Itching for attention or something else?

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Jyssica, Sep 30, 2016.

  1. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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  2. MF

    MF Registered Users

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    His big head is often commented on (although it's not huge, but the Labs we often see have narrower faces). I do wonder if it is because he's not been neutered and because he has spent his life chewing through raw bones (a good workout for his jaw!). I have many photos of Snowie lying just like Rolo, paws under his jowls and looking just like Rolo. It will be so interesting to see Rolo grow up! Do you have the family tree for Rolo? Might well be that they share common genes -- Snowie's family tree shows he has great-great-grandparents originating in the UK.
     
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  3. Jyssica

    Jyssica Registered Users

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    Yes I have his family tree! I will take a picture and upload it tonight!
     
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  4. Deb - Archie's Human

    Deb - Archie's Human Registered Users

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    I read somewhere that yellows are more prone to skin and allergy issues. I'd say our soft data here might support that!
    D.


     
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  5. Deb - Archie's Human

    Deb - Archie's Human Registered Users

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    Archis is 11 weeks today and still itching like a son-of-a-gun! The vet has checked him for mites, fleas, walking dandruff, and we still don't know what is going on. I did try Benedryl. it worked to some extent, but not tht well, We've tried Revolution now and another dewormer. Our vet has said that some internal parasites can send cells to the skin's surface and cause itching.

    I'm hopeful that he'll be better once we finish the treatment with the Revolution and the dewormer.

    Have things improved for Rolo? I sure hope so!
    D.


     
  6. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    With Archie I'd consider seeing a skin specialist. And I'd also be thinking about environmental allergies (pollen, mould spores, food, something in the garden....).
     
  7. Deb - Archie's Human

    Deb - Archie's Human Registered Users

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    Thanks, Oberon.

    Our vet felt he was too young yet for allergies, but I can't help but feel this must be environmental. It started as soon as he was running around in the grassy yard here as opposed to the indoor kennel at the breeder.

    I have another call in to the vet. Hoping for some answers for sure.
     
  8. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    That was my thought too - he is pretty young. Maybe see if the vet can give you a referral to a doggie dermatologist. That'd be the fastest route to an answer.

    If the Benedryl helped a bit that might suggest an allergy... Hope you are able to sort it out. As a fellow itchy dog owner I feel your pain!
     
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  9. Jyssica

    Jyssica Registered Users

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    Hey Deb - sorry about the late reply.

    Rolo is much better now. I don't know what it was fully that caused it. Have you or the vet checked Archie's ears? Rolo had ear mites and I suspect that was the whole cause as he's been treated and the intense itching and crying stopped!

    I understand how upset you must be as it's horrible to watch them itching! Keep me updated as to what they find and good luck xx
     
  10. MF

    MF Registered Users

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    @Jyssica glad you got Rolo sorted! How did your vet check for mites? Mine has never checked for mites and has never suggested that could be the cause of Snowie's itching. Is it an easy, non-invasive test?
     
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  11. Jyssica

    Jyssica Registered Users

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    They simply look inside there ears there is a horrid brown residue left behind like tiny bits of coffee granules

    They can see the mites with a microscope, they gave him ear drops for 1 week an he seems fine now you could perhaps look yourself and if you see anything suspect take snowy the vet xx
     
  12. MF

    MF Registered Users

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    Was Rolo only itching in his ears, or was this affecting his whole body? Snowie rarely scratches his ears. It's mostly his underbelly, elbows, paws (whatever touches the ground), which the vet (and us) suspects is a grass allergy.

    Snowie does have brown stuff in his ears which I clean out. The vet said that was dirt, never mentioned mites! It's not like coffee granules; it's like dirt mixed with wax. He did say that because of allergies, Snowie would have dirtier ears than normal -- something about a dog having a higher yeast count if allergic than a normal dog. So I clean them regularly (every day) with his towel after drying him off after his dip, and I also clean them every few days with a tissue (can get into the crevices more easily than with a towel). And then every now and then (if they look really dirty and red) I give them a really good clean with liquid ear cleaner and use an earbud to get into all folds in the outer ear. It would be much easier if he had another dog to lick his ears clean!!
     

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