I have decided I absolutely knew what Murray's skin issues were...many times They began from the time he was 8 weeks old and continue to this day. Right now I have settled on a very slight case
of Demodex Mange. It sounds awful, I know. It's not contagious and it is manageable. For Murray, it amounts to occasional red bumps that appear down his spine, clustering on his butt end above his tail. The worst bumps basically look like big pimples or boils, but most look very much like black heads on humans. With cleansing and air exposure (after we clip him and trim back the thick fur) they mostly scab up and go away until the next bout shows up. Our vet tries to convince me it's some kind of allergy, and it very well may be. I just keep thinking about how young he was when it showed up, what it looks like in comparison to photos of mange I have seen, and the fact that we cannot find a trigger to point to an allergy. For a short time a shampoo with sulfur helped clear things up, but low and behold, Murray IS allergic to sulfur. It makes him very ill. We have started a regimin of regular clippings and bathings with fresh, natural shampoo with oatmeal and almond oil. I feed him a daily fish oil pill and make sure we're choosing high quality, grain free food. An occasional wipe down of his fur on his back with a little peroxide seems to keep things a bit more under control too. Let me end by saying thankfully this has never seemed to bother him. I think it bothers me more than him! I would love to cure this, but in the meantime I am learning to manage it. Warning: Photo of the "skin issue" below. If anyone recognizes this or has any insight, please share.
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| You got rid of that tree. Now I can reach my toy box! |
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| The worst scab/boil right now |
Items Needed: Small seal-able container for mixing and storing 2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda 1/2 Cup Coconut Oil (solid form) 1 Tablespo...
Not too far from where I live, tragedy struck Wednesday morning. Six people were shot while out doing everyday errands at a car wash and bar...
Murray, tell your Mom it does bother her more than us, we just keep whistling a happy tune and we know we are beautiful
ReplyDeleteWe have no clue but know he is handsome as ever!
ReplyDeleteYour pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Hmm, Ma has no idea. Her Old English Sheepdog use to get 'hot spots', but this obviously isn't that, but she knows what it's like tryin' to keep skin issues in check with a furry doggie. I hope someones in Blogville has seen this before and can give you some solutions. One things Ma had tried when I was a pup, and worked for a while, was somethings called 'K-9 Klear-up'. I don't know what you've tried, or if this is even an option for you, butts here's the link to their website and you can give it a read: http://www.k9klearup.com/
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have any sulfur in it, and it's all natural, so maybe it can help.
I hopes your nether-regions stay clear Murray!
Kisses,
Ruby
Thank you...will do!
DeleteBowWowzer, sure wish we could help, but we haven't a clue. Murray looks pretty cool to us though. You might want to go to the blog "Vetstreet.com" and ask Dr. Marty Becker. He's really smart on these things! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteSmooches,
BabyRD & Hootie
Thank You!
DeleteWoof! Woof! We can relate to your problem. For years (when i was young) I had skin allergy problems. It took years for us to determine exactly what to do. We are fortunate that our vet works with us. Major findings is FOOD ... its trial n error you have to eliminate little by little. Basically now I am grain free, no eggs, no soy, wheat free. I do get grains from time to time from mom's homemade treats. Sending Murray's Golden Healing Thoughts with his allergies. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are doing all you can for Murray's allergy/condition. He looks such a lovely boy...spoilt I would say just like William is. lol.
ReplyDeletePoor Murray!! We feel bad for him, but mama would like to share an article with you as she feeds us coconut oil every night in our homecooked meals! Here is the article: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
ReplyDeleteHope it helps!! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug
Thanks! Looking forward to reading it!
DeleteOh dear we have never seen that before. Pip use to get red blotches and we used Vaseline and that cleared it. Every so often they would appear for no reason. Hope someone can help. Have a super Saturday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Hi, I'm a first time visitor to your blog. Sorry to hear about issues you're having with Murray. The picture you show kinda looks like a scab - is that right? If they're scabby, I'd be looking at actually causes of injury - like, do you have another dog that plays rough bitey games? Or a prickley bush?
ReplyDeleteGood thought but I have never seen any bitey games and no prickley bushes. Hmm
DeletePoor Fella! My uncle, Fergus always gets red bumps on his back, like pimples. The V.E.T says he's allergic to grass... :/
ReplyDeleteOh Murray buddy, we feel bad for you, Have no answer though
ReplyDeleteYour Pals
Susie & Bites
Ah man, dis is terribles but at least it don't bothers you. From what we knows og mange...from Animal Planet...they loose hair. Has you losted any hair? And it can be quite painful, da mange dat is. I would have your vet do a skin scrappin' to make sure it is or ain't mange.
ReplyDeleteI sure do hopes you gets betters.
I has allergies but mine are hives.
Puddles
Skin scraping is on our horizon!
DeleteOuch! I don't recognize it but it sounds like you are doing everything you can.
ReplyDeleteNora
Oh Murray we are sorry to hear of the ongoing skin problems you're having. Don't be embarrassed if it is manage, we both had it on our ears as pups - a month of medication & injections cleared it up.
ReplyDeleteWe wish we cld be of help & offer some advice but we don't have a clue. We do think your mom is doing a grrreat job at trying to figure it out & keep you itchy/scratchy free.
Wally & Sammy
So sorry to hear about yours skin problems Skin issues are really tough to manage We are lucky not to have issues but no many pups who do
ReplyDeleteurban hounds
It is strange how some dogs just seem to have these skin complaints while others have no trouble at all. One of my mum's dogs had canine eczema all his life. All you can really do is find a good diet and keep them comfortable.
ReplyDeleteLynne x
wish we could help, but we don't know either. Do you have a humidifier? Maybe more moisture in the air will help. Just an idea. I know it sure helps Vickie look better....(Whoops, did I write that)
ReplyDeleteTake Care
Bert
We do use a humidifier everyday.
DeleteWe've had 2 foster dogs in the past that had demodex mange, but both dogs had it on their muzzles, but it did look similar to the photo. I'm just sorry that you're still looking for the answers for your boy--I will continue to hope you find them!
ReplyDeleteI has no ideas bouts this, sorry I is not helps
ReplyDeleteCotton
Poor Murray, hope someone is able to help xx
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry to hear about this. We hope you find a solution soon! Lee and Phod
ReplyDeleteSam gets the same thing, but his is part of his autoimmune deficiency. The vet usually gives us some antibiotics which clears it up for a few months. We haven't found anything topical that helps.
ReplyDeleteSam
Not fun....sorry to hear this....
ReplyDeleteI get a rash that is very similar to Murray's. The vet has said that it is an allergy - and it sure gets itchy like an allergy sometimes, which is why the pimple bumps end up as scabs (from scratching). Mom thought some kind of mange too at first, because I lose the hair at the spot but the vet insists it is allergies.
ReplyDeleteI am all-kinds-of-free and especially POULTRY/poultry by-product free! The vet thinks it is the poultry that causes the allergy so we need to read all labels t look for even by-products. I eat Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon & Potato and though I still get the occasional itch/rash (vet said it could also be grass allergy - thanks a lot) it is by far so much better now!
Good luck!
My Zoe had Demodex mange as a puppy. She still gets it every now and then but it clears up with in a week. We use Goodwinol ointment anytime she gets a breakout.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the great suggestions! I will be looking into each of them.
ReplyDelete