hi just noticed that Nevilles elbows are a bit matted, 1 more so than the other and he's been nibbling it so it now looks like a scab.
No matter how much I brush it it doesnt seem to do anything?
What can I do, is it normal?

Rob

Hi Rob,

I have a comb which has blades on it, which I use on Monty and this seems to work well. You can get them on the website Pet Supermarket.

If this doesnt shift them though I have had to resort to cutting them out. I dont like to do this but sometimes you dont have much choice. I use a curved scissors, which the vet recommended, so that there isnt any risk of cutting his skin.

Hope this helps

:D

Thanks Rachel the prob is, he's scratched at it and nibbled at it and made it bleed.
I think as it goes better it itches so he scratches and nibbles some more so it bleeds a little and gets matted, so its too close to his skin to cut off.

He had a bath today so it looks a bit better, its only a very small area about 1 inch, just thought I'd ask.

Thanks Rob

Hi again..just read this post on proud pyreneans about Itchy skin and wondered if it could have something to do with Nevils itching?

When he's stood up and scratches he can only really reach his front elbows?

Cheers Rob

Hi Rob,

I had terrible trouble with Monty's skin. He started scratching a lot all over and biting his feet, which ended up causing 'hot spots', which I have to say sound very much like what you described on Neville's elbows.

I found too that the skin became very matted around these. The vet put him on antibiotics which cleared up the sores so I could then cut the hair off.

I then found this forum and was given some brilliant advice on wot could be causing the itching - wheat allergy. Once I changed his food the itching stopped.

He still every now and then has flare ups but this is usually due to him stealing food that he shouldnt be eating. :D

What food is Neville on?

The best person to get advice from on this forum is Vera. Failing that I think it might be best for you to consult a vet.

Rachel

Hi Rachel,
he's on a complete puppy food for all breeds called wafcol

I'm not happy with it anyway and will be changing it, I just didnt want to do too much too soon as he's just had his diet changed, been shipped about abit and is just settling in.
He seems to like it, though to be honest he likes all food!

Its very difficult to know what to do for the best as Some people say keep him on a high protien puppy food so he gets everything he needs and all the essential vitamins etc..my vet said this, others say get him on an adult food?

He'll pinch food if its available ie: the kitchen side or the bin so its almost impossible to controll what he eats entirely.

Other than to cook for him I dont know what to do and its getting quite stressfull tbh.

One of the things he pinches..or tries to pinch the most is bread..so definatly he's eating wheat, that could be a prob as you mentioned.

Thanks Rob

Hi Rob,

My personal advice is to try and nip the itching in the bud early, coz I spent hundreds of pounds and monty was on all sorts of medication. If I had found this forum sooner I think i would have had a lot less hassle. And the cheek of it is - my vet now wants advice on pyreneans off me :huh:

The only time his skin is bad now is when he eats something he shouldnt.

I had the same worry as you when it came to what kind of food he should be on coz Monty is still growing as well.

I looked into a brand called CSJ which is one of the cheaper natural foods. If you google it you'll find a telephone number for them and you can speak to someone and they can advise you on what food to give Neville.

The one I was recommended for Monty was CP 21. Its not too high in protein (21%) but has a lot of good oils and stuff in it, and stuff to care for their joints.

I tried him of that but he didnt like it so he's now on the original lamb and rice which is 22% protein. The only real difference between the two is that the original one doesnt have the joint care supplement in it, but you can buy this separately.

All their food is wheat and gluten free. Vera advised me that some pyr can be sensitive to wheat. This seems to have been the problem.

I'd suggest that you try him on a food such as CSJ and give him only that for a month to see if you notice a difference. Monty made improvements within 2 weeks.

Also what shampoo do you bath him with?

Rachel

Thanks for the info, the shampoo is just one I picked up in wilkinsons, a medicated shampoo?

Rob

Your welcome. I know how stressful it can be with problems like this. :D

Shampoos the vet advised me to use were ones which have tea tree oil in them or that are very mild so that it doesnt irritate the skin further.

