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This post further down involving Pets is incredibly captivating. Don't skip it.

<blockquote cite="https://championofmyheart.com/2021/08/05/dogs-with-skin-issues/">
<h3>Best Advice for Dogs with Skin Issues</h3>

<p>I still need to publish a real post about Mr. Stix's full backstory, but this feels more pressing. For nearly 18 months, Mr. Stix's permanent nakey spot (from unknown injuries before he was rescued, including 15 fractures and this big patch of coat missing) has featured several inflamed, peeling areas. Initially I tried to fix it myself at home with things like aloe vera, vaseline, a veterinary ointment called animax that the shelter had give us while we fostered him most of 2019, etc. It's sort of a combination of steroids, antibacterial, and antifungal stuff. I took him to see our main veterinarian in spring 2020, when there was a 2-month wait to get into see a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. It has been quite a journey since then, and it's nowhere near over. Here's my best advice for dogs with skin issues. </p>

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<h2>Before I tell the ongoing saga with Mr. Stix's skin. Here is my best advice for dogs with skin problems.</h2>

<p> See a board-certified veterinary dermatologist as soon as you can. Yes, your main veterinarian can probably help, but it's honestly best to go right to the top experts. </p>


<p> Agree to whatever skin scrapings / cytology the veterinary dermatologist recommends. This provides information about what types of secondary infections currently grow on your dog's damaged skin. </p>


<p> Do NOT assume every skin issue is allergies. It often is some sort of allergic process, but NOT always and assuming so (and acting accordingly may only delay real solutions and subject your dog to all kinds of quack advice and home remedies).</p>


<p> Buy the best quality fish oil and Vitamin E supplements you can afford, if it's recommended for your particular case of a dog with skin issues. </p>


<p> When necessary, agree to the skin biopsies (yes, like minor surgery) and have them reviewed by a veterinary pathologist that specializes in dogs with skin issues. The one we used is at Texas A&amp;M.</p>


<p> Follow your veterinary dermatologist's advice and plans, and keep the faith. These dogs with skin problems often don't improve quickly. (I need to take my own advise. See below.)</p>

<h2>Mr. Stix's Story as a Dog with Skin Problems</h2>

<p>This is what Mr. Stix's nakey spot looks like when it's normal. Photo from May 2019 soon after his hip surgery. The bald patch is permanent. That's not the issue. </p>

<p>This is how bad the red / peeling areas got in mid-2020 when we saw our main veterinarian, who added a low-dose of oral Vitamin E and some topical too and told me to keep using the animax. </p>

<p>This is how it looked when Mr. Stix first saw the board-certified veterinary dermatologist in early August 2020, but the specialist had me STOP the animax and instead use a prescription anti-bacterial ointment (mupirocin) ... as well as add a better quality oral fish oil and continue both topical and oral Vitamin E (but at a higher dose twice a day). We knew from the skin scrapings / cytology they did onsite that Mr. Stix had a bacterial infection. </p>

<p>But, without the daily topical steroids (which long term are a bad idea), Mr. Stix's skin got much, much worse -- even breaking open and scabbing over.</p>

<p>Our veterinary dermatologist had recommended doing the skin biopsies right away in August 2020, and I *almost agreed to it then, but I was VERY worried about the cuts resulting in skin that would NOT heal. And, I figured it was at least worth a try to use the prescription antibiotic ointment and other supplements and stuff. </p>


<p>But, by around Thanksgiving, it was clear we had to do the biopsy. That photo is kind of gruesome, so you can see it here, if you want. I wish I had done the biopsy sooner. I feel like I wasted time from August through November. </p>

<h2>Post-Biopsy Diagnosis</h2>

<p>As I expected, despite all the know-it-alls trying to tell me it was an allergic issue, it turns out that Mr. Stix instead has an autoimmune condition called erythema multiforme. They believe it was triggered by the trauma of his earlier injuries. They don't think it is life-threatening. They don't think it will spread to other areas of his skin. Just the already damaged, permanent nakey spot. </p>


