Dog with skin problems needs your help

[MariaRosa]

Hi Everybody....I'm back, and I am bringing you all a new question in the hope that you may have some words of advice to impart.

Here's the situation:

There's someone I have met on another group board, whose dog has a variety of skin conditions (no details were given). Her vet advised her to concoct a shampoo made of oatmeal, Dawn dish soap, and water. (Please keep in mind that she is on a fixed income, which is probably why her vet did not advise a commercially available product).

She has several questions about this, such as:
* How much of each ingredient does she combine for this shampoo?
* How often should she bathe her dog w/ it?
* Oatmeal: cooked or raw? (lol, I think the vet means raw, but that's kinda cute that she's so worried about this aspect and wanting to do everything correctly.)

I, personally, have heard of the oatmeal thing, but the Dawn is a new one to me. Could you please help me out here? I told this lady that I'd spread the word and try to generate some advice for her. You all have been so helpful to me before, I feel I can count on you. :)

Please be as detailed as possible, I'd also ask along with the above questions, how does one go about the actual bathing....more specifically, does she lather up the pup, and let the shampoo sit for a small time on the skin before rinsing? And should she blow dry or towel dry?

Any other low/no cost ideas would be soooooooooo appreciated by her. Thank you in advance !!!!!

Paula
aka MariaRosa

[originalfatc]

Oatmeal soothes dry, sensitive skin, Dawn is a very gently degreaser and antibacterial used by many animal rescues such as bird rescues after oil spills.

I dont think the proportions matter exactly, I could be wrong.

[originalfatc]

Using *breakfast oatmeal* is the inexpensive way, but it works. My husband has very sensitive, dry skin, we have used oatmeal in a sock (or whatever) as a shower washcloth and it works well.

I've mixed a bit of dawn in regular shampoo for very dirty cocker coats and it's amazing. Ivory Liquid, too. Either will loosen impacted undercoat to where it will blow right out.

My old vet who retired a few years back always said to bathe my golden in a shampoo/dawn mixture when she got really irritated from fleabite dermatitis. (one fleabite and this girl is a mess!) It worked like a charm to hinder infections from licking and chewing.

In answer to other questions, lather dog and let sit for 5-10 min, towel and either air dry or blow dry with cool air.

[originalfatc]

I worked for a vet for 3 years, an old country sort. who taught me that not every instance is grounds to spend lots of dollars for certain treatments.

Her vet advised her to concoct a shampoo made of oatmeal, Dawn dish soap, and water. (Please keep in mind that she is on a fixed income, which is probably why her vet did not advise a commercially available product).


If HER vet did not specify a certain high tec treatment, it may be that a *lower tech* treatment such as this would work. I'm sure if it was a problem which required *the best the market could offer* he would have recommended it by name and possibly given her a sample or at least explained why a more expensive product would be neccessary.

THIS is the question I was answering from my experience.

[Furbaby Mom]

Dawn is not only a great degreaser, but does a great job with fleas. And you should not use a lot of it as Odiegirl suggested. I can't help with the oatmeal proportions.

If you are using it for nothing but fleas, mix a small amount with water and use a flea comb dipped into the solution to comb out your dog (or cat). Do not use this on very young dogs or cats.

[originalfatc]

This post has gone so far off in space over adding a bit of Dawn, it's getting pitiful.

No one here suggested using it full strength, nor was coat care even mentioned.

The dog has unspecified skin problem. Vet recommended oatmeal and Dawn mix. He did not even diagnose fleabite dermatitis. Beginning case: that formula has always worked for me, intermediate or advanced cast: ANTIBIOTICS.

The Medicated Treatment Bath with Sulfur and Salicylic Acid is just what the dermatologist orders for excessive dryness and flaking caused by seborrhea. If that was the diagnosis, this shampoo formula can be obtained at Petsmart or other pet stores quite reasonabley if one can't afford the veterinary perscription. I'm sure the vet would have specified exactly what was needed in this case.

I'm not a vet, but I listen to the vet and use experiences I have had to discuss these things. Others here have had excellent suggestions and they are neither vets or groomers.

I'm here to share and learn from all.

[emanasco2004]

One of my dogs had a skin problem. The skin was like rawhide and he would pull it out and bleed. We were told it was the food, or needed special shampoo, and drugs. Nothing helped, plus bad body odor.

The question in the post didn't give age of the dog or if it is altered.

We finally found a vet that took a blood sample. The blood test showed his thyroid level almost bottomed out. One week of Thyroid treatment and the skin got soft, no itching or pulling out the hair.

Probable no contection, just a thought.

Elaine

[Gracie6363]

When using Dawn, use clear Dawn only. :-) Judging by the combo the vet advised, it sounds like dry, irritated skin. So incase she chooses to not make the combo, she can use a dry and damaged hair shampoo and a leave in conditioner. Also adding flaxseed pills to the diet 1-2 times a day will be a long term fix. I give it to my dogs who both have very dry skin. 1 is a doberman 1 is a white german shepherd. Both have had a tremendous improvement on dander and hair luster. Also you can get a spray in a black bottle called miracle coat. It is made of green tree oil and will help the most sensitive skin!

Incase you are wondering where I obtained this info... I have complelted a vet assistant course, asked several vets, and my husband is in his first year of vet school. :-P And a pet owner with 2 dry skin dogs. Good luck to your friend.

[bisquik]

I am surprised your friend's vet didn't mention diet. In addition to the Dawn/oatmeal concoction (btw, my roommie bathes her boxer mix w/ Dawn and water, and it leaves his coat brilliantly shiny), have your friend try adding both white and brown rice to the dog's diet, rice can help with dry, irritated skin and skin allergies.

[Cat&Dog mom]

Maybe she could explain to you a little beter what the problem is, Dry, oilly, scabs, sores, fleas, ringworm? There are a number of things, everyone is trying to help but we really don't have even the slightest hint of what is wrong. Ask he to call her vet and explain a little better as to why he said to use these things.

[Squawksx3]

I agree.. it could be a number of things causing this problem. Diet could be a very important ingredient for skin problems. I took my Labx to the vet a few weeks ago and he gave me ALLERDERM EFA-CAPS HP (ie, fish oil) tablets to help with dry skin and has done wonders. Also, just to add on the Dawn thing... my avian vet told us to keep Dawn on hand just in case the birds get into anything they're not suppose to ;) . Its very gentle, animal friendly and I now use Dawn for washing my dishes.

[Gracie6363]

Clear Dawn is always on our animal shelters donation "wish list". :-) But flaxseed vitamins works wonders too! It's in most dog foods, but the problem is it's hyper sensistive to cooking or heat. So the benifical oils are burnt out of the food in the processing so we went to grocery, bought a huge bottle of it in vitamin form for $8 and my two large dogs get 2 a day. (dobe and g. shep.) Their coats are 10 times shiney are and their skin has little to no flake no. My shep has severe allergies in this time of year (he's white) that makes his skin terrible and this year it's looking good!