Does anyone have a Shih-Tzu with allergies?

My black and white dog, Tino, has had a recurring skin disorder since September the year before last. After ruling out just about everything else, my vet is totally convinced it is allergy related.

Not really thrilled with this diagnosis - bad enough that we seem unable to get the symptoms under control, let alone find out what it is that is causing them.

I am asking to be referred to a skin specialist on Friday - I am beginning to tear my hair out! I am having to give him daily baths at the minute to try to keep the yeast type fungus under control, and it is SO time consuming for me - and unpleasant for him as the shampoo stings.

I have spent the last week looking up skin conditions on the internet - boy is this a complex subject! Still, at least I feel a little more enlightened.

Have any of you out there got dogs with problem skin? And do any of you use homeopathic remedies? I am so scared to change anything at the moment, in case it makes things worse, but on the other hand I don`t know what else to try. (:o|

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Answers

Has anyone heard anything about VetBed Gold? Do you use it? Is it effective?(:o)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

OK - just an update on my boy Tino. Daily bathing has now been reduced to every other day, and next week I will be stretching it to every three days. His skin has made a remarkable recovery - the awful crepeyness (sp) has even gone, and even the parts which were really rough have softened. I suspect that the `Nizoral` tablets are more likely to have been making the difference, rather than the daily bathing in Malaseb.

So, the big question now is `do I go ahead with allergy testing?` My vet, who is happy to do a small main allergen suspects test, feels that I need to think very carefully about this. It appears that de- sensitising is a long and very expensive process (without guaranteed results). Anyone had any experience of this type of treatment?

I know a lot of people are very sceptical about allergy testing, but the alternative is continuing with the Nizoral, but this can compromise the liver.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Just getting this on the answers page too! (:o)

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Having thoroughly depressed myself on another thread talking about cruelty to animals, I thought a more positive posting was called for!

I am happy to report that Tino is still responding well to Nizoral. He has gone for well over a week now without being bathed with Malaseb, and the yeast infection has not re-appeared. His skin is pink, healthy and itch-free, and his coat is growing back at a rate of knots. I am a very happy bunny at the minute..........! Long may it last! (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2001