<p>With that information in hand, we updated the treatment plan to include a topical, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointment (tacrolimus -- often pricey, but we used a Good RX coupon at Costco to get the cost down). They use a version of this medication orally for people who have had various kinds of transplants. It's the smallest / safest option for treatment, and that's where we started. </p>


<p>I was so hopeful it would work at the once-daily application, but the skin still didn't heal completely. </p>


<p>So, in early 2021, we started applying it twice daily on the advice of our veterinary dermatologist.</p>


<p>But, it still hasn't healed completely. It often improves a lot and then comes roaring back, so we had another appointment to see the specialist last week. We had to try something new. </p>

<h2>Enter the Big Immune-Suppressing Drug</h2>

<p>Despite my concerns and form of veterinary PTSD about major immune suppression drugs (after our experiences with Lilly), I agreed last week to add oral cyclosporine, which is also a drug that people get after various transplants. Mr. Stix would need to take it daily for life. </p>


<p>It smells like it's made from skunk butts, so each gel-cap pill is individually packaged, and you keep them in the freezer because that can help with nausea it can cause (since it's recommended you give on an empty stomach). </p>


<p>I found some good info on this med, and our veterinary dermatologist assured me that it has been safely used in veterinary medicine for like 20+ years, etc.</p>


<p>The med only comes in doses of 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, and at his size Mr. Stix's ideal dose is around 88 mg once a day. So we went with 75 mg (25+50) to err on the lower side. </p>


<p>It takes like 3-7 days for the med to build up in the blood to therapeutic levels, but it takes more like 4-6 weeks to know if it's going to help the skin (or not). </p>


<p>We made it to day 4, then the barfing started. </p>

<h2>Anxiety</h2>

<p>I wish I could say that this is all going to be fine, but I just don't know. I feel like I just have to accept that the skin will never fully heal, even though seeing his raw spots up close while applying the topical med twice a day and topical Vitamin E once a day causes me so much angst and anxiety. </p>


<p>I supposed to check in with our veterinary dermatology team next week to confirm that Mr. Stix's weirdness and apparent suffering has improved. </p>


<p>It took a lot of convincing to get Mr. Champion of My Heart to agree to try the cyclosporine, so even if the specialist comes back and recommends maybe a lower dose, I doubt we'll want to risk it ... because Mr. Stix sure seemed to be having some neurologist issues to me, and after the Lilly situation, I just cannot do that again. </p>


<p>He is only 3 years old. I don't want to make anything worse. It honestly felt like I'd poisoned him.</p>


<p>The good news is that most of the time his skin doesn't seem to hurt or itch or anything -- though I do have pain meds, if he needs them. It mostly just looks bad, and he has to wear a no-lick collar for about 20 minutes after I apply his meds so that he doesn't lick it off. </p>


<p>His nakey spot is prone to sunburn anyway, and the topical tacrolimus increases the risk of burning, so I used his earlier sun-reflecting coat (which started to look ragged) as a pattern and sewed him a new / light sun protection coat. He looks very cute in it. </p>
<p><strong></strong> https://championofmyheart.com/2021/08/05/dogs-with-skin-issues/ </p>
</blockquote>

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<h3>Easy Ways You Can Be A Better Dog Owner</h3>



Every dog is unique, like a fingerprint. step-by-step article have their own likes and dislikes, aptitude for patience or impatience, and some are loving while others are distance. How you care for them depends as much on who they are as your own situation, but the advice you will find below applies in every household which has a dog in it.


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Always give your dog plenty of attention and affection. When your dog behaves properly, make sure you let the dog know you are happy and give them some affection. This will help reinforce the good behavior and the dog will try to behave in this manner for the positive attention..


Pet-proof your home before bringing a dog into it, just as you would for a crawling toddler. You need to move anything toxic to a higher shelf and consider the danger that plants may pose if nibbled by your dog. Remember that anti-freeze is deadly and that leaving things like pennies or crayons on floors can pose a choking hazard to curious pups.


