My springer spaniel puppy has flaky skin?

Question

My 13 week springer spaniel puppy has been itchy now for a week. When it originally started I found a flee on him and treated him with front line. He seemed to be better for a couple days, but now he has really dry looking skin. I want to take him to the vet but we are going next week and have already been to the vet five times since i've had him. He came down with kennel cough at 11 weeks and $250 later he is cured from that (thank goodness). Everyone is saying it is not an emergency and to just wait till his appt. next week but he is so itchy I don't know what to do. I tried benadryl and an oatmeal bath, and he is still scratching where his legs meet his body. His flaky skin is mainly on his belly and hind legs, but he has been biting at all four paws. Does anyone know why he could be this dry, he is also on really good dog food, blue buffalo. I really hope it is just allergies. Thanks for any help. This is my first puppy on my own and he is my baby.

Answer 1

try an oily food like most can foods  

Answer 2

Staphylococcus Aureus manifests itself as a filmy, flaky, white "scum" on a dog.  When he had the fleas, he may have opened up an area on his skin that allowed the Staph to take hold.  Staph is literally everywhere, but doesn't affect a dog until a skin opening is presented.

Nervous dander usually presents along the spine, so I ruled that out.

You also may have dried his skin out with bathing, though usually Oatmeal shampoos are detergent free.

Other than going to the vet now, which you indicate you don't wish to do, try a shampoo with Selenium in it to remove the flakes.

I hope that is just a simple Staph infection, as once you treat it with antibiotics, its over.  Allergies last a lifetime.

Good luck

Answer 3

You might want your vet to do a skin scrape to look for puppy mites (cheyletiella yasguri), otherwise known as "walking dandruff" which is quite common in puppies.

The other thing you might try is a different food.  If you are feeding commercial holistic feeds that contain grains, spaniels are notorious for grain protein allergies but if they do not, then check the exp date as the natural preservatives will go rancid far quicker since there is no storage standard for pet foods and you are not getting fresh shipped.

I had a client who had a puppy with this problem then realized that the holistic food was very rancid.

God luck

Answer 4

spunds like a kind of exma but it could also be just dry skin. probably just needs sum doggy moisturiser.. if its mange then thed be hair loss also. so if the fur is fine and its just flaiky dont worry .

Answer 5

It is possible for your dog to be allergic to Frontline.  One thing you could try to help with the dry skin is an oatmeal rinse when you give your dog a bath.  It is very soothing and I have had good luck using it on my dogs in the past.  Good luck.  

Answer 6

try a non perfumed baby oil and rub it in2 his skin when u give him a bath, this should work great, make sure u wash it all out tho! hope this help poor little fella!