German Sheperd puppy has very itchy , dry skin......?

My GSD is 4 and half months old. the vet told me last visit that he has dry skin...my puppy scratches so much he has like little scabs on his back. I called the vet just the other day and asked them what could I do for him, but they just tried to sell my their products...not saying that they wouldnt work, but surely there are some things out there that are inexpensive and work just as well, isnt there? Does anyone have any idea what to do for him? I feed him Purina Beneful Puppy Chow, and I bath him with sergants or hartz brand bath with oatmeal once or twice a month..... Any ideas?????

German Sheperd puppy has very itchy , dry skin......?
When my German Shepard was a puppy, she had this problem as well. Be careful when using Hartz brands, shampoo because they can be very harsh on the skin and can dry the skin very quickly. It can cause rashes on their skin b/c I think in my opinion, there formula is too strong for dogs. Maybe use baby shampoo to wash your puppy...it has a gentler formula than those pet store brand shampoos. For the dry skin, try brushing your puppy with a puppy brush at least 5 minitues per day. This will help the skin release their natural skin oils that will help lubricate the skin. This helped my dog and you usually see results in a week or two. Hope this helps.
Reply:better food for starters-solid gold brand is a good one .dogs only need one bath a month unless he gets into something.try putting a teaspoon of canola oil on his food to help his skin.also brush him once a day to help remove the dead skin cells.
Reply:Well the first thing I would do is put him om a premium food .


If you go to www.dogfoodanalysis.com you will find several high rated foods. Allergies to grains can cause dry coat and intense itching . Beneful is on of the poorest rated foods out there. Definitely get him off that.


Next go to your own shampoo aisle and pick up a good dandruff shampoo. I prefer Nizoral which is more expensive but you could also use one of the store brands that are similar to Head and Shoulders. When I use Nizoral I do a prebath with a cheaper shampoo and give only a light rinse. The cheaper shampoo breaks down the water resitance of the coat allowing you to use less Nizoral. Check the ingredients for the other shampoos. The store brands have the same concentration of active ingredients and are much cheaper. Give him a bath and allow the shampoo to sit for 3-4 minutes before rinsing. Do not use any conditioners. Check your dogs skin and coat over the next week. If it seems to be improving I would repat this in 7-10 days.


He could also have Dandruff mites which are easily destroyed with a good flea and tick shampoo. I like Zodiac shampoos which also leave the coat in lovely condition. That would be my next step. It can be combined with the other.


Add Omega 3 to your dogs diet. You can feed oily fish such a salmon, sardines, or mackerel or you can get capsules in the Vitamin aisle of your drug store. I hide those in pate like liver sausage.


GSD are also susceptible to an hereditary condition called EPI which is a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. One of its symptoms would be similar to what you describe but it has other dramtic symptoms too such a coat loss, lack of weight gain or loss, and diarhhea. It can be treated but it is a lifelong condition.





My last suggestion which should probably have been the first...have you contacted your breeder? Most breeders are a wealth of information and its free. They often know more than the vets because they are breed specific.





Good luck with your puppy.
Reply:wash her with lotion soap next time
Reply:The dry skin could be an allergy problem, possibly to the food or shampoo, or a sensitivity issue to the shampoos (less severe).





First of all I would start changing him over to a better, higher quality and more nutritious dog food. One designed for dogs with allergies or sensitive skin would be much better for him. You can find comparisons and analysis of the best dog foods on the market here http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-f... and read more about dog food allergies (and find good food for sensitive dogs too) here http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-f...





Secondly, there are lots of products that you can use to reduce the itchiness and relieve your pups discomfort. There are hydrocortisone sprays and shampoos, hypoallergenic shampoos and natural products and even supplements that you can add to your pups diet to improve his skin/coat condition and boost his immune system (which will reduce the incidence of skin problems.)





This is a pretty common problem, and with the right treatment can be eliminated fairly quickly. You can find free advice, tips and information on the remedies, natural products etc. that can relieve canine skin allergies at the url below.





Best of luck.





Secondly, there are
Reply:bathe him less. a dog bred for water like a labrador can handle being bathed because their coats are meant to regenerate the oils that protect their skin. with GSD's, they weren't bred for water, so their skin can't regenerate the oils that keep the skin and coat healthy. even if it means he stinks more, bathe him less and it should help with the itching.





you could try bathing him with aloe vera shampoos. that should help with the itching, which will get him to stop scratching so his skin will have a chance to heal.





be careful about what you put on him, some products affect dogs differently than they would for a human. i would go the safe route and get the stuff from the vet. if the vet stuff is 25 dollars and the stuff at walmart is 5 dollars, obviously there's something chemically different. i work at a vet and i've seen many animals come in who's owners had used the 'cheap' stuff, and the poor animals were the ones to suffer the seizures.
Reply:my friend has a german shepherd too, and he is 3yrs old and he is allergic to like everything!!! i cian only think of dust. but he has dry skin and scabs and is scratching his body like every second! and he use to get a shot every other day that cost $500 for each shot! crazy huh?





allergic to things!
Reply:The shampoo you are using is GREAT! I think it is a good idea to use something with oatmeal in it! However, My dog went through the same thing a while back, and because he had sores too, I had to get a shampoo that was medicated, just until the sores actually healed!! I also had to start using Fish Oil Vitamins (OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS), This made all the difference, It totally cured my dogs Itchy, dry, scabby skin! It also made his coat so shiny and soft (He is a Boxer and had coarse brittle hair, NOT ANYMORE!)! This vitamin is also good for their heart and vascular system!! The pill is rather large, I use a toothpick and poke a whole in the end of the pill and squeeze the oil out onto a treat, and he eats it up!! It worked so well, I started giving it to all my dogs, the vitamins are very inexpensive, I can get the bottle of vitamins at my local everything is $1.00 store!! I hope this helps your babe out, I know how miserable they are when they are so itchy!!
Reply:Hello. Please what ever you do, do not use Hartz or Sergants shampoo! I used it on my Great Dane puppy and he had an allergic reaction. After a $161 dollar vet bill and a sick puppy I learned that other pet owners had shared my same fate. Not every dog is affected in this way, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Certainly get an oatmeal shampoo and honestly getting it from the vet isn't that much more expensive than a store brand; our beloved pets are worth it. Take care.