1.5 Year Old With Chronic Skin Rash Since Being A Puppy

[Loki Eurasier]

Hello,

We have a 1.5 year old male Eurasier named Loki who has had chronic skin issues for his entire life. We got him from a breeder in the states when he was three months old and he was flown to here to BC over night. When we got him he was on a high protein kibble diet and he was very itchy and had skin sores on much of his body but his fur was still ok. We switched him to a low protein diet which is suggested for the breed but after about two months without noticing a difference we took him to the vet who suspected flees. He was given antibiotics, a cortisone shot, a pill designed to kill essentially any flea or parasite and put on a standard flea pill after that.

After about a month the skin issues gradually began to return. We tried several other diets (including hypoallergenic diets) but nothing was working. We returned to the vet who decided to administer the same two shots as before. Once again, a month goes by and then the skin problems return. We now started trying raw diets but after several months return to the vets a third time, who once again decides on those same two shots.

As you can probably guess, the problem returned. Some people suggested that it was because of the hot weather in the summer and to thoroughly brush him, but that didn't help. Others suggested holistic medicine, so we tried that. We were given an antifungal, antibacterial shampoo and spray but it appears to severely dry his skin, causing further itching. We were also given a homeopathic allergy medicine and homeopathic immune booster but were told that because of the steroid shots it would take at least 3 months for results. Well about 1.5 months have passed and we are continuing to use the homeopathic medicine, but things just continue to get worse.

To detail what his problems are:
1) Red sores on his stomach and armpits, can get a yellow puss or wound like in the center. These heal, leaving a visible circle where they were before completely disappearing.
2) Red itchy bumps that form a yellow or grey flaky "scab" (not blood so not actual scab) over top, which then flakes off revealing the red bump. These are primarily on his mid/upper back and base of tale. These also cause him to lose all the fur on and immediately around the site of the sore and leave the skin black afterwards. (Pictured below, after the scab has flaked away)
3) His sides and the back of his hind legs below the tail also get similar red bumps, but they have been steadily advancing up his sides with the skin drying and peeling / flaking away. This also causes him to lose all the fur in the affected area and also eaves the skin black afterwards, and the outer edge is often pink. (A picture of his side, and his hind leg below).
4) Occasionally his nose will also start losing fur but is quickly treated with antibacterial / antifungal cream or gel.
He also has a strange odor that seems strongest at the sites of the red flaky bumps.

Everyone we have talked to has no idea what it is, including the vet. The antibiotics and steroid shot help momentarily, but only to have it come back worse than before. We currently have a cone on him so that he doesn't scratch as much and are at our wits end trying to solve this problem. He is the sweetest dog and it is one of the most painful things to see him constantly scratching and in discomfort while he continually loses his fur.

His skin looks oily / shiny in a couple of the photos because we have put a salve on his skin to help soothe it. A couple days ago we started giving him benedryl to try and give him some relief. Yesterday we spoke to a breeder who suggested to have his thyroid tested because it is become a recurring problem with the breed. One issue it can cause is sweating, which she suggested as a source of the smell and potentially a cause for the skin problems.

If you have any ideas as to what this could be or have had the same / similar experience, we would really appreciate any help and suggestions that you are able to offer us.

Thank You,
Jordan and the rest of Loki's family.

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