Help, please - emaciated B skin issue


  • Hello All!
    I adopted a wonderful B-boy from BRAT 3 weeks ago who had been found emaciated, dehydrated and with toe pads so horribly worn down and bloody that he had trouble walking on grass. I was given a video of him taken 2 days after he was found - you could clearly see every rib and his pelvis was very clearly articulated through his skinny frame.

    So, now he is gaining weight (hooray!) and I understand from my vet that it will take months to bring his very bristly coat back to it's original splendor. I am giving him fish oil capsules every day for his coat, but here's my question: the insides of his ears are very dry and flaky. My vet explained that after being without food for 3 weeks (the estimate by 3 different vets) his skin and coat were the first thing his body deemed unnecessary for survival, so that was the first thing to be let go in terms of maintaining survival of his critical organs. But, now that he is on the mend and in loving care, I am wondering if there s anything I can use to soothe the dryness inside his ears? If he were a human, I would find a great hydrating lotion to put in his ears, but as he is a dog, I am lost. Ant suggestions?
    I send many thanks in advance for any and all advice!


  • Vitamin E oil (available in super markets and health food stores) works the charm here in Maine in the winter time. I use it on my kidz dry skin.


  • THANK you so much! I will try that! And I am open to any further suggestions!


  • Coconut oil can be used both directly on the skin and as an internal supplement. It is very good for the skin as well. :)


  • Silly enough, diaper cream ( with zinc oxide) …it helps with the chaffing dryness..
    it's gentle enough to use on a baby's chapped bum then it's good enough to go on oaks ears..lol

    I use it on occasions where we're outside hiking and They could get wind burn or such...he has some pretty big ears so they always seem to be a concern!! It only takes a dab and he hasn't itched at them, they arent flaking and he's a happy boy


  • His ears will heal. We got a rescue that had been in a shelter for three months and we called her bat ears for months till her fur grew back. Hope he heals fully and quickly.


  • Oh, thank you everyone! Yes - Bat ears would be a most apt description! I will try these remedies - more than one can't hurt, right? This is a prefect example of why I love this board!!! My fondest wishes to you all!


  • I would recommend A&D ointment….


  • You do want to make sure you put only the slightest coating on it, maybe even wiping it off gently with a tissue, to avoid getting any product into the ear canal and creating additional problems.


  • One thing you can do to help his coat is to bathe him every 1-2 weeks with Murphy's Oil Soap. Use your fingers and gently "scrub" him while he is soaped up. (Murphy's does not produce much lather so don't expect it.) The massaging will loosen dead hair and help it fall out. This stimulates new hair to grow. Murphy's has natural oils including coconut that help moisten the skin and keep it healthy.

Suggested Topics

  • Age issues or behavioral issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    @Patty: Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog. My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that. Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on. I have to agree with everything Patty wrote. Changing behavior ALWAYS needs a vet check. Increase aggresssion can be due to thyroid issues, pain, tick-born diseases, constant hunger (due to other things), etc. You didn't say in your post if you'd recently seen a vet and discussed her new issues. My oldest (16 in December) has failing kidneys (nonFanconi) and does need to pee more often. So, I put pee pads down in the house in his favorite pee spots. He's usually pretty good about that, but he does still pee in other spots if I'm not watching him carefully or if he gets a bit aggitated about the sitting arrangements. Would your pup stay in an exercise pen? That would give her a little more room than a crate.
  • Sick Dog Question– help, please?!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    186
    0 Votes
    186 Posts
    89k Views
    O
    @agilebasenji: Zest! has about 2 extra pounds he could have. Jet the trying also has a few to spare. I wonder if I can send them via the USpost. Spencer says "send 'em on– Priority Mail, please!" Though if he keeps being a little platelicker, he may reclaim his "love handles." For now, he is still the Angelina Jolie of the dog world.
  • 0 Votes
    9 Posts
    7k Views
    khanisK
    Check with Iris Craven, Kasai Basenjis. She is in Maryland and might know of a vet in your area… and also might be able to help you with the IPSID dx. She is a long-time Basenji breeder and has been around to see many many things happen in Basenjis.
  • Help!!!!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    Yup, I would agree, UTI is possible…
  • Help

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    On any older dog, cataracts are very common… It would be very hard for a Ophth. Vet to mix up PRA with cataracts. Did you take your Basenji to a board certified eye vet?
  • 0 Votes
    14 Posts
    9k Views
    nala121498N
    I was just about to add a post, when I had to leave and pick the kids up from school - saying that my Basenji did a similar thing. It started with her normally soft fur getting really coarse along her backbone. While I didn't notice any more than the usual tiny bit of shedding in the late summer months, it is now back to it's normal "super soft puppy like fur" too! Great news!