When I adopted Congo in July, he had some skin problems along his back. He had dry skin all the time, and was shedding. It seemed like it was allergies so I changed his food to fish and sweet potato and I've been giving him a fish oil pill daily. Since then his skin cleared up (besides his nose which keeps getting scratched by my cat) and his coat has been shiny and healthy looking. We moved back up north so this is his first winter in a cold climate. Under his legs/thighs he has this horribly dry, flakyish discolored rash looking thing?! What is going on?! I'm currently unemployed and struggling so if I can avoid taking him to the vet and treating this myself I would much rather do that. Is there any suggestions you guys have? Could this be seasonal??
Are you still able to feed him the fish oil and fish n sweet potatoe food? or is this still after that fact?
Mine had problems like that on occasion when we were in NY. I used corn husker oil on their pads, ears and exposed skin and it helped. I also limited time outside to no more than 2-3 minutes at a time when the wind chill was below freezing.
Omega-3s really help my dog. Maybe you could give those 1-2x/day, if you aren't already. (I watch for Buy One, Get One Free sales and stock up.) Oatmeal is soothing to the rash. Mix the oatmeal about half-and-half with water and cook to make a paste. Spread it on the irritated skin, put a piece of aluminum foil on top and leave it for about 5-10 minutes. Works like a charm! Antibacterial lotion helps, too, as long as you use one that is made for dogs or dog-safe. I hope Congo feels better soon!
I'm still feeding him the fish and sweet potato food. Where can you get corn husker oil? I changed his dry food to nature's recipe grain free salmon and sweet potato a few months back. I forget what dry food i had him on before. What food do you guys use?
Cvs sells corn huskers in the lotion aisle, it's in a yellow bottle… I work there.. It's inexpensive and you can use extra bucks of you have them. I also live in New England and this is Oakleys first winter, he certainly has dry skin... I do still bathe him as the rock salt can irritate his skin and the roads and sidewalks are covered since the snow. Maybe that's caused the discoloration? If its just dry then try the corn huskers or oatmeal. Is it irritating him?
i don't think it's really irritating him but i'm not sure. i will def. try the corn huskers. i will also give him an oatmeal bath.
Oatmeal bath may not help if you dog has grain allergies. (two pennies worth of thought)
he's not going to eat the oatmeal. oatmeal is a natural way to relieve itch. putting it on the skin and eating it are two completely different things…
yes i understand the difference, i really do. but i have heard of a dog who had terrible grain allergies and was given regular oatmeal baths which made the situation a whole lot worse. And things you put on the skin CAN cause allergic reactions. So if you have a dog who you know has grain allergies, why would you put that all over the dog, especially when there are other options? (As far as my credentials, I've worked as a chemist, a groomer, and had basenjis or 20+ years)
yes i understand the difference, i really do. but i have heard of a dog who had terrible grain allergies and was given regular oatmeal baths which made the situation a whole lot worse. And things you put on the skin CAN cause allergic reactions. So if you have a dog who you know has grain allergies, why would you put that all over the dog, especially when there are other options? (As far as my credentials, I've worked as a chemist, a groomer, and had basenjis or 20+ years)
that's the thing, i don't know if he has grain allergies. he has some kind of weird allergy but he's on a grain free food right now and he's having more problems then when he was on a grain food?! ugh!!
as far as credentials go.. you should know that allergies are different for every living thing. they can come at any time at our lives and go away. they are very strange! and are rather experimental. TRYING an oatmeal bath can't hurt. however, if i saw a reaction that was bad (which I haven't to a diluted oatmeal bath) and kept doing it.. now that's just plain silly. i'm asking for other options.
my "credentials" when it comes to allergies and remedies, i'm a vegan, cancer warrior with a compromised immune system and i battle many allergies myself. my body is basically allergic to itself. it's all about experimenting and managing.
Kipawa went through a period of dry itchy skin (little flakies). I added Omega oil to his diet, 1 tsp. twice daily and it has made all the difference. His coat is now super shiny, very soft and doesn't itch any more.
I don't know myself about oatmeal on the skin, so I will not comment on that. However, I don`t think tin foil on a basenji would feel good at all, even if left on for just a few minutes. That is, if the basenji would keep it on for that long. 
My suggestion with the oatmeal wasn't a bath, but more of a poltice. I mix the oatmeal and water into a warm paste, scoop it onto the irritated patch of skin, put a square of aluminum foil or wax paper on top to keep it contained, then hold him on my lap (to keep him contained!) for 5-10 minutes. The foil doesn't touch the skin; it sticks on top of the oatmeal. Then I scoop it all off and wipe off the excess with a warm, wet wash cloth. That and Omega-3s takes care of the problem for me. Spencer doesn't have allergies; just the rare incident. Just an idea– it won't be the one for everyone.
My boy gets a rash on his thigh, his butt cheeks thigh area to be spastic, and he only gets it in the late summer and all fall. He's itchy, kinda ballads by the end of it, but never really hurts himself. Vets can't figure it out and have given me all kinds of 'itchy dog' pills to Benadryl and nothing works. Even the medicated oatmeal shampoo doesn't really lick it. And its not bacterial because I've been using some horse medication sprays for that. But under his chin is the worst. Gets these almost poison Ivy like bumps.
I wander if it was the pond he swims in. That may be its a algae that only shows up in the fall that he's allergic too. No idea. We live in Indiana, any thoughts?
we had the same issue with our Congo until we switched to a better food (we're using Blue right now) and added Dr Maggie Skin and Coat additive. We do about 1/2 tsp for each feeding so 1 tsp/day and it keeps him from scratching. The Dr Maggie is about $14 Canadian/bottle and that lasts about a month.
any idea where i can find that in the use? or did you get that at the vet?
