My yorkie's skin is getting bad! help please! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

FergieBaby · 07-02-2010, 05:20 PM

Hello everyone!

I was going to try and search my situation..but thought I would do my best to describe it and maybe someone would have some idea to help. My little girl has been scratching alot ..and her skin looks dry...now that doesnt seem too bad ..but the problem is that her pigment is getting a black tinge....literrally a tinge. Her skin looks almost like its aging on her little belly. Now I did have her at a vet for her itching. He just tried a dog food diet change to ZD or something I cant remember the name right now. But all it did was give her diarreah which is odd cause the food is suppose to be gentle. Anyways I have no idea what to do ..and the vet says they dont have an idea either and that it would be around a 1000 dollars for a allergy test etc. I wish I could figure it out on my own. I would love to fix her up...she is too young to have have all these issues with her skin. I would love some advice...please ask me anything I might have missed giving details about. (btw its not just on her belly its everywhere..)

Mysweetbabies · 07-02-2010, 05:50 PM

When my babies skin is itching I put virgin coconut oil on them, but your situation sounds much worse. It might help the itching but doubt it would solve whats going on with your baby. Have you tried some oatmeal shampoo for dogs? I don't have a clue what it is. Hopefully someone will come along with advice.

Mysweetbabies · 07-02-2010, 05:51 PM

I forgot to welcome you to YT. Welcome

FergieBaby · 07-02-2010, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the response...yes I do use an oatmeal shampoo but it doesnt seem to help...hmm yes maybe someone will have experienced something similar and could help me figure out what it could be

FergieBaby · 07-02-2010, 05:53 PM

Thanks

! but actually I have been on here before just created another account because I couldnt remember my log in info :S lol!

Lorraine · 07-02-2010, 05:54 PM

You need a better Vet, yours doesn't know squat. Where abouts in Canada are you? I know breeders across Canada and could possibly find a better Vet for you that knows Yorkies and their problems. PM me if you wish.
Also did you contact the breeder you got her from the breeder might be able to help you.

kalina82 · 07-02-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorraine

You need a better Vet, yours doesn't know squat. Where abouts in Canada are you? I know breeders across Canada and could possibly find a better Vet for you that knows Yorkies and their problems. PM me if you wish.
Also did you contact the breeder you got her from the breeder might be able to help you.

i agree. plus allergy testing does not cost $1000, its more like a few hundred and even then there's no guarantee that you'll get results you can work with.

With the Z/D did you do a slow switch from old food to new food or did you just switch cold turkey? To do a food trial you have to make sure you are only giving them the new food and nothing else. no treats, snacks, people food, edible bones, etc. once you finish the slow switch over they get nothing but that new food. It can take 3 months for all the old food to go through their system and for you to see some good results with the new food.

There are also foods you can get in pet stores that may help. Natural Balance and Wellness make limited ingredient allergy foods that work well for some dogs. i don't know if they have these brands in Canada but if they do its worth looking into.

4doggiemama · 07-02-2010, 06:23 PM

I have a Pommie who nearly chewed his feet off. Started eliminating food products....grains and then egg. Turns out he is allergic to both. The next food I would have eliminated would have been chicken. Luckily he tolerates that. I also had another doggie who was allergic to grass in the summertime. There just are so many things that dogs can be allergic to. Wishing you the best. ~Joanne~

Lorraine · 07-02-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

i agree. plus allergy testing does not cost $1000, its more like a few hundred and even then there's no guarantee that you'll get results you can work with.

With the Z/D did you do a slow switch from old food to new food or did you just switch cold turkey? To do a food trial you have to make sure you are only giving them the new food and nothing else. no treats, snacks, people food, edible bones, etc. once you finish the slow switch over they get nothing but that new food. It can take 3 months for all the old food to go through their system and for you to see some good results with the new food.