Never hit your dog. There are better ways to train a dog without having to resort to violence. The best way to train a dog is to reinforce positive behaviors with treats and attention. Negative behavior should be handled with a stern and disapproving voice as opposed to striking the animal.


Your dog needs exercise and entertainment. By teaching your dog tricks that he can do around the house, such as grabbing the newspaper, you'll be keeping your dog mentally stimulated. He will always feel useful and a part of the family, while the constant reinforcement of training will keep his thinking skills sharp.


Brushing your dog's teeth is important, but it is not easy. If your dog is resisting, once a day simply lift their lips and use your finger to rub their teeth lightly. Do it quickly at first, and then begin to draw out the time you spend performing this action. This will help them get use to the process. After that, you can begin using an actual brush and toothpaste.


Remember that dogs are creatures of habit and anything you start with him will be expected in the future. If you're not keen on him sleeping with you, don't let him do it only on occasion. Likewise, if you don't want him begging at the table, never offer him a bite of people food. He will learn and accept things if you are consistent.


Always make sure to keep your dog's annual vet visits. Vets can detect diabetes, kidney, and thyroid issues before you see signs. Annual dog physicals can spare lots of money later for owners and keep them from suffering now.


Make sure your let your dog know you love him. As with most things, owners tend to focus more on the bad behavior instead of the good. This could cause lots of problems for you. Praise your dog at least 5x more than you discipline him. This will reinforce that positive behavior brings due rewards, and thus lead to a better behaved pet.


When training your dog, consistency is everything. You must be consistent at all times. If your dog is not allowed to jump on people as they walk in, don't allow your dog to do it even if a person says they don't mind being jumped on. You should also make sure that everyone that's around your dog understands your rules and are consistent with them.


Never judge a dog's health simply by how cold or wet its nose is. A cold and wet nose could be due to many reasons, and it does not preclude illness. Judge your dog's health by energy levels, appetite and demeanor. These are the best ways to know how the dog is. If you need to take a temperature, you can do so rectally.


You need to ensure your dog will come back if he runs away; that is why you need to have a collar with his information on it. A breakaway collar that includes an ID tag will ensure the return of your dog if they should wander. Put your own name and contact information on it, along with your dog's name. You can also opt to have a micro-chip inserted into your dog.


Before you decide to go get a dog you should think about the individual needs of different breeds of dogs. Some dogs can get enough exercise in the home, while others may need a few hours outside each day. These factors can mean a lot when it comes to meeting the needs of your new family member.


Dogs sometimes get tiny cuts on their paws. If your dog gets a small cut, wash it with an antiseptic and place a bandage around the area. Deep or serious wounds must be seen by a vet.


Make sure that you buy an appropriate sized collar for your dog in order to ensure its health and safety. If the collar is too lose, it may become snagged on something. If the collar is too tight, it may restrict the dog's breathing ability. Allow for a two finger space between the dog and the collar.


Before you decide to go get a dog you should think about the individual needs of different breeds of dogs. Some dogs can get enough exercise in the home, while others may need a few hours outside each day. These factors can mean a lot when it comes to meeting the needs of your new family member.


Many dogs enjoy things like fruits and vegetables, rice, eggs and cottage cheese. There is nothing wrong with letting them have these things, but they should not make up the bulk of their diets. You should feed them dog food, and implement these items around 10 percent of the time.


Dogs will need veterinarian check ups twice a year when they become old. Dogs can age quickly over the course of a year, and older dogs will need more vet examinations in order to catch any changes their bodies may be going through. Additional tests, such as blood, urine, and ultrasound may be needed.


There are so many amazing aspects of being a dog owner, and you should be able to appreciate all of them. With these suggestions, you'll be equipped to handle any kind of issue that your dog might throw your way. Keep this advice in mind, and enjoy your wonderful pet.

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