of his lower body, but does seem more on his right side.

showed the vet several times, answer was fungus, use fungus shampoo.

don't know his age but think about 9 yrs at least. took him from the shelter 2 yrs ago, he had severe ear infection which did not get better and then surgery, now earhole closed, the other ear seems to have been operated years ago, it's closed as well. with ear surgery i got him neutered as well at age about 7 ? yrs. since he has put on much weight and got more lazy but does not eat too much food. he has not been checked for the mentioned things, only normal blood check, everything fine (liver, kidney, blood cells). the ear discharge is brownish but not dark, does not come out or ear hole because there is nomore hole, it is closed. the smell is not like cheese rather mould and flatid, hard to describe it is sticky and some gets off in junks other parts greasy and hard to remove. don't know about allergies but i think it got worse since i give more kibble to the dogs than raw feeding (money reasons)

it is also in his armpits and on the chest. another of my german shepherds, also about same age, has the black oily skin in his armpits but the bathes worked well on him.

unfortunately i ran out of batteries for my camera, just took pics with mobile phone, not very good to see on them but post them anyway. later will add better pics.

thought of having him shaved at a petshop today, what do you think? it's so hot anyway... want to take him there for another bath with fungus shampoo and amitraz.

[BambinA]

It looks alike Malassezia yeast infections.

1)use Ketoconazole shampoo and cream such as Nizoral (you can use local TH brand which is cheaper ,such as ketozal and Ninazol)

-Shampoo wet the dog's coat and apply the shampoo rub until it foams and leave it for 5-10 mins. then rinse

1st Month - wash your dog 2times a week

2nd Month to xxx month- 1 times a day till the lesion is controlled (3-4mth)

after the sign have gone,you can use Ketocinazole from time to time for controlling the number of yeasts and preventing the recurrent infection)

-Cream

apply at the lesions 2times aday (clean it with clean water everytime before using cream)

***include ear flap(s)*** (peanut butter-looked ear dischage >yeast)

Vitamin supplement

-Vit B complex 2tabs 2times aday

-VitC 500mg 1tabs 2times aday

-Fish oil and Primrose oil 1-2 capsule /day

(you can use tuna canned and safflower oil(1Tablestoon) in case you cant fine those capsules)

Your dog is pretty old ,so i dont recommend to use Ketoconazole tablet (per oral) due to hepato-toxic ..(need to check Blood chemistry and hematology and monitiring often)

Shaving is a good idea for dermatologic treatment .

Amitraz -I think it is not necessary to use in this case unless he has ticks

** do not use amitraz often .It's the cause of dry skin***

All products above are human products (exept amitraz ) ,hence you can buy it in drugstore

Ps .

Edited March 2, 2007 by BambinA

[elfe]

thank you very much bambinA!!!

so the vet was right...

will do all you recommended, also the vitamins and oils, hope he'll be better soon!

[Pink Mist]

You are a Legend Bambina, good advice all the time, well done Mate

[BambinA]

thank you very much bambinA!!!

so the vet was right...

will do all you recommended, also the vitamins and oils, hope he'll be better soon!

FYI.

- Malassezia yeast is normal flora which lives on dog's skin.If it is overgrowth,it will be a cause of problem.

- Alsatians have oily skin so it prones to get some skin problems such as folliculis ,pyotrumatic dermatitis,seborrhea and MLZ.

-MLZ infection can be solved in few months ..but we found that there are many dogs get recurrent infection (from;environment-damp,wet ;breed -Alsatia,cocker,Labrador,Golden retriever ,poodle)

PS. thanks bronco

Edited March 2, 2007 by BambinA

[IvanLaw]

thank you very much bambinA!!!

so the vet was right...

will do all you recommended, also the vitamins and oils, hope he'll be better soon!

FYI.

- Malassezia yeast is normal flora which lives on dog's skin.If it is overgrowth,it will be a cause of problem.

- Alsatians have oily skin so it prones to get some skin problems such as folliculis ,pyotrumatic dermatitis,seborrhea and MLZ.

-MLZ infection can be solved in few months ..but we found that there are many dogs get recurrent infection (from;environment-damp,wet ;breed -Alsatia,cocker,Labrador,Golden retriever ,poodle)

PS. thanks bronco

Bambina =

A very very helpful, friendly girl to all.

Could do with more the same

PS

Just curious

Where will you send your bill ?

[kayo]

some parts of the skin even look 'elephant-like'

could ye leave my family out of it please

Hope your dog gets better soon!

Kayo!

[Mossfinn]

Hope your dog gets better soon!

My sentiments too Elfe,

But more importantly you are a star Bam

Good Luck

Moss

[elfe]

yes it's one of the wonderful things on tv, such a helpful online vet!! with no bills

thanks bambina - you rock!!

[WaiWai]

Diagnoses, recipes, language help ... always a positive contribution.

Cheers for Bambina !!!...

[mackayae]

Bambina for President!

[elfe]

here some pics i just took .

gave him a bath yesterday, next in a few days, ears seem to get better already with cream i got in my house, it is clotrimazole, will get the one you mentioned today. thanks again for all the valuable help