Golden Retriever owners I need your help!

[hatredisnotavalue]

Boodah is continually picking at this skin and has ripped most of the hair off of the area on his lower back right above his tail. I changed his diet, went to Science Diet which did nothing and now he is on his second bag of Iams. He gets plenty of exercise and I am not bathing him, but am brushing him twice a day.
What can I do?

[BikeWriter]

1. He may have mites. We used to se a mild bleach solution...

on our Chows to kill them.

[skygazer]

2. Sounds like flea allergic dermatitis

Which a lot of dogs are afflicted with. Just a couple of fleas can trigger it and then they begin scratching. The scratching makes it itch worse and a vicious cycle begins - they irritate the skin which causes another sourse of itchiness when it festers and/or begins to heal.

I used to work for a vet who routinely prescribed allergy shots for pets in such a condition. I would see your vet and speak to him/her about it. Your poor dog will dig himself raw if left untreated.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Sarcoptic mange? Other parasites? Take him to a vet so they can

scrape the area and determine what's going on.

In peace,

Radio_Lady (in earlier years, I bred, raised and trained Boston Terriers and Cocker Spaniels.)

Portrait by Donna Francis



www.donnafrancis.com/portraits-pets3.html

[hatredisnotavalue]

4. Wow, thanks you guys, I will call the vet tomorrow about the alergy shots.

[China_cat]

5. Read the ingredients in the food

if the first one is ground yellow corn, find another food...one that doesn't have corn in it. (Sorry, but SD is one of the absolute WORST things you could be feeding him)

We've been through this with 3 dogs. Get rid of the corn, you get rid of the problem. It takes the time it takes for the dog to eat its own weight in the food for the best results to show.

[Thtwudbeme]

8. I totally agree with this poster. Scout eats Hund 'n Flocken

and occasional treats of Pedigree canned lunches.

Dog food with corn sucks.

[L A Woman]

6. you've gotten several good suggestions, but here's another...

My dog had the same problem for YEARS until I switched him to Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice formula food. It takes about 30-40 pounds of it before it makes a real difference but once it does, it's a miracle!!! And I continue to use it with no further problems. Good luck!

[mdmc]

7. is he nervous?