Please help Cracker!

[gt_mustang_gal]

First of all, I apologize for being absent from here for so long, but my life has been turned upside down in more ways than I even have time to mention. My reason for returning is because this is the last place I know to turn because so many of you are knowledgeable about the breed and might be able to help.

PLEASE take a moment to read this and see if you can help me. I've spent more money than I want to admit and battled this for 8 months. Cracker has been to more than 5 vets, a specialist, and even a dermatologist. I still don't have answers. So I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Cracker started ripping his hair out in January (when he was 8 months old). He has these "attacks" where he will go around in circles, kinda like he's chasing his tail, but he's trying to grab a mouth full of fur. Then he will fall over and just start violently ripping the hair out. I try to stop him when I catch him, but obviously he does this during the night and when I'm not home. During the "attack" he screams out like he's in pain and he starts panting really bad. Sometimes he will stop ripping out the fur and find a pillow to hump (sorry, being blunt here so that I give all the facts). After he rips the hair out, he eats it and gets mad if someone tries to pick it up. Here's what I've tried:

He's been on antihistimines, multiple antibiotics, Zyrtec, Benadryl, and even steroids. NONE of these medications give him any relief. This past Friday the vet gave him his annual shots and gave him a steroid shot, which she said should help the itching. IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL.

He's been to a dermatologist, stuck 60 times, and tested for allergies. There were no significant reactions...as a matter of fact, he only reacted to 11 things and the dermatologist said he doesn't typically recommend allergy shots unless they react to more than that.

I've given him medicated baths because the skin tests show that he has an extreme amount of yeast on his skin. But the shampoo only seems to aggravate his condition even more.

He has been tested for multiple things, but nothing shows up. He has NO fleas. He isn't exposed to anything outdoors - I house trained him because of the fear of allergies....so he always stays indoors.

Since several vets have suspected food allergy, we have tried MULTIPLE diets for him.....we tried prescription food, but that didn't work. So now I am home cooking. He seems to be allergic to beef, chicken, dairy, FISH, potatoes, wheat, etc. So he's on pork, vegetables (peas & carrots), and whole grain natural rice. He cannot have ANY treats or he has attacks. I'm giving him a multi-vitamin supplement. But even this diet doesn't help him. He's still miserable.

I want to help my baby. I don't know what else to do! Has anyone ever experienced this before?

Edited August 20, 2012 by gt_mustang_gal

[gt_mustang_gal]

Here's a picture so you can see what I'm dealing with. He mainly rips fur out of his flanks...but also does the same thing to his tail, legs, and paws. Actually, he licks his paws a lot. I have attempted to contact the breeder MULTIPLE times via email and phone. She refuses to respond to me. I even told her in the last email that I am not looking to get a "refund" or anything. I'm just trying to find answers - IF this is something hereditary, I need to know about it so I can help him.

Edited August 20, 2012 by gt_mustang_gal

[Tuesday]

Poor Cracker and poor you!

This happened to Murphy one time - turned out he had impacted anal glands. A quick internal expression from the vet (after we did the external - You Tube rocks!) and some smooshed up sweet potato on his food for about a week and he was good to go.

[Lynn in TN]

Oh my! That looks awful! I hope you can figure out what is causing it soon. My Mom use to have a 1/2 poodle 1/2 terrier ( don't know what terrier but believe to be westie) She would scratch bald places on herself at times but no one could ever figure out what caused it. sometimes she would go for a year without it and sometimes the itch would last almost a year. It was heartbreaking to see her that way but it was not as bad as cracker. She also had to have her glands expressed and often at least every 3 months. They wouldn't express on their own. Maybe that was what was causing her to be that way.

I can't imagine what you are going through.

[bradl]

No personal experience so can't help there. Were I in your position I might contact the CTCA Skin Disease Coordinator for the Health Related Concerns Committee (here) and see if she can point you toward additional resources.

It seems I've read that yeast issues can be a real (literal) pain and difficult to eradicate. I know that there are a lot of pages on the web that address yeast issues in dogs, so it appears to be distressingly common. Of course you need to carefully evaluate sources and assess credibility as you find stuff online.

