Skin irritation and pulling hair out

[Jennifer]

My Pyr is now 5 months old and he is going through stages where he pulls his hair out and can't stop scratching. He sometimes leaves scabs from where he bites himself and he has picked his back legs almost bald. I asked my veterinarian about it and he told me it was not hot spots but a flea allergy and he prescribed Epi Soothe shampoo and antibiotics. I don't think he was right though because we've had the dog flea dipped and we keep him very clean and brushed all the time. We cut the bathing down because we thought it might be irritating his skin and we have tried changing his food a few times. Has anyone else had this trouble with their Pyr? I'm inclined to think it's hot spots because he only scratches in certain areas. He also has small red spots on his belly. It has been a couple of months since that last vet visit and I would rather try any solution suggested here than go back there and spend a ton of money on something that won't work again.

I've attached a few pictures of the rash on his underside

[Karin]

There are some webshops which deliver the food at "free shipping" ......
Maybe possible for you ?

[Jennifer]

A little extra money isn't really an issue but it would be much more convenient to be able to find a good brand of food at a store. Where money starts becoming an issue is when I take my dog to a veterinarian who charges an arm and leg for no definite answers. That is why I came here for advice and so far it seems to be working out. Thanks again everyone :o)

[pat ramapuram]

AMEN to that!! Lots of experience here in maintaining good health of our Pyrs without spending a fortune at the vets!!

[Joseph Gentzel]

The web site Michelle gave is excellent, but nothing is perfect. It at least gives you their reasoning fo rheir rating, so you can decide how importnat it is.
Now the dry food is probably good. The canned is more chicken and chicken is the most likely culprit in the allergy problem. So I would recommend that you not feed the canned as you will be canceling out the good dry food. If you want to feed canned, feed some salmon, mackrel, sardines or other canned fish. That does two really important things, it changes the protein with probably the best protein i.e. wild caught fish and gives you high Omega 3 fatty acids, both needed for combating an inflammatory skin condition. I would still recommend that you do a high omega 3 fatty acid suppliment (wild cold water lower food chain fish based). Many of the omega 3 good sources from vegetable sources are not always converted by some people and dogs to the EPA they need to fight the inflammation. Even Flax oil or linotic acid can not be converted by all dogs and with a young dog with these severe recations already I would be suspicious.
Please don't feed the canned chicken. Return it to Wal Mart and buy some canned salmon or other to put iwth the dry food.
Joe

[Karin]

I feed my dogs a little dryfood, besides the raw meals they get.
In Holland I have very good experience with DogLoversGold, which is available in the USA too.
NO Corn, Wheat, Soy or other fillers

http://www.dogloversgold.eu/usa/index.html

[pat ramapuram]

Looks GOOD! No distributors in my area though and they don't ship either. My food is similar with no corn wheat or soy and the meat base is also hormone and chemical free and it is made fairly locally. I feed like you- some kibble and the rest raw. I find raw to be cheaper than canned foods and certainly safer and healthier and the dogs love it!