Another non-human beauty/health question.

JamiSings

Because the sites I used to go to for dog questions have changed their set ups so much that they're too much of a pain in the toches to use.

Now you all should know by now I am proudly owned by a rescue dog. Because Minnie's a former puppy mill breeder she always has a lot of health problems due to past neglect. One thing is that if I let her fur get too long she'll get these red spots on her back, about the last three inches before her butt. Even after I get her trimmed super short they'll stay for awhile. I've tried all sorts of dog shampoos that are suppose to be good for skin problems like itchiness and red bumps. They don't work.

I found that if I use Avon's Skin So Soft before bathing her, the spots calm down and even go away within ten minutes. (And of course we've all heard the bug repellent claims, well, even three or four baths later I will say that fleas do not bother her at all, even if she's been near a dog that has fleas.) However, even if I shampoo her three or four times after applying, her fur stays greasy and she starts to smell bad again sooner than normal.

I was wondering if anyone has any idea what in the SSS might be making her spots go away and if they knew of an affordable dog shampoo that can give the same benefits without the greasiness.

Right Brain

Jami: We're a bit backed up with "human" questions right now but if we get a chance we'll look into this. Just out of curiosity, which sites do you like to go to for pet questions?

sarahf

So I assume you've tried those dandruff-like shampoos they make for pets (can't remember if it's coal tar or something else--used to really help our late terrier who had recurrent skin inflammation issues, probably secondary infection on top of allergies).

JamiSings

WebMD has a pet section, but now you have to make a community just to ask a question. I also used to go to iVillage a lot but it's just not as user friendly. Some sites kind of just died out due to people wandering off.

I didn't expect the BBs to have time for this anyway, RB, that's why I put it in "General" instead of "ATBBs" - figured other pet owners might know why SSS is the only thing that makes Minnie's red spots disappear so quickly.

Yeah, I used things like that, oatmeal, etc. For some reason it's only the SSS that helps with the red spots. I don't know if there's something soothing in the mineral oil or what. I just know it works, but she stays so greasy with it too. Even several shampoos later.

lindygirl1960

It would seem that if you have to suds her with shampoo several times after using SSS all the extra shampooing would dry her skin out. Just a guess on my part.

Maybe it would make the oil in the SSS 'turn loose' if, after using the SSS, you put the pet shampoo onto her dry fur and then added water? I know it sounds weird but that is how I get coconut oil out of my hair with just one sudsing with shampoo.

Since the SSS works so well for taking care of the problem maybe just doing that would allow you to still use it but without the greasy aftereffects.

JamiSings

I might try that next time. It would be nice to figure out what's in it - if it's not the mineral oil, that is - what's in it that makes her red spots go away. Because I've tried all sorts of things and the groomer has as well. I haven't brought it up at the vet but he's seen them and doesn't seem concerned. Of course, she's had a lot of other problems because of her past. For instance, if you go to my Flickr album you can see the large area of infected flesh that had to be removed. Never did figure out what caused that, just that she must've had it for a long time. There was also the fact she had roundworm. And now she's developing cataracts. Either because she's older than thought or because she was caged outside in the desert sun for years.

She's still my baby though. And so spoiled. I'm not kidding when I call her a diva either. We've tried to make her leave the house naked, she won't. Just sits down and refuses to move no matter how much we pull on the leash. And the one time I tried to make her sleep naked cause it was a hot night, she kept waking me up until I put a t-shirt on her. Only then would she go to sleep.

sarahf

Our last dog required treatment with antibiotics for the secondary infection he got on his skin as a complication of allergies.

sarahf

I looked downstairs at the shampoos we had left from the basement tub where we bathed the last dog, and one of them was this: http://dermarest.com/psoriasis/products/7302.php

The other was a chlorhexidine antiseptic shampoo similar to this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/1/1/4286-septi-soothe-shampoo.html

I'm not sure whether either, or both, was what actually worked for us. He had hot spots and a lot of itching, and as I said, at times he was on oral antibiotics for it, but I can't say of course whether it's the same condition your dog has. And it doesn't look like there's any overlap with what's in skin so soft...

JamiSings

Well, I do know the spots are in the exact same places because you can see little dark pink places where they will flare up once her fur gets too long. No flaking or anything like that. It's almost like hives or the start of acne in how they look.

rutiga

Have you tried to stop using schampoos on her? I am from europe and alot of the dogs here never have schampoo and get do not get bath mutch. There fur and skin take care of it self so you need to wash it only if they get dirty.

rutiga

And have you tried to change the detergent you wash her clothes with? And talk to your vet maybe he/she can help you.

sarahf

We didn't have flaking either, Jami, but somehow the psoriasis/dandruff type products were helpful. Callie had the same kind of hot spots you describe, red skin w/ pimple-like lesions. And itching, in that he would bite himself or rub himself on the carpet.

JamiSings

@Rutiga - There's been a few times I haven't been able to wash her as much as I normally do because I'm ill and I notice her skin gets worse. As for detergent, we use dye free/fragrance free Tide because dad's sensitive to dyes and fragrances in detergents.

@Sarah - Yeah, that sounds a lot like what Minnie has, except her's don't seem to itch her. She only scratches when her fur is long or when she picks up a flea. Audrey used to have psoriasis when she was alive. Best thing we found for her was making meatballs with safflower oil. She'd get one a day and it kept the flaking under control. Got the tip from one of mom's friends who had psoriasis, she's take a tablespoon of safflower oil a day and it really helped her.

sarahf

It sounds like maybe she has dog eczema. I know a person with eczema and she has to use heavy-duty moisturizers on her skin to protect it. But I agree w/ Rutiga to check back w/ your vet. Did you say you already asked your vet once--I scrolled through and couldn't find where you wrote that? At any rate, I would check back.

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