Itching/shedding
Submitted by Steve P on October 7, 2013 - 10:50amMy one year old English bulldog is itching a lot! And sheds like crazy .itching so much that little scabs are popping up, I know it's not ticks fleas or anything like that . Any suggestions as what shampoo to use or what brush . Please and thank you
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Steve P.
First question that comes to mind is what are you feeding?
This sounds like an allergy to me. If you aren't already, I would immediately switch to a grain free food such as Natural Balance or Taste of the Wild. Stop all treats. Make sure you aren't dealing with a flea allergy, even if you can't see them, they can be present.
You can use Maleseb shampoo or an oatmeal based shampoo for the itchy skin, but I would find the cause as fast as you can. You can also give 25mg per 50lbs Benedryl tablet daily to help the itching until you know what is causing the problem. But try cutting out everything else but a good grain free diet right now. That is the place to start.
Amy and Sophia
Hey thank you for responding.
Hey thank you for responding. I feed him iams weight control and as far as treats go I don't give him treats only ice cubes
Steve P.
Petsmart does not sell any of
Petsmart does not sell any of the things your telling me about
Steve P.
Petsmart carries a couple of grain free varieties.
If you have a feed store near you or a Tractor Supply you will have better luck finding a good grain free feed. Iams is crap, I would get what you can get and switch food. Blue Buffalo is sold at Petsmart and they have a very good grain free, but watch your protein content. You don't want more than 25% max protein percentage.
Amy and Sophia
The first thing I would do is change to a grain free food..
Alot of dogs are allergic to grains which cause shedding, itchy red skin , cysts between toes. Iam's is not good...when the first ingredient is corn meal and the second chicken-by-products not good. Find a food where the first ingredients are proteins. Many of the dogs do well on fish based. I'm feeding rabbit right not. If you find a new food you need to give it time...more then 2 wks.
Is that' the reason why he's
Is that' the reason why he's shedding like crazy and itching himself so bad the hex starting to scab
Steve P.
It definitely could be a possibile...
Petsmart does have several grain free foods. I've used Wellness Core and Blue Wilderness...Both grain free.
I wold say that is why.
And like Kathy says, you need to give it time to work, no less than 4 solid weeks on teh new food, prefer at least 8 weeks before you will know for sure it is working. But you should be able to see a slight difference in as little as two weeks of being on it solid to know if you are headed in the right direction.
Amy and Sophia
I've hear oatmeal based
I've hear oatmeal based shampoo but do have any certain brands that will help the itchy skin
Steve P.
Iam's
is one of the worst foods on the market and YES the itching, scabs and excessive shedding can definitely be caused by food. Dogs don't need to eat corn, they need meat.
I tried Iam's once many many years ago when I was still feeding kibble and his hair started falling out within 2 weeks. I immediately took him off that food.
I will caution you to using oatmeal shampoo. If the dog is allergic to grains, oatmeal is a grain thus not good to bath in. Infact holistic vets caution against using oatmeal based shampoos.
Ack! Deb, thanks for the reminder about oatmeal....
I didn't even connect that to a grain. Geez.....
Amy and Sophia
Try the
Benadryl, I am giving it to my two now.. It's allergy season... I may try switching foods too!
Benadryl
I don't even have it in my house. I personally don't believe in medicating unless I know what I'm medicating for. I don't recommend Benadryl if the dog has a food allergy.
I guess I must be lucky. I don't have allergy issues that are so bad that I have ever needed to medicate. Once Ester got bite by something and her face swelled and her tummy got all red and hot so per vet she was given an antihistamine shot (Benadryl) and I gave Benadryl for 7 days, vet perscribed. Other then that I've never used it going on 18 years now owning bulldogs.
Benadryl
I guess I must be lucky.
I don't even have it in my house. I personally don't believe in medicating unless I know what I'm medicating for. I don't recommend Benadryl if the dog has a food allergy.
I don't have allergy issues that I have ever needed to medicate for them. Once Ester got bite by something and her face swelled and her tummy got all red and hot so per vet she was given an antihistamine shot (Benadryl) and I gave Benadryl for 7 days, vet perscribed. Other then that I've never used it going on 18 years now owning bulldogs.
Oops....sorry for the double post
I didn't think I had sent it. working and multi-tasking :(
I always have it on hand, just in case....
But mine is always reserved for bites, stings, etc. I have used it one time for Sophia when she got a bibbit (flea) and reacted to it. I have used it on my Great Pyrenees when he got stung on the face, had to give him 3:-) He is a big boy! I think for helping them get calmed down so the reaction to the allergy is lessened, it isn't a terribly bad thing, but only if it is a known, not for something you are guessing at.
Amy and Sophia
I do have Antihistamines in the medicine
cabinet just in case. Claritin not Benadryl. I also have epi pens for something serious. MacKenzie's dad got stung and they saved him because they had an epi pen. Not sure I would know how to use it, but in a serious situation I think I could figure it out real quick.
I have to carry an Epi pen for myself, so always have one
On hand. I haven't tried Claritin, might have to look into it.
Amy and Sophia