Dog shampoo

larchielads

Hi guys can anyone recommend a good oatmeal shampoo for my lab. His coat is very itchy and flaky. Ive tried the maleseb shampoo and been to a couple of vets. One vet put him on apoquel tablets but thst worked for a few weeks but problem happened again. Went back on another dose of apoquel but it looks like the poor fella is immune to it now. Cant afford to take him to a dermatologist to see if and what he's allergic to. I have him on food with plenty fish oils to help his coat.

Any ideas folks all suggestions welcome

Bells21

Washing your dog quite often can also cause their coat to become dry and flakey as you're striping the oils from it. Skin conditions can be caused by any number of issues, food, contact allergies, bedding, what you're washing the bedding in etc.
If you are looking for an oatmeal based shampoo I use Dorwest oatmeal and lavender. It is more expensive than other run of the mill shampoos but seems to soothe our fellas skin if he has a flare up.

larchielads

Ive ordered a bottle of dorwest and taken your advice on washin the dog too much. Ill see how it goes. Thanks

Bunnyslippers

Agree with Bells21 if you wash them too much it really makes them itchy - twice a year is fine unless they've rolled in something gross, otherwise just hose mud off not shampoo!:D A swim in the sea always calmed our old itchy dogs skin right down too!:D Or you could try a rinse for a very muddy dog by filling some tights with oats and pouring hot water through them into a bucket - like a big tea bag, allow to cool and pour over your dog, instead of just water, to rinse mud off and avoid shampooing.

sillysmiles

Washed our dog on New Years Eve, as he'd being visiting cow sheds and slats etc - and that is not compatible with a cream couch. Other than then the last time we washed him was about 18months ago as he rolled in fox poo.

tk123

Bailey is washed every week now after taking up his hydro again and it doesn't make him itchy.. If you're feeding dry food OP often that can be the cause due to mites or an ingredient in the food.

The man in red and black

larchielads wrote: »

Hi guys can anyone recommend a good oatmeal shampoo for my lab. His coat is very itchy and flaky. Ive tried the maleseb shampoo and been to a couple of vets. One vet put him on apoquel tablets but thst worked for a few weeks but problem happened again. Went back on another dose of apoquel but it looks like the poor fella is immune to it now. Cant afford to take him to a dermatologist to see if and what he's allergic to. I have him on food with plenty fish oils to help his coat.

Any ideas folks all suggestions welcome

Sounds like your dog has allergic skin disease, may be allergic to anything from pollens, to food, to flea saliva. Your own vet can send away allergy bloods or investigate with skin scrapes, biopsies etc or trial on different therapies to find the right fit. I would ask the vet to go through the full range of options with you ranging from referral, to your own vet sending out bloods, to trial therapy for allergies, infection, mites +/- prescription food or exclusion diet made at home. The most important thing as a GP vet is to provide you with the full range of options and let you pick the one that suits you best. Then discuss plan B if A doesn't work so you know to go back if X happens or continue on the same if X doesn't happen. Only referral hospitals will be able to offer EVERY option on site but if you ask your vet to list the options they should be able to help you put a plan in place.

I feel your pain. Skin disease is the number one most frustrating case for vet and owner. I suspect it is up there as the number on reason people change vets. Often times it's because there was no clear plan put in place for what happens if the first treatment doesn't work or options were never explained. Best of luck.

La.de.da

Is he smelly ie a musty type odour from the skin if so could be fungal.

I've used johnsons medicated shampoo for dogs in the past with good results.

Also I used to massage high quality coconut oil into her skin, helped soothe the itching.

larchielads

Thanks for everyone's advice on this. I'll see what comes of the rest of the apoquel he's on and try out the shampoo I was recommended to see how things go