Hi,
We have a 20 month female Lurcher called Daisy. We've had her about 2 months, we got her from a rescue centre as they had had her 2 weeks already and were about to put her to sleep as they only keep them for a short time.

When the centre found her she was badly infested with fleas and mange, was under weight and generally in bad condition. She's much better now, no more fleas/mange, has put on weight etc. However she keeps scratching and knawing, mainly her hind legs and her belly. We took her to the vet a week ago and they said it might just be that she still itches a little from the mange she had. She had a steroid injection which stopped her scratching for 3-4 days but she's now started again.

When I brush her coat there seems to be quite a bit of dust, I think she has dandruff? Could she be feeling itchy because of dry skin, which is causing her to scratch and knaw at it?

She's due back at the vets in a few weeks to be neutered so will get the vet to have another look.

I just started to add some of this.. Exmarid to her food and been giving her two of these evening primrose oil tablets a day, do you think this may help?

Thanks,
Pete

If the vet has said it's not a flea/tick allergy, I'd suggest it's a dietary one.

Can I ask what you're feeding her? The majority of foods contain grain which is well known in causing skin allergies for dogs.

My boy gets terrible dandruff, I tried primrose oil, salmon oil etc. Yumega oil really sorted it out. So that might be worth a look if the primrose oil doesn't work.

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I think it would be wise to ask the vet what type of mange it was so that you know what you are dealing with. Some of the mites are microscopic and dig into the pores and hair follicles making it much harder to get rid of them.

However, obviously diet is very important but in addition you could add one tablespoon of un-pasteurized apple cider vinegar to her food and also add something like fish extract which should help.

I have never had a dog with mange but I have heard that if you boil a lemon and let the liquid cool then sponge it onto the affected areas this will help or use a shampoo with Lavender or almond oil which will soothe the skin. I would pay particular attention to the feet and especially inbetween the toes as this may be where the problem stems - scratching/larvae inbetween toes etc.

Ensure bedding is changed and santised on a regular basis just in case any larvae manage to get into it.

Sorry yes, I missed out some important info. She was treated 3 weeks ago with Advocate. This is meant to do prevent the common parasitic infections. As far as I'm aware she's never had any infections since she's been with us, she was treated and cleared at the rescue centre and we obviously give Advocate for prevention.

The rescue centre was feeding her on Chappie, so when we got her we carried on with this but have changed over to Skinners hypoallergenic Duck & Rice about 3 days ago as I know Chappie is meant to be quite a poor dog food.

Its possible she is going to need more then one dose of the Advocate, it does sarcoptic mange I just double checked, but sometimes for Mange it does take more then one application. So you may need to do at least another one to make sure you have got it all and all the life stages. I know when I used Stronghold a few years back and thats a heavy duty one and for sarcoptic mange, even that you had to do at least 2 consequetive months running or it might even have been 3. It should tell you on the leaflet.
So that may be one reason.

Belly and the legs is also classic for the seasonal itching, has she been running in grass especially longer grass? Some dogs can be allergic to grasses and pollens at certain times of year so could even be that. For general itchyness including seasonal itching Dermaton products are brilliant. All natural comes in shampoo bar, spray and cream. Its even worked for dogs with irritation when only steroid previously worked Aromesse Natural Animal Healthcare Products for Dogs, Cats and Horses if you want to check that out.

As a general supplement there is yumega and yumega plus, the plus being for itchy sensitive skin too. Thats available in pets at home and other good pet stores but again if you want to check it out Dog & Cat Supplements, Proven To Improve Your Pet

Only other thing that can be a problem this time of year is Harvest Mites, Its only the larvae stage that causes the itch, they usually drop off in a few days. Those unlike the sarcoptic mange that burrows in the skin can be seen by the naked eye as little orangey/reddish spots, feet and legs and belly can be a classic for those. You can also get fungal infections this time of year too. That can cause a problem.

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Skinners is a decent food. Might be worth swapping to a grain free diet for six weeks to see if it has any effect. If not you can always go back to the skinners.

Bless her, I hope she gets well soon.

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She does sometimes run into the long grass at the side of the field where we often walk her. Like I say the mange was treated by the rescue centre before we brought her home, but she see how she is after her 2nd dose of Advocate. Can't see any signs of Harvest Mites.

Will try either the Yumega or Dermaton if the oils don't improve her. Most of the time she's ok, its just every now and again she'll has a big scratching and knawing session