- e-Vet ALERT: Possible Spring Pet Injuries
- We have lost two special animals this past month
- e-Vet ALERT: Valentine dangers to your pet – roses, lilies, raisins, chocolate and more.
- $5 provides a box of Valentine’s cookies for a dog, or a box of heart-shaped treats for a cat
- e-Vet ALERT: Beware Ibuprofen in Dogs
Rat Terrier with bright-pink skin
Richard, a 20 lb Rescue Rat Terrier’s skin is bright-pink from his chin, down his chest, to his underbelly, and down to his little toes. Richard doesn’t seem to be losing hair, but he does scratch his underbelly, and ‘clean his boots’ a lot. He doesn’t seem to scratch his face or need to scratch is back much. He just looks to be uncomfortable.
Richard is on his 3rd adoption in 5 years from the Whidbey Island Animal Shelter. Richard is thought to be 6 years old. He is black & white, with all white legs and underside. Richard lives with my 92 year old father on a remote island in the San Juans (WA state). A trip to the vet is a all-day excursion.
Richard was on limited ingredient Salmon – Sweet potato for about 4 months, with additional fish oil. We didn’t see much difference with his skin. We switched to another limited ingredient food, Duck – Potato about 3 months, ago with not much difference in his skin.
Other than a few apple slices, and blue berries, Richard is not to have any table scraps, or treats.
Richard has been on “Revolution” for about 6 months.
There is no Wool in the house that Richard he would be sitting on.
Richard is walked a couple times a day for a couple miles at a time through woods and over grasses, and along the beach.
Richard is washed with “Buddy Wash”. He seems better after bathing, but any relief doesn’t seem to last very long. His bedding is washed with mild soaps, and always has an extra rinse.
Richard has no visible bumps, scabs or bleeding.
Any suggestions what to try next ?
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For a dog such as this we would test for allergies with Heska Corp. You have exhausted non medical options. The testing could lead to a treatment to control his discomfort. Often, in addition to the Heska treatment, these animals need prednisone.
As an update, Richard was put on 2x/day antihistamine and a weekly bath with Vibac KetoChlor Shampoo. His skin healed, his dander went away, his ‘thin fur’ grew in full, he stopped itching and he even smells better. He has been off the antihistamines for a couple months. So far, he is still going great on a weekly Vibac KetoChlor Shampoo treatment. He looks like a very different dog. We thought he just had thin fur on his chest and belly — not anymore.