I feel for your frustration.

[remltr]

I house trained him because of the fear of allergies....so he always stays indoors.

Could you expand further on this? Do you mean to say he is never outdoors, ever? If that is the case then I would suspect that this might be neurological in nature. Meaning that he is going crazy from never getting outdoors and running around and that he is acting out by ripping hair from his body. I really don't know, but something that may need to be checked out.

The best way to avoid allergies as adults is to be exposed to the conditions that create them while young. Hence the vacine shots that are given when they are puppies or we were children.

[Sam I Am]

Have you tried contacting a holistic vet? They totally cured our Scottish Terriers skin issues. Google to find a holistic vet who might have a practice close to you.

Edited August 21, 2012 by Terrier lover

[gt_mustang_gal]

I house trained him because of the fear of allergies....so he always stays indoors.

Could you expand further on this? Do you mean to say he is never outdoors, ever?

No, I mean that he uses an indoor potty patch and there's also one on the deck. I have a very large covered deck and we spend a lot of time out there (until he starts sneezing and I bring him back inside). By saying he isn't outdoors, I meant that I don't turn him loose in the grass/dirt like I did with my first furbaby (Westie). Cracker gets a LOT of exercise inside - he loves playing fetch and he has an agility course in 1/2 of my living room. He also has a basketball that he loves to roll around on when we're on the deck. I travel with him and he loves to visit people. So he isn't totally isolated to the point of going crazy. Good question though! It makes me think about another subject......could this be ANXIETY??? There's been a major change in our life that he's still adjusting to - I've gone through a divorce, so Cracker has lost his "daddy". Of course, the skin issues started a few months before the divorce though.

[kjwarnold]

Wow, sad for Crackers and for you. I've got no experience with this, but my breeder wholly recommends this site for help with allergies.

[Hillscreek]

Poor Cracker. Just want to say I'm so sorry. Had skin problems once with a dog but it was flea caused so no help to you.

Just hoping you can get this sorted for him.

[BetsyNoodle]

Oh, I am so sorry for your precious Cracker. I would do exactly what Brad recommended and I would strongly consider taking Crackers to a Veterinary School where many different specialties are represented so all can weigh in and hopefully come up with a diagnosis and treatment that might help.

My only experience with anything that comes close to this is with our Lab mix, Gracie. Her hair was falling out in patches and nothing would calm her itching. It was so distressing that none of us got much sleep at night befroe we were able to get it under control. We took her to a dermatologist and ruled out food allergies. We finally had to give her Atopica, which is very expensive, but it worked. She is now maintained on a dose of Atopica every other day. It is not perfect, but she no longer loses her hair or stays up all night scratching.

What percentage of his waking hours is spent manifesting this behavior? I have also read about compulsive behaviors in dogs.

I know how hard it is to watch a beloved dog suffer and feel like there is nothing you can do. I pray you and Crackers will have some answers soon. Just know we are here to support you.

Gracie and I are sending hugs.

[pkcrossley]

what a lot you two have been going through. i also had a thought about neurological, but different from remitr --i wondered if the skin problems were the result and not the cause of possible seizures. that is, i wondered if cracker was having a seizure, during which he happens to grab his fur and rip it out. in this scenario the yeast problem would be a different problem, or possibly related to an irritant or trigger that would set off a seizure. a great deal of the behavior you describe suggests a seizure.

you certainly have to clear up the yeast problem asap, probably with an antibiotic and special shampoo follow up. if there is no improvement --or perhaps even if there is-- you might consider spending a couple hundred dollars on a consultation with neurologist, who could probably assess fairly quickly whether cracker is ripping his fur during a seisure, rather than having all these behaviors because of the fur. seizures can have many causes --including extreme irritation-- and if seizures are implicated in any way a doctor might recommend putting cracker on a slight sedative of some kind until his skin can heal up. this is just a thought. if your regular vet thinks it is crazy, then of course you can just forget about it. but the yeast must be taken care of.