There are also foods you can get in pet stores that may help. Natural Balance and Wellness make limited ingredient allergy foods that work well for some dogs. i don't know if they have these brands in Canada but if they do its worth looking into.

Yes we have Natural Balance and Wellness.Wellness didn't work well for Yorkies but Natural Balance does. I feed a combination of the dry reduced calorie and the Venison and sweet potato. I like to mix in some tinned duck and potato.
Their limited ingredient ones are quite good, matter of picking which one might work.
Allergy testing could start with just a few common things like wool, grass, maybe whatever is being fed now, chicken or? These are the more common things dogs can be allergic to.

kalina82 · 07-02-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Yes we have Natural Balance and Wellness.Wellness didn't work well for Yorkies but Natural Balance does. I feed a combination of the dry reduced calorie and the Venison and sweet potato. I like to mix in some tinned duck and potato.
Their limited ingredient ones are quite good, matter of picking which one might work.
Allergy testing could start with just a few common things like wool, grass, maybe whatever is being fed now, chicken or? These are the more common things dogs can be allergic to.

I've always had good luck with wellness. My cats eat the weight management formula and Morgan has been on puppy, adult, small breed, and core. We've never tried the simple solutions limited ingredients ones though so don't know how palatable they are. She's eating a bag of NB ultra premium small breed right now and isn't too thrilled with it. she'll eat it but only if i sit nearby and watch her or make a game out of eating.

. i'm gonna try Taste of the Wild pacific Stream next. heard fish based foods were also good for allergy problems.

FergieBaby · 07-03-2010, 04:29 AM

Thanks everyone! well actually Fergie has been on wellness for years now..I really think it cant be the food..cause we had her on only ZD for a loong time..and not a little bit of change I really dont think its food...I have no idea whats happening someone once told me could be a yeast problem??? no idea if thats possible..or a skin infection?.....

FergieBaby · 07-03-2010, 04:57 AM

what if i was to start putting some vinegar in my little ones bath? ...and this sound very silly ..but can I use just normal vinegar? or does it have to be this apple cider i keep reading about?

kalina82 · 07-03-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FergieBaby

what if i was to start putting some vinegar in my little ones bath? ...and this sound very silly ..but can I use just normal vinegar? or does it have to be this apple cider i keep reading about?

Is the itching and black pigment just on her belly or is it all over? what kind of shampoo are you using? how long has this problem been going on for? Think back to when it started. Is there anything at all (even something so small you think its insignificant) that you changed around that time? Does she lay in the grass a lot outside? what about on non-carpeted floors?

apple cider vinegar is what is used for bathing. i think people use it differently (mixing with shampoo, only using ACV, shampooing then putting on ACV) so not sure what route to tell you to use. Last time I used it on a dog I washed them with a hypoallergenic shampoo, rinses it all off, then used a small amount to rub/massage into skin/coat all over. The ACV does not get rinsed off and i let the dog air dry.

You can also try they hypo shampoo and then massage organic virgin coconut oils into the coat/skin, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse really well.

FergieBaby · 07-03-2010, 06:23 AM

I wrote above that I have been using oatmeal shampoo and that the black tinge is all over not just on her belly. She has had dry skin for a long time..and now when I look back I realize that this has been progressing slowly over time...quit a while back her skin got fairly pink and the groomer said she must be allergic to something ...I just thought since she wasnt scratching very much it couldnt have been anything too serious..then the skin slowly started to turn from the pink ..to a darker tone.....she scratches like crazy now ...and like i said the vet changed her food..but it did nothing if anything she is still getting worse...... she had this in the winter and summer...so I dont know if it is anything seasonal....bah! lol

