Dealing with Itchy Skin
 - Angela's Story -

We rescued an itchy girl.

She had been ok to 9 months, when she went to my daughter after a death in the family. she was then
'bottom of the pile' of 4 dogs, including a wolfhound.

I adored her on sight, and unable to persuade the family to part with her, I managed to get a full
sister from a later litter, whom I brought up on a variety of foods and tastes and experiences, to
avoid sensitivities, with no problems.

Itchy-girl was by this time very very itchy and scratchy, very barky, a year old, had been spayed
between itchy periods, always hungry and high-spirited. Her tummy was permanently bald, her
nipples raw, and the medicine cupboard full.

Everything had been tried except steroids.

Eventually her good relationship with the wolfhound failed as he grew close to the end of his lifespan
and she wanted to dominate. This was such a dangerous situation, given the difference in sizes, that my
daughter and family finally agreed to part with her.


I was thrilled and have adored her ever since. She has an excellent relationship with her spayed sister
and my collie-retriever cross spayed bitch.

She is now 5, and it is only in the past 8 months that we have been confident that her pale, flawless and
lightly hairy underside can be relied on to stay that way.

I think these are the things which have made a difference:

I decided to approach the issue as an emotional/psychological one, whilst taking proper
common-sense care in all other areas I could think of.

We have ensured that she has as little stress as possible. this is not by limiting her life so much
as making it predictable.

Our dogs are with us almost all the time (we are fortunate in being retired), sleep with us, and are
rarely left alone.

If they are left alone it is almost never for longer than 2 1/2 hours. (we have left them twice,
unavoidably, for 8 hours, with access to their garden.)

They have the same length walks the same times of the day. we do not concern ourselves overmuch with
variety, but use 6 different locations all of which are now familiar to the dogs. (the smells are
always different!)

When things happen which are different in a major way, we ensure that the dogs are not upset by being with
them - moving house to France and back, for example, had a host of strange situations which the dogs did
not face without us.

We do not let her off the flexi-lead as she just 'goes'. She didn't receive her training young
enough. My husband runs over the moors with her. My commitment does not extend that far. on the
occasions when she has freed herself she always comes back, but her sense of timing is not the same as ours, and I
have awaited her successful return to the car for 10 hours before now. because she likes roads I consider
her to be a danger to herself and others if she is off-lead, although I want to do some intensive
training on this next year.

I shower her in lukewarm water after wet or muddy walks.

She has frontline spot-on every 3 weeks.

I keep her properly groomed.

I am not particularly interested in housework so I've never gone overboard on the house-mite business, but
I ensure that the downstairs dog baskets have clean cotton sheeting and cushions.

I am never angry with her although I am firm if necessary. basically I praise her masses.

I do not let her eat beef, chicken, pork or wheat products. Only Wafcol ocean fish and corn, Burns
ocean bites treats, raw carrots, sugar-free oatcakes and oats with lamb broth.

She has 180 mg GLA every day in evening primrose oil.

Her coat is still a little softer than it should be for a Wire, but I think even that is still steadily
improving.

The other two dogs have had to accept some conditions or limits because of her, but the outcome has been
enormously rewarding, and not only are they all a happy pack, but she is now calm, contented and
devoted as well as being all the other things that wires are!

I shall be happy if any of this is helpful to others with similar difficulties.

Angela Maclagan.