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Skin problems

Posted by Jake Eddie Savage 
Jake Eddie Savage
Skin problems
February 13, 2013 11:13AM
Hi Cathy, I have an EnglishBullTerrier and he is
7yrs old been healthy all his life until a few months
ago. He started to get itchy skin with sores on his
stomach. Took him to the vets and they gave us
antibiotics and steroids. Finished the course of tablets
in which his coat was back to normal with no sores
and no longer itching. Week or so later the sores
returned so back to the vets we went to be given
another course of tablets and I was told its down to
his diet. And that I should try him on different food.
Now he has breakfast: Bonio x2 and large banana,
dinner: carrot,potato,broccoli,cabbage,parsnips,(part boiled)
brown rice or brown pasta and sardines or mince
meat. He absolutely loves it although he doesn't turn
his nose down to anything edible. Now he has finished
his course of tablets the sores have returned but much
smaller and on his back now, when you run your hand
along his coat you can feel little lumps of dry skin.
Here's wondering if there's a good hypo-allergenic food
out there that you can recommend or if there's something
you think I may be doing wrong or if you have any information
regarding his problem. I would be very appreciative. Thanks
for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks Jake and Jesa.
Re: Skin problems
February 19, 2013 10:21PM
Hi

Thats quite a complex diet you are using. My preference would certainly be to start by ruling out food allergies by using a commercial hypoallergenic diet. Its simpler than all that preparation! There's lots on the market, made by the major pet food manufacturers and I dont have a strong preference where you start. Just be sure you pick one that says it has a single source of animal protein so it is truly hypo-allergenic. That could contain only chicken, only lamb or even a fish based diet. If he's not a picky dog its certainly more economic to use a dry diet.There are also commercial hydrolysed protein diets that your vet could recommend to use to carry out the trial. These diets work by excluding all proteins that might be the source of the allergy. You need to be strict and not introduce any other foods at all for several weeks to know if its working. If this has no effect then sadly it is not a food allergy and its back to the vet for skin tests as allergies to environmental things such as mites, and plant materials can also exist. Skin disease can be complicated, I guess you are realising that. Hope that helps a bit.

Cathy Wickenden BVet Med MRCVS
Barton Lodge Veterinary Centre
1 Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5BH
Tel: 01442 216048 24 hours
[www.bartonlodgevets.co.uk]
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