I use head and shoulders mild shampoo, and a conditioner with mint and tea tree oil in it.

I found that once i started conditioning him as well it was a lot easier to brush his fur.

Rachel

Hi,
tonight while petting Neville I felt what I can only describe as bumpy skin?
I've checked him for fleas, I found none and no flea dirt, and he's been treated for them just before i got him. So I started to think these may be heat spots mentioned above..and so I cant help think that all this is diet related.
Also he pants alot and seems abit lethargic (or he's just a lazy pig) and he drinks ok.
Though his nose still feels warm..when he was checked over the vet wasn't worried as his temp was spot on.

So if it was a wheat or gluton allergy what foods should I feed him? I looked at the CSJ but the wheat gluton free ones dont give much info.

Also I figured if these were hot/spots or a kinda heat rash or something it would also explain why he wants to lay on cool surfaces. And also why he sometimes seems restless.

I'm not feeding him anymore of the dried food I have as I'm a bit scared its gonna do him harm..and what if this snoring he does while sleeping were his airways closing due to an allergy (like you see with these people who are alergic to nuts).

Tomorrow morning he can have scrambled egg & whatever else I can russle up for brekkie and hopefully I'll be able to speak to the vet or the nurse there for advise..even tinned food seems better at the moment.

I'd appreciate any more info, ideas, suggestions, food tips..ie: what human foods could I cook for him? Or anything else you can think of. If i cook for him I'll have no idea how much protien/vitamins he's getting?

Thanks Rob

Troy is also sensitive to wheat gluten. He is on CSJ CP18. I put him on 21 and his coat was a bit better, but he put on too much weight on it. But yes, I would put a puppy on CSJ CP21 as well. It's top class food. If you are not sure, contact Ceri at CSJ and ask. She is always more than happy to advise and give you ideas and advice.

When it comes to skin problems, my first reaction is always check the diet as this is so often the actual problem. If that doesn't work, then I get them checked over by the vet.

Vera

I'll give them a ring this morning, when either of you had this skin issue did you find they panted more..or seemed more lethargic?

Neville had his scrambled egg which he enjoyed..I couldnt find anything good to mix with it to up the quantity so chucked in a tin of sliced carrots (drained of course) :unsure:

He wolfed it down and seems happy enough today so far.

Thanks Rob

Troy pants more when he is stressed about something (the first year we had him, he did nothing but pant... :o ). It could well be that the skin itching stressed Neville out and makes him pant...

Vera

Thanks for the Info..I just re-read the ingrediants of his food and it says in this order "Whole wheat flour, poultry meal, soya, rapseed oil, Bran, glucose, dried milk, yeast, dried egg, vitamins and minerals"

The protien is 28%

Of the above ingrediants I know whole wheat is high in Gluton..so's Bran! and he's been pinching bread!

Alot of wheat/gluton going in him!

Rob

Also, you want a food really that has MEAT as the first ingredient, not wheat. Also you want CHICKEN (or any other named meat) in it, not poultry MEAL... :) Not very good quality ingredients, me thinks... ;)

No nor me now..better late than never to realise.

Thanks

I think I may of cracked the diet issue.

I found a food for large breeds (including giant breeds) that is hypo allergenic, wheat & gluton free too!

Its a turkey and rice complete food from pets at home (I never normaly shop there as its expensive) but found this and decided to give it a go!,

Will edit this post and add a pic of it and the ingrediants etc..see what you guys think of it.
I feel very confident about this food!

Rob (a very relieved Rob)

Daz had the itchy skin problem loss of fur etc etc and he also panted alot and used to bite his front legs making them bold in places Nutro lamb and rice was what i settled on in the end.It is great food that good i sent a letter too them thanking them for such a good food check out the website. www.nutro.co.uk
Not sure if i have mentioned this before but i use a comb called a FURMINATOR its a great grooming tool especially if used regularly and works great on the elbows.Daz gets the same and its mainly because he lyes on a hard surface which is sometimes wet and after 2 or 3 days it gets a bit matted.check out the Furminator I have many a brush all are good but this one does a great job and quicker too its mainly for removing loose hair which is what usually causes matts anyway but makes a good brush they cost around 25 pounds but shop around.

