itchy scaley stinky

[casi]

so here's the story, i got my baby yorkie in january and everything was great. he was born october 21st. the breeder told me he had never had a bath before and to wait about two weeks before bathing him because he might go into shock if i do so sooner. i gave him his first bath and used a gentle puppy shampoo. shortly after this i began having problems with his skin. first it started with a small patch of dry skin on his back. i assumed he was allergic to the shampoo or maybe he nneded more oils in his skin. i read that supplementing olive oil in his food could help. i did this, after about three weeks it got worse, i then changed his food to wellness, no change, changed his shampoo to an oatmeal and aloe shampoo, no change, to a medicated shampoo and it got worse. i have been using conditioners during baths and spray ins as well. still its getting worse, he has scratched several bald spots into his back and head about a week ago so i put a sweater on him, and to my dismay this only allowed the dry skin to build up and make him stinky and his hair matted up on his back to the point that if i brush him im pulling the hair out myself. this week i switched to a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner but still no change. however im not sure if this is useful but the original spot where the dry skin occured on his back when scratched makes his leg spasm..... im doing my best to avoid going to the vet and look like a fool because ive been told by several goroomers, and breeder friends that yorkies get really dry skin in the cold michigan winters. HELP!!!!

[Sunnie]

I am glad you came here to ask and I hope someone here will be able to help better than myself. But I think I would bite the bullet and go on in and ask the vet. Some dogs have allergies and if it is an allergy it is better to find out now so he can be treated and start healing.

[Cha Cha]

Welcome to YT. I would recommend you get your baby to a vet. It sounds like you are dealing with something potentially serious. Mites/Mange comes to my mind, but it could be something else, or could be infection. Either way, I say a vet is the best answer. Something about your breeder telling you that your baby could go into shock over a bath is not setting easy with me.

[BanditSocks2]

It sounds like something besides dry skin. Since you already tried all those different shampoo and diet changes, that should help the vet rule some things out. Good luck!!!

[casi]

thank you all for your replies. I do inteend to take him to the vet asap!! i feel so bad for my poor little baby. yeah that lady was a little strange. When i got him he smelled a lot like an at home flea and tick remover but i didnt say anything i thought maybe it was just some sort of perfume or spray in conditioner she had given him. but i know your not supposed to dip young puppies. I look forward to sharing tons of sweet stories as soon as my baby is all better!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by casi

so here's the story, i got my baby yorkie in january and everything was great. he was born october 21st. the breeder told me he had never had a bath before and to wait about two weeks before bathing him because he might go into shock if i do so sooner. i gave him his first bath and used a gentle puppy shampoo. shortly after this i began having problems with his skin. first it started with a small patch of dry skin on his back. i assumed he was allergic to the shampoo or maybe he nneded more oils in his skin. i read that supplementing olive oil in his food could help. i did this, after about three weeks it got worse, i then changed his food to wellness, no change, changed his shampoo to an oatmeal and aloe shampoo, no change, to a medicated shampoo and it got worse. i have been using conditioners during baths and spray ins as well. still its getting worse, he has scratched several bald spots into his back and head about a week ago so i put a sweater on him, and to my dismay this only allowed the dry skin to build up and make him stinky and his hair matted up on his back to the point that if i brush him im pulling the hair out myself. this week i switched to a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner but still no change. however im not sure if this is useful but the original spot where the dry skin occured on his back when scratched makes his leg spasm..... im doing my best to avoid going to the vet and look like a fool because ive been told by several goroomers, and breeder friends that yorkies get really dry skin in the cold michigan winters. HELP!!!!

it sounds like demodex mange to me My friends dog has it and her dog gets a small stinky moist spot on back so go to vet and have them rule out demodex with a scraping. Promeris is what is used for demodex and ivermectin.

If no demodex then sounds like your baby is very sensitive. I use blue hypoallergenic shampoo or dr bronners mild unscented baby shampoo as all organic oils. I have an allergy dog and oatmeal can make them dry out and more itchy as many allergy dogs are allergic to oatmeal