teddy sometimes yelps, spins and bites at his heels outdoors. so far as we can see it is set off by something brushing or irritating his feet --it only happens when he is outside, in grass. we can snap him out of it by calling to him, or in extreme cases just moving him to a smooth or indoor area. again, it suggests to me the possibility that cracker's problem is in some way neurological, or aggravated by a neurological problem even if there is a distinct physical trigger. remember that there is a wide range of neurological issues, most of which can be managed and some of which may be developmental --that is, they can affect young dogs and then disappear as the dog matures. don't let the prospect of a neurological issue scare you or paralyze you, just ask your vets to consider it and make a recommendation or referral.

Edited August 21, 2012 by pkcrossley

[oscar's mom]

I've given him medicated baths because the skin tests show that he has an extreme amount of yeast on his skin. But the shampoo only seems to aggravate his condition even more.

Vinergar is a natural antifungal. If he doesn't have any open areas, you could bath in water vinergar and maybe some baking soda.

Vinergar to combat the fungus, abd baking soda to sooth the skin. If he has open areas, the vinergar would hurt. The baking soda hopefully will sooth the skin for a while.

Good luck.

[hheldorfer]

Oh, my . . . you've been through hell with this, haven't you? If I was in your shoes I think I'd take the approach of "one issue at a time". The yeast is a known problem, so I'd be inclined to address that first, but remember that too much shampooing can dry the skin and make the itching worse. I like the idea of finding a holistic vet; a new set of eyes with a different attitude can help immensely.

Poor baby. I hope Cracker finds some relief.

[cairnsby3]

Have any of the vets done the blood test for food allergies? Alot of vets don't like it, cause they say it isn't clear, like is is the "chicken" of what the chicken was processed with, but my dog that had food allergies came out being able to eat: fish, rabbit, eggs and rice safely, so that's what he ate from then on. I used a prescription diet that was fish, and made him treats using fish, eggs and rice flour. It worked for him. I could have tried different things for years before hitting on those 4.

[tlwtheq]

It makes me think about another subject......could this be ANXIETY??? There's been a major change in our life that he's still adjusting to - I've gone through a divorce, so Cracker has lost his "daddy". Of course, the skin issues started a few months before the divorce though.

I have direct experience with this. Your non-human baby has been suffering anxiety as long as your marriage has been in trouble.

Both my pups and my kitty (1991) lived through this experience, and not happily. Suddenly the (adult) cat couldn't find the cat box.

My estranged husband insisted he would get both the pups, until he came home to find his favorite sofa

covered in piles of doggie pooh.

After that he became "benevolent" and generous toward me, admitting the "little lads" needed to be with their mother.

The whole situation was tough, tough, tough. But him admitting who had been taking care of the pups

all along by surrendering them was its own reward.

Your baby still knows things aren't the way he wants...it'll take a while. If you want to talk you can PM any time.

Tara

P.S. - not suggesting all Cracker's ailments are anxiety-based, but the anxiety doesn't help.

Edited August 21, 2012 by tlwtheq

[Pepper Bug's Mom]

West Coast Canine Life (http://www.westcoastcaninelife.com/) makes a GREAT mix for making homemade dog muffins and is a good site for info. The muffins are fun to make and Pepper loves them. You control the ingredients as well. Also - probiotics (http://www.petenzymes.com/) help with immune system issues, etc. They really help Pepper since she is on low-dose antibiotics.

So sorry about Cracker (I love the name!) and the itching,but try these two items and see if itching improves.

[jo_]

I wish I could offer some advice. I'm so sorry you and Cracker are going through this. The unknown must make it very frustrating. Personally I would also be seeking out a holistic/natural doctor to see what they have to say. I'm a strong believer in *natural* medicine.

Good luck, please keep us posted.

[josie&holly]

We have a member on UK forum who had similar problems with her dog and found some products that helped so have sent her a PM asking if she can come on here with the details. She is also a member on this forum.