Thanks I had a look but I'm trying to keep him away from wheat &gluton and sadly it says corn gluton? I dont know if it s the same thing or not.

I'll have a look for one of those brushes later, at the moment he has a normal brush and we do him 2 -3 times a day, I actually find it theraputic.

Just got back from our last walk for the day..should of taken 30 mins but the tory party confrence is held her in Blackpool and the police had shut the streets off. We ended up sitting on the front till it quietend down a bit. Nev had a run on the sand..was very hard to hold onto tbh he wanted to go & play & chase Dutchess.

It was too much for him to be honest..wasn't an intentional long walk..just happened. I carried him up some steps it nearly killed me!

The difference in him in just 1 day is amazing..he's a happy bunny again!

All I gotta do now is figure how to get the bucket loads of sand off nevilles belly etc!

The ingrediants & name etc for this food are, "Wainwrights large breed puppy 0-18 months.
Nutricious Turkey
and brown rice in crunchy tasty nugets."
*Hypo-alergenic & low allergen*
*No wheat Gluten*

Contains Rice 20%min, turkey meat meal 20%min, whole grain barley (min 8%), potatoe protien, refined poultry oil, whole linseed(min 4%), low alergen poultry digest as gravy, sugar beet pulp (min 2%), Alfalfa (min 1%) natural seaweed (min 0.5%), sodium chloride, potassium chloride, methionine, molluscs & crustations (as a source of clucosamine HCI), chrondroitin, marigold extract, yucca extract, rosemary extract.

*Typical analysis*
Protien 28%, oils and fats 18%, fibre 3.5%, ash 6.5%, calcium 1.1%, phosphorus 0.8%, vitamin A 12,000iu/kg, vitamin d3 12,000iu/kg, vitamin E (a-tocopherol)600iu/kg, copper (cupic sulphate)12mg/kg.

contains Tocopherol rich extracts of natural origin vitamin E and vitamin C as EC permitted antioxidant.

NO added colourants, flavourings, or preservatives.

Vitamin declaration is valid untill best before date printed with batch number on back of pack

Wainwrights, dogs best friend.

WOW..that took some typing from the sack lol and half that means nothing to me really.
Protien is the same as the one I have now..a bit high but less than some of the brands I looked at.

neville really seems to like it and already I see a difference in his energy and enthusiasim..hope it last.

Sorry for waffling Rob.

Wainwrights is a good food, must admit though, I'd feed the normal adult version. 28% protein is very high! Id' finish this bag and then put him on a lower protein version of the same food.

Vera

Vera do you feed complete foods dry or moistend?

Also it says feed 610g daily divided into 3 or 4 meals..I feed him 3x a day so thats 200g each feed which doesnt seem much atall???
Its like a large mug full?

also just incase it was the shampoo that caused a reaction I was thinking of rinsing him off in the bath..and maybe putting some aloe vera gel in there. I use it on the birds esp oli who will pluck at her feathers as it eases irritation.

Thanks Rob

I feed dry food with water, roughly 1/2 to 1 cup of water to 1 cup of dry food. I started doing this because one of our lurchers hardly ever drinks any water, so his urine was always really concentrated. Since adding water to their dinners, his urine is a much more normal colour. So I do it for all of them and it works. I pour the water over it just before I give it to them, so it isn't actually soaked as such.

Re amount of food: feed whatever it says on the packaging and then adjust to Neville's individual requirements. Check his weight regularly by running your hands over his ribs, so you'll know if he puts on too much or loses weight. Troy eats a lot less than normally advised, whereas pyr puppies usually eat lots more...

Vera