I have a 5 year old chessie (Chesapeake bay retriever) and this year he has a serious skin condition. He has dry flaky skin and some hair loss, he is a mess. I've been to 2 vets and all they do is give me a shampoo and say wash him with this stuff. Well it's just not working, he is a great dog but he continues to shed skin and washing him as prescribed by these vets is just not the answer, Chessies have a natural oil to there fur and bathing them to often removes this natural way to shed water. Hunter loves to swim and is always going for the pond, i have kept him away while trying to get this skin condition under control. What i need is some ideas from you guys and gals that may help poor Hunter out.

Thanks in advance
Jim

 

Buck-

I have a 4 year old Labrador and he was\is having a some what similar issue to the one you're describing. He was constantly itching\scratching and his skin was red and irritated. I took him to the vet and they recommended an oat meal shampoo, which I tried, but didn't get good results. The vet then told me to give him an oat meal bath which did seem to sooth my buddy a lot. The vet also prescribed me 50mg Benadryl and 20 mg prednisone. This has really helped with the problem and he's doing MUCH better. I live on a river and Maverick LOVES to go swimming as most Retrievers do. I was told that swimming is fine and this is just a common allergy issue. Good luck with your buddy....

 

Just went down this road with one of my kids only she's not a chessie. I finally got tired of the vet BS and went to a Walmart and bought the little gal (65 lbs) a bottle of Omega III fish oil that cost me something like $8.00 for 100 capsules. Her skin has cleared up and no more scratching. Her coat is getting much softer (was almost like hay) and she's loving it. Might give it a try. I'm giving mine a capsule a day and no, she doesn't smell like fish.

 

Tuff had this same problem when he was a little younger...went through the same process with soaps, shampoos, etc. We finally drew blood and had it sent off to find out what it was and they sent back a list of stuff he was allergic too. I gave him a shot a month for 6 months. It cleared up after the first month and he hasn't had any problems since. I think he grew out of it. Anyway, I too continue to give him the fish oil...3 capsules a day with breakfast. It keeps his coat shiny and smooth and helps his skin/heart as well.

 

Has any of the vets mentioned a prednisone (or other steroid-like) shot? It does sound like allergies.

 

Washing the dog often is likely making it worse, as is the pond. I know we had a neighbor that bathed his dog(s) weekly and they always had dry skin and problems.

As for what else could help, I really don't know... maybe try extremely gentle human moisturizers and rub it in once a day to help keep it from drying out?

What about aloe?

 

Prednisone is more to help other medications work, not for allergies. I have had to take it in the past with infections. It helps to get rid of the inflammation, so the antibiotics work.
I would definitely try the Omega 3.

 

I just started him on omega 3 yesterday as i take them myself every day and have for sometime. I hope this helps hunter, i will also try some of the wife's aloe moistures she has um teen bottles of this stuff and her skin is not flaking I will also try the Benadryl, i have another appointment with a new vet and i will explain to her what going on and maybe she can help him. I do agree its allergies of some type because he was fine last year.

 

hey, Buckdropper...I am not sure about Chessies, but labs have a strong inclination to skin allergies---one of my four actually goes to see a veterinary allergist! (There are only a few in the northern area of Ohio.)

We give him shots and he eats a chow that is prescribed by this vet---see if one of your vets can locate a veterinary allergist or a veterinary dermatologist.

We tried the prednisone and all of the other stuff---wow...our chocolate lab now is much, much better.

Tim C.

 

I had a english springer spaniel years ago and had the same problems. We gave here an egg in her food every day.. and some vegitable oil.. like a tablespoon in the food every day.. she loved the taste.. and it seemed to help.

 

I actually had a Chessie. He just left us last winter at 14 years, still miss that dog,.

Anyway, you're better off NOT washing him. After a swim just spray him off with clean/cold (chessies LOVE the cold) water..

I didn't notice where you were from, but mine would get "dry" skin in the summer, but clean up in the winter (allergies). Hopefully this is the case.

I have heard of steroid shots and stuff but I never had to go that far.

Good luck, Did I mention they're a GREAT Dog!