Has anyone used NutriPaw ALL-ITCH & immunity treats

[Sus]

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Without going into a long story about everything (am grasping at straws now after different products and unsuccessful vet apps) just wanted to know if anyone has tried this for skin problems and itching. Would welcome comments from anyone who has tried them

 

[JoanneF]

No, but do they say what is in them that's supposed to help? That would be my first step in checking them out.

 

[Sus]

Have checked ingredients and seems ok, am trying this after getting advice from more experienced dog owners than I am

 

[excuseme]

Are you still using the Honey's raw diet ?

 

[Sus]

Yes, still using Honeys raw food and using the Duoxo mousse and shampoo for dry flaky skin on body
Situation got worse and she starting scratching (never done it before) and licking and chewing at her paws. The cradle type stuff on top of her head seems to be getting worse
Went to the vet (again) and they wanted to start her on steroids with no tests or investigations, I refused. I also refused allergen testing as I have always said I will never put her through anaesthetic again. I wanted them to take scrapings of the stuff on her head to see if maybe it is fungal or seborrheic (been reading up on Biddys symptoms and skin conditions in dogs) It was a vet who I had not met previously and she became quite defensive as she thought I was trying to tell her her job, I was only trying and to be helpful
I ended up leaving with no solution
I am currently giving her an ALL-ITCH immunity treat in the morning and an anti histamine in the evening. Thankfully she has stopped the chewing of her feet, the mousse and shampoo seem to be working at clearing the flaky skin on her body but not clearing the stuff on her head, although it does seem looser
She still scratches at night though not as bad as previously, a lot of dog owners have said it is probably seasonal, I hope so but will have to wait and see.
Honeys told me to stop adding Youmove omega oil to her food as she should not need it with the diet she is on
I am hoping that these Nutripaw ALL-ITCH & immunity treats work. I have had really good reports from people who have tried them

 

[excuseme]

Take care with all of these extras you are using. Too much bathing and shampoos can be washing out all of the natural oils in her skin and adding to the itch problem. Have Honey's suggested that you should allow their new diet to help with the itches without the introduction of added products, (which may be causing a problem themselves ! ) You may be adding a problem without realising.

 

[Feverfew]

Poor girl - it's terrible to see your dog incessantly scratching and itching and seemingly nothing works to stop it.

You have probably tried everything, but can I ask if you and your vet have discussed either Apoquel or Cytopoint? I realise these are controversial drugs (Cytopoint is safer than Apoquel), but if your dog is in extremis with the pain of a skin condition, there is a point where adjustments to diet and holistic remedies are not sufficient.

You have said you don't want to use steroids - is there a particular reason why she would not tolerate them? Steroids are immensely important drugs for treating allergic conditions.

I am speaking from personal experience, because my little collie cross has severe allergies in early spring. Sometimes we get through using Piriton and Aromesse citronella bar (the latter is rrally excellent) and green clay topically. At other times, the itching and damage goes too far and we resort to Cytopoint, which has been fantastically effective for her. (She has only ever needed one shot a year, not monthly shots as the manufacturer has recommended .)

My vet and I have also occasionally had recourse to prednisolone, a very old-school and powerful steroid. This is for a dog with liver and kidney problems, so not something we do lightly.

What I'm saying is don'tbe afraid of using steroids or other conventional treatments if they help your dog.

 

[Sus]

Thanks for your replies
excuseme, I thought exactly the same so have been selective in what I use. I am continuing with the Douxo mousse and shampoo as they were recommended by the vet and does seem to work. I apply the mousse 3 times a week and then shampoo her about every 2 months. Have tried to go longer but she looks so scruffy, both of them are supposed to be moisturising and good for her coat. I have only just starting using the ALL-ITCH so will stop the piriton now especially since the itching seems to be improving. She only scratched twice throughout the night, seemed to be her left shoulder but could not see anything wrong. She has not scratched at all this morning. Not sure what has caused the improvement whether the piriton, ALL-ITCH or if it was just seasonal. As long as she is comfortable I do not care
I still have the problem with her head, it does not seem to bother her but looks unsightly

Feverfew, I totally understand and agree with what you are saying and maybe will have to go that route at some stage but I have yet to find a vet who is sympathetic and actually likes dogs. There are no individual practices where I live, just 2 big practices that have taken over all the independent vets. I left the first one as it was totally money orientated and some of the vets seemed inadequately trained. The one I am with now is better but I have been unable to see the excellent vet I saw at first as she does a lot of surgery and moves around different practices. Some of the others are quite junior. I may have got away with it this time as the itching does seem to have nearly cleared up but I am going to have to go back about this scurf like stuff on her head

 

[Feverfew]

Totally get where you are coming from, and it is really hard if you don't have a vet whom you trust and find sympathetic.

It sounds as if you are pretty experienced at managing her condition on a day to day basis, so perhaps you can book appointments only with the one vet you have found to be sufficiently qualified. I'm always surprised by some of my clients' fear of making demands on their vets, but we are the customer, and the experts on our own dogs. I suggest you book the next available appointment with this vet, and in the meantime carry on as you are doing.

You can then hopefully discuss your reservations around steroids and other conventional treatment with the vet. It's perfectly reasonable to request a skin scraping from your vet, by the way, and they should fulfill that request for you without quibbling.

Good luck. I know how hard it is with long term skin problems with our dogs, and there are many different options to consider.

