What's going on with Mati's coat?
The vet wants to do a derm test upwards of $400. I've been be scratching my head trying to figure out what could be causing my girls coat to look so bad.
2yo female kept indoors mostly
One teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar with dinner
Occasional treats like apple wedges, carrots, meat trimmings
Below is a link to images
She doesn't seem to itch the spots along her sides. Her tail and hind area is from her incessant licking. I haven't been able to get her to stop and its only when she's unsupervised. Otherwise she is a very normal and playful companion. Her exercise could be better but who's bullies actually get all they can handle right? I mean, she goes on several walks a day and I run 2 miles each afternoon with her.
This has been driving me nuts. She attracts so much attention that I hate explaining why a white dog has a tannish brown rear end...eww.
Any help is appreciated!
Comments
Despite good nutrition itches can still occur - sparked by ingredients the dog reacts allergic to or by environmental triggers and other things.
It is always wise to look for the underlying cause of itches.
The cost of the test sounds a lot and a I heard allergy tests in dogs are not the most reliable thing.
However, some people have great experience with them, others did not find it really helped to identify triggers reliably.
You could also try and switch to another grain free food with a different main ingredient than the food you are currently using. Another or the next step could be eliminating one supplement after another to see, if any improvement sets in. Because even the supplements could be triggers, even though less likely. Sadly this is trial and error most of the time.
Also I'd look for possible triggers outside - plants etc.
As a first aid against itches you can give Benadryl and do antiseptic washes once or several times a day spot on or on the entire dog.
I am a little hesitant to mention this, because it needs to be used with extreme caution:
Just in case you do not know:
Hydrogen peroxide must be handled with extreme caution, even in the diluted medical version! The diluted medical version is also the ONLY version that should be used on a dog. Not the stronger versions for women to bleach their hair etc., which also often come mixed with other chemicals!
Hydrogen peroxide should NEVER get into your or your dog's eyes or nose and other sensitive spots! In case that happens rinse really, really good.
If it touches the mouth in small amounts in the diluted version it will not taste good, but will do no harm.
Some dentists even recommend diluted medical hydrogen peroxide as medical mouth washes for humans, but it should NOT be swallowed! Just saying.
On the fur it works over time, not over night.
This is only a cosmetic solution to maybe help you diminish your “walk of shame” a little.
The best thing of course is always to find the underlying causes, if in any way possible and eliminate them.
Regarding exercise I honestly feel that 2 miles each day rather sound a lot than not enough.
Stress can also trigger licking. Maybe this is something you’d also like to look into.
Maybe throwing in some other amusements you can even do at home like fetch (in the yard), trick training oder brain games could shorten the walks, take her mind off the licking and maybe put less stress on her.
Just a few thoughts.
Yeast infections are common in Bull breeds and yeast infections are typically what give dogs their rusty color. More common on feet, yeast infections love moist places like folds of skin or between toes. My dog has gotten the brown coloring in her back end area, and I have to keep her clean with unscented baby wipes (she rolls right over too, but I think she's hoping her cuteness will make me go away!!). My dog also has a complication of a tucked vulva, which has given her a couple of UTIs and just general dirtiness. A simple antibiotic will clean up any infections and baby wipes will help prevent bacteria from creeping in again. An antibiotic is the ONLY thing I would recommend asking a vet for.
I personally would also recommend starting coconut oil or apple cider vinegar for maintenance of skin and coat after you get her a little more healthy. I have found that these additives do not treat the problem once they go past a certain point, but are better for maintenance so you can keep the yeastiness at bay.
There really doesn't seem to be any food that is perfect for all dogs. It's individual reactions to even different ingredients in the same line.
We also give our bull terriers NuVet Plus, grizzly oil, and Braggs apple cider vinegar. Are you using the apple cider vinegar that has "mother" in it, that is cloudy and requires shaking before using? The grizzly oil has some good nutrients in it for dogs. We're thankful for getting these suggestions on the forum.
Does anyone give their bullies apple cider vinegar and the high quality coconut oil? We have the organic, highest quality coconut oil for us to use in our diets, but I wasn't sure if it was okay to use since we also give them the grizzly oil, NuVet Plus, and the apple cider vinegar with "mother".
Genetics could have a big play in what's going on and she may require far more attention to manage her skin condition. The allergy test may prove to be very beneficial to get accurate results that depict the root cause of her issue. This would also eliminate the need to spend an extensive amount of time playing trial and error with different foods, shampoos, supplements, etc.
For 2 years old she is quickly getting calluses on her elbows for an indoor dog. I'm thinking her issue stems from something outside vice something she is eating. My recommendation is having her seen by a specialist who can conduct proper tests that will isolate the problem.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
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