kalina82 · 07-03-2010, 07:06 AM

at this point it wouldn't hurt to try the ACV or coconut oil

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

07-02-2010, 05:20 PM	#1
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	My yorkie's skin is getting bad! help please! Hello everyone! I was going to try and search my situation..but thought I would do my best to describe it and maybe someone would have some idea to help. My little girl has been scratching alot ..and her skin looks dry...now that doesnt seem too bad ..but the problem is that her pigment is getting a black tinge....literrally a tinge. Her skin looks almost like its aging on her little belly. Now I did have her at a vet for her itching. He just tried a dog food diet change to ZD or something I cant remember the name right now. But all it did was give her diarreah which is odd cause the food is suppose to be gentle. Anyways I have no idea what to do ..and the vet says they dont have an idea either and that it would be around a 1000 dollars for a allergy test etc. I wish I could figure it out on my own. I would love to fix her up...she is too young to have have all these issues with her skin. I would love some advice...please ask me anything I might have missed giving details about. (btw its not just on her belly its everywhere..)

07-02-2010, 05:50 PM	#2
Mysweetbabies YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,236	When my babies skin is itching I put virgin coconut oil on them, but your situation sounds much worse. It might help the itching but doubt it would solve whats going on with your baby. Have you tried some oatmeal shampoo for dogs? I don't have a clue what it is. Hopefully someone will come along with advice. __________________ DaisyRoscoBo

07-02-2010, 05:51 PM	#3
Mysweetbabies YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,236	I forgot to welcome you to YT. Welcome __________________ DaisyRoscoBo

07-02-2010, 05:54 PM	#6
Lorraine Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 2,060	You need a better Vet, yours doesn't know squat. Where abouts in Canada are you? I know breeders across Canada and could possibly find a better Vet for you that knows Yorkies and their problems. PM me if you wish. Also did you contact the breeder you got her from the breeder might be able to help you. __________________ Lorraine www.loribenyorkies.com Canada

07-02-2010, 06:23 PM	#8
4doggiemama Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KS Posts: 3,290	I have a Pommie who nearly chewed his feet off. Started eliminating food products....grains and then egg. Turns out he is allergic to both. The next food I would have eliminated would have been chicken. Luckily he tolerates that. I also had another doggie who was allergic to grass in the summertime. There just are so many things that dogs can be allergic to. Wishing you the best. ~Joanne~ __________________ Joanne Eli ChipperEva Snowboy Rosie(R.I.P. 1996-July 29, 2013) Cocoa(R.I.P 1998-April 26, 2012):

07-02-2010, 05:52 PM	#4
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	Thanks for the response...yes I do use an oatmeal shampoo but it doesnt seem to help...hmm yes maybe someone will have experienced something similar and could help me figure out what it could be

07-02-2010, 05:53 PM	#5
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	Thanks ! but actually I have been on here before just created another account because I couldnt remember my log in info :S lol!

07-03-2010, 04:29 AM	#11
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	Thanks everyone! well actually Fergie has been on wellness for years now..I really think it cant be the food..cause we had her on only ZD for a loong time..and not a little bit of change I really dont think its food...I have no idea whats happening someone once told me could be a yeast problem??? no idea if thats possible..or a skin infection?.....

07-03-2010, 04:57 AM	#12
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	what if i was to start putting some vinegar in my little ones bath? ...and this sound very silly ..but can I use just normal vinegar? or does it have to be this apple cider i keep reading about?

07-03-2010, 06:23 AM	#14
FergieBaby YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 6	I wrote above that I have been using oatmeal shampoo and that the black tinge is all over not just on her belly. She has had dry skin for a long time..and now when I look back I realize that this has been progressing slowly over time...quit a while back her skin got fairly pink and the groomer said she must be allergic to something ...I just thought since she wasnt scratching very much it couldnt have been anything too serious..then the skin slowly started to turn from the pink ..to a darker tone.....she scratches like crazy now ...and like i said the vet changed her food..but it did nothing if anything she is still getting worse...... she had this in the winter and summer...so I dont know if it is anything seasonal....bah! lol

07-03-2010, 07:06 AM	#15
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	at this point it wouldn't hurt to try the ACV or coconut oil Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs __________________ Kellie and Morgan