[ScruffynMag]

I'm wondering if it is hormonal or possibly a thyroid problem? Sometimes yeast infections of the skin often occur secondary to hypothyroidism . Have the vets tested for these? I only know because Scruffy had a strong smell of yeast on his skin when he was Crackers age and he too was chasing his tail and biting it and now and again pulling some of his coat out. It turned out to be Tail Gland Hyperplasia and he's fine now but they did test him for thyroid and hormonal problems because of his behaviour. I hope you can find an answer for the poor little guy.

Edited August 21, 2012 by ScruffynMag

[Dempsy's Mom]

I feel horrible that you and Cracker have to deal with this. Cracker is very cute. Someone has to have an answer. You both will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Stargemmer]

Sorry to hear about Cracker.

I had all sorts of skin problems with my Cairn Holly, and have spent about a year or two changing foods, different scrapes and vet tests, using very expensive skin treatments etc.

1) I can see you tested for paracites, the first thing is to get the skin scraped to see there are no paracites causing it.

2) On the yeasty infection: 2ndly I found Neem Oil to help, I mixed the oil in with regular shampoo, and bathed her frequently, and found it very helpful. http://www.discovern...l-for-dogs.html Neem oil is antifungal and anti paracitic. As you said, sometimes yeast or fungal infections can cause skin problems, in which case that cheesy greasy coat will occur, and black patches on the skin - antifungal shampoo and soaps and frequent bathing til this clears up (with shampoos that don't aggrevate even more!). There is advice about this from Dr Karen Becker on her online website. If it's this then watch this video and others on this website: http://healthypets.m...like-crazy.aspx

3) 3rdly, the thing I found truly really cleared her up quickly is a product called Dermacton. These products are just incredible. I bought all 3 of them: the soap bar, the spray and the cream. I don't know if you can get these in the USA, but email them to see if they have a supplier there, otherwise I still think it's worth it to get it shipped over to you.

These Dermacton products I found highly recommended by lots of people including some big rescue centers over here who take in dogs with severely progressed skin problems. Check out this link here for more info. The products are totally natural and use various herbs and remedies, though I can't tell you the exact mixture as they seem to keep it to themselves. Check out this website about the products. I think the cream would help at your stage:

http://www.aromesse....dog-canine.html

To be honest, this stuff above ( I mainly used the spray ) cleared up Holly's yeasty patches quicker than anything else & gave immediate relief, she had a clean pink belly after about a week or so.

I sincerely hope you can solve this one!

Edited August 22, 2012 by Stargemmer

[gt_mustang_gal]

Wow! I KNEW I could come here and find suggestions! I really appreciate all the responses. The websites you've given are extremely informative. Y'all are amazing.

Thyroid testing - no, they have NOT tested his thyroid. I am going to call and suggest it!

Blood tests for food allergies - no, they have not done any blood tests now that I'm thinking about it. The dermatologist just did the needle pokes and watched for reactions (much like they do with humans). I'm going to contact him to see how he knew which foods Cracker shouldn't eat since he gave me a list.

Anal glands - no, to my knowledge they have never checked his anal glands. It's interesting that several of you have mentioned this. I'm going to call and suggest this too!

Holistic vet - no, I haven't checked into this yet. I live in a very small town, but I'm willing to travel hours away if it means finding some relief for Cracker.

Parasites - yes, he has been checked multiple times and is free from any parasites.

Hormone problems - no, he hasn't been checked for hormone issues. But this is also a very good suggestion that I'm going to mention to the vets.

Anxiety - I am sure he's traumatized over the events of the past year and a month since I got him. Luckily, the ex decided not to fight me for custody. In the end, he decided that Cracker was too high maintenance and required more time (and money) than he was willing to give.

When I go back to the vet hospital, they're going to see my LIST and know I've been doing some research! I'm making a list (and checking it twice - LOL) and calling them today. I will definitely keep you all posted!

THANKS AGAIN!

Kristi & Cracker

[ScruffynMag]

Good luck, I hope you come up with something useful for him bless him

[Tuesday]

Good Luck! Murphy had that exact same patch of missing fur in the exact same place (but on both sides) when his anal glands were impacted.

Please keep us posted!!!