Possible sebaceous adenitis
 

Well, it's still possible the dog has food allergies but our little minpin buddy is back on the wrong path with dry skin and bare patches. He was switched to a raw diet and is still on raw, his coat overall is gorgeous, skin is so soft and he looks so much healthier - except bald patches of skin are dry, flaky and itchy. He's been to 2 different vets, they even treated him for possible demodex to no avail.

Did some more searching a few nights ago, and sebaceous adenitis came up as a common thing with miniature pinschers. We can check off the entire list of symptoms, he got better for a while but then got worse.

Gave him a baby oil soak, a scrubbing with palmolive, then a mild shampooing to give his skin a good cleaning. In the dark using a strong flashlight, I can now see that the pores in the bald spots were red and inflamed, almost looked like they were bleeding after the first bath. And it's only the bald patches that show redness in the pores.

Tonite, the bald patches were dry and flaky again so round 2 with the baby oil soak, followed up by palmolive but then we used a home made oatmeal shampoo with a good rinse. Now under a strong light, the pores are brownish, like they are starting to scab and heal up. These baths seem to be helping with the itch so it's really got us wondering. Even if it's only a few hours of relief for him, poor little beggar is so itchy. Been feeding trout along with a little cod liver oil and flax oil daily to up his omega 3 and 6.

Going to check with the vet to see if a biopsy would be worthwhile and get it done if it's recommended but the vet assumed it would be allergies as well. I really don't think allergies are the primary cause at this point unless he's allergic to meat.

Has anyone else dealt with skin issues like this? Any other ideas on oils and such? Ways to hydrate his skin?

It has been an on going issue with my Boston for 8 years. Dry patchy bald skin, nice coat other areas. Patches of hives that make her crazy itchy. We have done meds, shampoos, dermatologists, etc. There is one spray that gives her relief, Dermacool anit-inflammatory spray for dogs. She eats raw food, kibble makes her worse. She has a product called Flora-4 supplement on her food (this made huge improvements). I believe it's an immune deficiency. Low dose vanectyl p worked for many years but has seemed to stop. Did the vet check thyroid?

[QUOTE=Marty11;1070814]It has been an on going issue with my Boston for 8 years. Dry patchy bald skin, nice coat other areas. Patches of hives that make her crazy itchy. We have done meds, shampoos, dermatologists, etc. There is one spray that gives her relief, Dermacool anit-inflammatory spray for dogs. She eats raw food, kibble makes her worse. She has a product called Flora-4 supplement on her food (this made huge improvements). I believe it's an immune deficiency. Low dose vanectyl p worked for many years but has seemed to stop. Did the vet check thyroid?[/QUOTE]

Vet did a thorough blood test on him, everything came back clean - except for the vet tech that got expressed on when she stuck him with the needle. He's otherwise very healthy.

I'll check into the other products. GF really doesn't want to medicate unless it's absolutely necessary.

What shampoos or oils worked best for you if you don't mind me asking?

The bad patches of skin are looking better this morning, Lots of dandruff. Less itching so far.

Had his bath 2 nights ago, yesterday had minimal scratching but today he started in on the areas around his ears and both sides of his ribs. Changed up the process somewhat tonite...

Bath in nizoral shampoo first, then a heavy soak in baby oil for an hour. Then a good scrub with palmolive.

Used the basic homemade oatmeal shampoo tonite but added some coconut oil and broke up some vitamin E capsules to add to it just so there'll be some oil left on him after the bath.

Close inspection with a strong led flashlight shows his skin around the bald spots are clearing up nicely. A week ago, they showed red or bloody (not bleeding), mid week brownish, tonite most of the brown is gone and his pores are starting to look clear and healthy again, no scaling.

Oh, man, this sounds just miserable, rhynes! I'd never heard of sebaceous adenitis before! Will you have to keep up with the oil baths once it clears up, or is this something that you'll need to treat for all his life?

Glad to hear his skin seems to be improving! :goodvibes:

It's a for life thing, genetic apparently. We aren't 100% sure that it is adenitis but everything fits and it's the first time we've really seen a difference in him. Different vets, different diagnostics to no avail - but he's responding very well to the baths and oil.

Can't trade the little bugger in now, love him to death and will do what it takes to keep him happy.

Have you consulted with a dermatologist?

You might find some ideas here:
[url]http://akita-friends.com/special/satreat.htm[/url]

Haven't yet, but it seems the baths are having a positive effect. GF is on the fence on getting a biopsy done. Not much of a dog to begin with and they'll be taking fairly large chunks out of him - even then there's no guarantee of proper diagnosis as there's no sign of it in the neck area.


[QUOTE=MaxaLisa;1070934]You might find some ideas here:
[url]http://akita-friends.com/special/satreat.htm[/url][/QUOTE]

Been there, took some of the ideas from it. We are putting more fish into his diet as well.

Sebaceous adenitis, or SA, refers to the autoimmune disease found in some breeds of dog and more rarely in cats, rabbits and horses. It is an uncommon, idiopathic skin disease,characterised by an immune response against the dog's sebaceous glands.

What a miserable disease. It requires life long treatment. Make sure you are giving Vitamin A at 8,000 to 10,000 IU twice daily. And using a good quality fish oil supplement. I like this one: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research-Veterinary-SuperEPA-Gelatin/dp/B00A851V1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432746609&sr=8-1&keywords=superepa+thorne[/url] Thorne Research Super EPA. A skin biopsy is not that big of a deal, they take a couple of small pieces and have them examined by a pathologist. It would be a good way to confirm that it is that.