 

[Sus]

Thanks Feverfew, I have tried already to make an advance appointment with the vet I initially saw but it has been impossible so far. Makes me wonder if I only saw her at the beginning because I told them of the problems I had experienced with the other vets practice and they wanted to make a good first impression. I will keep trying though and if not I will have to try further afield
Biddy is the first dog I have ever owned and have only managed so far with the amazing help off this site and the many dogwalkers I meet out and about. Its great the tips I can pick up while just out dog walking

 

[Sus]

Update on Biddys condition.
I gave in and went back to vet as her head seemed to be getting worse and she was losing bits of hair.
Apparently her skin on body was very inflamed and she was commenced on course of steroids and Malaseb shampoo to be used twice weekly at first
She told me I could carry on using the Nutripaw ALL-ITCH treats as they would make no difference to her
treatment
She is still on the Honeys raw food diet
Her body has improved and she has stopped the scratching but area of scurf to her head seems to be getting worse
I am not returning to the vets as I have been 9 times in the last 17 months, 4 x times due to this on her head and it is just getting worse
At the moment I am just applying Stinky dog stuff and then combing her head with a flea comb (which she hates)
and it has lifted some of the black scurf or dandruff whatever it is off, but also fluffy bits of hair that is not growing properly
I have read that adding Omega 3 fatty acids to her food could help. I stopped the Yumove skin and coat care which contained omega 3 and 6 not long after I started the raw diet as it contained salmon oil and i was told that some dogs are allergic to salmon, maybe there is one that does not contain salmon.

 

[Sus]

Managed to upload pics as best I could, I have a new laptop and am struggling with it a bit
Her head looks a bit of a mess but that is because of the stinky stuff on it but am at a loss as to what to next
I think I will get an anti dandruff shampoo and keep the Malaseb and Duoxo as standby

 

[excuseme]

I would suggest that before you start trying too many remedies that you get back to "Honeys" and ask again about their products, explaining about the remaining head problem and what suggestions they may have.
Everything needs to be given time to work but too many shampoos and topical skin remedies may not help at all.

 

[Sus]

I totally agree with your answer, I will contact Honeys and see if there is anything they can suggest
At the moment she is just having their raw food diet and Nutripaw ALL-ITCH & immunity treats (am only continuing with them because the vet said it was ok and Biddy seems to like them, they are the only treat that she gets at the moment)
I have also read that Vit E is good for skin conditions but I will wait for now till I get more information
I just wish there was a vet in this area that specialised in dermatology

 

[Feverfew]

I t sounds as if you have some improvement here on her body, so I agree it's probably a good idea not to try too many different remedies at this point.

By all means speak to Honeys, but I notice you say she's on 'a course of steroids' but you don't want to see the vet again at the moment. Just be careful if you are taking her off steroids without veterinary advice, as many steroids have to be reduced slowly, especially the old style ones.

Sterpids can help to pause the problem, and it's likely the steroids will have inhibited the itching, so just be aware that as they wear off, you might see an increase in itching. Doesn't always happen though, and sometimes a pause is effective for quite a long period of time.

 

[Sus]

Thanks Feverfew, she has completed the course and she did come off them very slowly and there is improvement now but for how long I do not know
I have emailed Honeys for advice and will wait to hear from them. There is no point in me returning to the vet as none of them so far have been able to even guess at what it may be or how to clear it up
I have been told that it was seasonal and due to the high pollen count but I do not think it is
Will wait to see what Honeys says

 

[JudyN]

This may be of no relevance whatsoever, but when my son developed mild eczema as a baby/child, I found that a mild OTC steroid would help him get through the worst flare-ups. I didn't use it till the eczema had completely cleared, but just till he was comfortable, and then it could be weeks before he needed it again.

It took me far too long to do this as hubby had bad eczema as a child and was on strong steroids, and told me that the moment I stopped using them it would come back even worse...

So the point is that something similar might work with Biddy, to keep her comfortable without risking some of the side effects of higher doses. (Hubby kept telling me they could stunt your growth, but at over 6' 2" he was far from convincing!)

 

[Sus]

Thanks JudyN, I welcome all advice as I just do not know where to go next. Although the last vet was good and picked up on something that I did not know (Biddy hates me touching her or examining her beneath her fur or ears etc I have to hold her down at the vets) and the steroids and shampoo did clear up her skin but the issue with her head which I initially attended for is just getting worse
I am convinced it is something that I am doing as it was not this bad when I took over her care
I am now using non bio washing powder and I put her beds through 2 rinses before I dry them, she is on a raw food diet and I had been using antibacterial shampoo (prescribed by vet) to clear up her skin but now am not bathing her at all at moment
I hope I sort this out soon

 

[JudyN]

I am convinced it is something that I am doing as it was not this bad when I took over her care

Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up about it. You are literally doing everything you can. And some conditions can develop at any stage of life - humans can develop dermatitis in adulthood - so it might not be anything in her environment at all.

Stress can also influence skin conditions, so the more relaxed you can be (with acceptance that you are doing what you can), the more relaxed she will be, which might in itself help.

 

[Feverfew]

Thanks Feverfew, she has completed the course and she did come off them very slowly and there is improvement now but for how long I do not know
I have emailed Honeys for advice and will wait to hear from them. There is no point in me returning to the vet as none of them so far have been able to even guess at what it may be or how to clear it up
I have been told that it was seasonal and due to the high pollen count but I do not think it is
Will wait to see what Honeys says

Great - was just checking, so apologies if I was teaching you to suck eggs! Good luck with your little dog, sounds like you have a few options there - she looks like an absolute sweetheart.