Lab / Border Collie Mix -Skin problems. Itchy, smelly, dandruff

Shananigan

Hey guys! Posting about a friend's dog here! He is a Lab / Border Collie mix, male, I think 2-3 years old? Forgot to ask! Anyways, he has the lab type of coat, they live in a humid environment. Suburb type setting. We were talking about him and my friend mentioned he is very itchy (scratching constantly), has dandruff, and also has a terrible smell (even after baths).

I suggested bathing him in oatmeal dog shampoo and looking into maybe a food that doesn't contain chicken. Although now, I'm thinking he may need to go to a grain free diet too with possibly some type of fish oil?

He doesn't seem to be targeting one spot, just generally itchy everywhere.

I've read food allergies can be accompanied with bad odor too, but the fact they live in such a warm humid environment I'm wondering if his coat may harbor something bacterial or fungus that could be going on? There are no bumps, rashes, or abrasions though!

Not sure if this is constant or seasonal, forgot to ask! I text him asking him, I will let you know as soon as I know.

Any suggestions or ideas as to what it may be? If the food doesn't start clearing it up, then he'll take him to the vet to be tested.

Dawnben

Maybe systemic yeast infection. These are some of the symptoms
Rashes - Itching -Body Odor - Smelly Ears - Reoccurring Ear & Bladder infections -Red Skin - Sores - Scabs - Shedding - Arthritis - Genital Discharge - Hotspots - Blackened skin.
I would change to a grain free limited diet like this. With yeast you want to stay away from potato this is Duck and Garbanzo Beans
L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Legume & Duck Meal Dry Dog Formula - Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc.
This will help you understand systemic yeast infections
Pet Allergy, Itching, Scratching, Systemic Yeast Infection in Dogs | Allergies Malassezia Fungus Candida, yeast overgrowth in dogs | GREATDANELADY.COM

LynneMarie

Yes food allergies can cause all kinds of different skin problems. What are they feeding now? Are they feeding any treats? It is not necessarily the grain in the food as it is the proteins. You can get lamb based food that still has chicken in it as a preservative. Always look at the first 6 ingredients, that is the bulk of the food.

Are they sure the dog has zero fleas? A dog with flea allergies will scratch like they are covered in fleas even if they only have a couple. Do they know if there are chiggers in the shrubs?

bgmacaw

The border collie we had when I was a kid had problems like you described due to an allergy to pine pollen. The vet had us try various allergy meds but nothing helped that much. Of course, this was back in the late 70's so what's available now is probably better.

Holly

Could be many things. Could be a flea allergy. Could be a food allergy. Could be an environmental allergy. There could be a secondary bacterial or yeast infection to any of the above. Hard to say.

What food is he on? When was he switched? How strict are they being with the new diet?

Shananigan

Sorry for the delayed reply guys!!! I had sent him an e-mail asking him a few questions but didn't get answers which made it hard to answer your guy's question. I missed his e-mail -oops! Just saw it!

Thanks for the links! Very insightful! I have bookmarked this! Not sure if it's yeast though. He doesn't really show any of the other signs -skin lesions, no infections, rashes, arthritis, ect... I am keeping this though for just in case! Thank you!

He just switched to a grain-free food, (not sure what brand), will tell you in the next day or so! He said venison based, I'm assuming Taste of the Wild? Like I said I'll get the name for you! He is not fed anything else -table scraps or "dog" treats!

He has had fleas in the past (I just asked him how long ago -a waiting reply), but he is sure that he doesn't have any now. I don't think he has chiggers (asked that too!)

It may be environmental, the dog is 2 1/2 years old and he just noticed this problem really coming on this summer.

Gosh, I don't know! Waiting to see what food he just switched him too! I do know he has a strict diet -no table scraps or dog biscuits.

So Far We Know...

He is 2 1/2 years old.

The problem really became noticeable this summer.

Only time he has itched in the past has been flea related (working on finding out how long ago he had fleas.)

He has just been switched to a venison based "grain-free" food. (I'll get the brand to you guys here soon.)

He doesn't have hot spots, rashes, skin lesions, or recent bladder / ear infections.

The dandruff seems to be mainly coming from his back / butt.

Doesn't really target any itchy spot in particular.

Getting a better description on the smell -assuming a yeasty type smell.


...Wondering if this could be some effect from the fleas and not a food allergy if he seems to have just developed this, this summer. Going to also do more research on hypothyroidism and flea related stuff. Can dogs develop food allergies later in life?

Thanks guys for getting back to me, I apologize for the late reply!

Shananigan

You know, I suggested using at oatmeal shampoo... however, I'm wondering if that would have an adverse effect because the smell is probably suggesting an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria on the skin. He should probably give the dog a anti-microbial bath vs. oatmeal? Oatmeal could possibly make it worse?

LynneMarie

The soap is determined by the skin...If he has oily skin then the oat meal will not do much for his itch.. If it is dry skin the oatmeal might help. I have found using T-gel on the oily dander dogs helps cut down some of the oil and helps the itch. Clients notice the dog itches less for a few days. However, you still have to find the cause.

Holly

The key with the food is to know if he's been on a venison based food before or if this is NOVEL. I couldn't care less about the grain factor, it makes no difference to me with regards to first signs of allergies. What other foods HAS he been on throughout his life?

What flea medication is he on? How often and when is it given? When is he bathed in relation to when it is applied?

Food allergies can creep up at any time after like 6 months old. At his age, unforturtunately, you can't rule in or out food allergies vs environmental allergies vs flea allergies.

Shananigan

**Update!!**

He found fleas! After a thorough check he has found that the dog has fleas. This could explain everything right?! LynneMarie had mentioned fleas, but at the time we didn't think he had them.

I am now going to assume this is his problem because even just a couple fleas can reap havoc on a dog. I've heard that Border Collies are prone to having more severe reactions to fleas as well? Would fleas cause the smell? My friend describes the smell as "Heavy, think, oily, dirty dog. Real strong smell. I don't get yeasty from it." (Just got this e-mail now.)


How can my friend treat his dog for the fleas? I do not have fleas where I live, they are VERY rare. So I'm not up on flea preventative and killing measures. My Border Collie Ace had fleas when he was a puppy, had them when we got him. I took him straight to the tub for a complete flea bath and we haven't had them since.

Any house products you guys would suggest as well? He wants to make sure there is nothing left.

Thinking back it seems the dog gets itchy and dandruff after flea shampoo's, but right now he doesn't see much dandruff.

Sounds like the dog either suffers from the harsh flea shampoo or from fleas! Suggestions?

Thank you! : ) Psst.. what is T-gel?

When the itching showed up, we thought possible food allergies so he switched him to a grain-free diet. Other than that, the dog has been on your basic grocery store dog food his entire life.

I think the fleas are the entire problem here. I do not think there is a routine flea preventative. I will ask him what he has done about the fleas. (Which it is sounding like there is going to be a routine needed.)

I am going to do more research of fleas, but do you know if they can cause smell? Do you think the fleas could have weakened his skin and possible given him some time of bacterial skin infection?

Thanks guys for helping us!