Skin Issue, Need help fellow Frenchie owners

Jordanmyles · Feb 7, 2016

Hi Everyone,

My Frenchie (Bella) and I currently live in Nova Scotia, Canada. Bella is 8 months old and I am learning so much. I am a first time dog owner, and fortunately I have a very healthy Frenchie according to my Vet. Unfortunately though, we have just recently ran into some skin issues and I need help.

Currently, Bella has some serious balding spots going on. The skin underneath is a little dry, but there are no red spots. It just seems dry. She is not itching, her hair just seems to be falling out tremendously. I am very concerned. Within the last week it has gotten much worse, now multiple spots with thinning hair.

About a month ago I switched her to Acana dog food, she was originally on Blue Buffalo chicken and brown rice. I switched her for a few reasons. Firstly, she would not eat it no matter what. She would only eat if i fed her individual pieces. Secondly, her ears were very dirty and I had also heard some horror stories about the food. BUT her coat was beautiful and shinny, winter had also not started yet. So I switched to Acana Chicken, her ears cleared right up!! But same thing, she would not eat unless I fed to her. So I then moved to Acana Grasslands (lamb, duck, walleye, fruits & veggies). She LOVED this food. First time she gobbled up her food and I felt so relieved. But as of about a week ago Bella started with the balding spots. My first thought, it must be the food.

I've now got her on Acana Duck and Bartlett Pear. I've just started putting Coconut oil in her food to help with this as well.

I just don't know if it is Acana food, environmental (winter issues?) . Has anyone had any problems with this?
How long before I see improvements if it was the Grasslands food?

Please Help!

davidh · Feb 7, 2016

Sounds like a skin infection from allergies. Henri did that last year right before 3 big dog shows. Our vet gave him some antibiotics and he cleared up in a few weeks. She also gave us some medicated shampoo to use also. Try a food change with a different protein, preferably something without chicken.

bullmama · Feb 7, 2016

Are you running a heater? That can dry out the skin tremendously. I would use some coconut oil in her food and see if that helps. Also we are talking about Nuvet in another thread, that may help a LOT. It is available in Canada, I found out they have a warehouse there. You just have to call to order instead of ordering it online.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MaplesMommy · Feb 7, 2016

You are in NS? NO WAY ! Us,too!

I will send you a pm.

Maybe we can meet up to have the pups play & talk about the problems you're encountering.

2bullymama · Feb 8, 2016

is the fur missing or just dry skin?

Jordanmyles · Feb 8, 2016

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

Davidh: Currently we have switched to Duck, but I've also never had issues with the CHicken before she just didn't like it. I am trying to avoid antibiotics if I can. Thank you for the info, glad I am not alone.

Bullmama: Just started the Coconut oil two days ago, hoping this helps!!! but yes, we have oil heat, and it is quite dry in the house. But we also have to keep warm as the weather is cold here, not sure what I could do to avoid the heat if that's causing the problem. I will certainly look into the Nuvet.

Maplesmommy: I am located in Halifax/Yarmouth. I would love to meet up, Bella would love a Frenchie play buddy!!!

2bullymama: It is a little dry, but mostly fur missing.

Alice Kable · Feb 8, 2016

It sounds to me like a food allergy. One of our English Bulldogs had bad "hot spots" after a food change. They went away and his fur grew back in when we went back to his former food!

Johnny69 · Oct 5, 2016

My frenchie Bella began spinning, and scratching and rolling several weeks ago. Initially we were unsure if it was the summer heat, different food, etc. etc, lets just say the list was long for all the immediete possibilities. One thing I have recently discovered is Reactine, it is safe for dogs and unlike Benylin that just makes the symptoms feel better, Reactine can help in treating the problem as well.
Attached is a great article about Reactine and dogs and how it brings them some considerable relief.
https://www.vetinfo.com/cetirizine-hydrochloride-for-dogs.html

Hervé Eulacia · Oct 5, 2016

Montreal here

any meds given lately? Vaccines? Deworming? Anti-flea treatment?

Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk

Honeys Owners · Oct 5, 2016

All the suggestions sound really good to me. You can buy generic cetirizine and give 10mg once daily, or generic chlorpheniramine 4mg and give it 2-3 times daily. My dog will take the pills if mixed in with her kibble, or sometimes I crush the pill up and mix with peanut butter. Household measures include cleaning often to get rid of dust mites, and wiping dog's paws as she enters the house from outside. I give my dog monthly advantage multi and k9 advantix II topical applications, although I personally will probably not continue from Dec-April. This controls mange and prevents flea bites which can cause flea bite allergies. You can bathe the dog with a ketoconazole and chlorhexidine shampoo like Curaseb once or twice a week to kill skin fungus and bacteria. You can try feeding your dog Acana Pacifica in case she has allergies to different meat proteins. If she doesn't get better you'll have no choice but to go to vet to get diagnosed, since diseases like low thyroid and adrenal gland disorder (Cushings disease) and lupus can also cause this.