What supplements for skin, immune support.

cshellenberger · 03-01-2008, 02:15 PM

Hi all,
Angel has a nasty pyoderma, we are treating with antibiotics and fish body oils, any other suggestions? My doctor has suggested she has a weakend immune system from the way she was kept before I got her. I'm feeding Merrick "Puppy Plate" which I know is a high quality food (she was fed Bil-Jack by prior owners

).

**ellenm** · 03-01-2008, 06:53 PM

I assume you had a thyroid panel run. I would hold off on any shots at all (not that you were giving any) because you don't want to stress her immune system at all at this point. Does your vet have you giving her probiotics along with the antibiotics? I give acidophilus midday when they get antibiotics and it keeps them from getting diarrhea from the medication.

For the short term you could put her on a little echinacea. They sell it for dogs.....check out Hilton Herbs website....they have an immune support herbal supplement that is good. We used their cough relief one for my horse and he stopped coughing in dusty warm up areas at shows. It really made a difference for him.

cshellenberger · 03-02-2008, 09:26 AM

No, no thyroid panel yet, it's the first time she's had coat problems so that and a skin scrape will be next if the antibiotics don't work. My doctor treats for the simplest things first in a situation like this instead of rushing into a bunch of tests that may not be neccessary. So far she's responding pretty well to the antibiotics, her skin is no longer erupting and bleeding like it was on Tuesday when I took her in. She's also not itching as much, probably from the fish body oils and Tea Tree shampoo I'm using.

I didn't even THINK about echinacia

, I've used it for years when I feel like I'm getting a cold or flu.

Yes, I'm giving yogurt and probiotics along with the antibiotics to keep her system in balance.

katekev04 · 03-03-2008, 08:16 AM

You really can't say that one food will boost the immune system. I think a good, sound diet wil do but it wouldn't hurt to supp with Vitamin C, a good quality salmon oil and quality probiotics. Also, check out the Purdue University Study on vaccines and your dogs immune system-if you bring that up tol your vet he or she is going to "love" you. lol Afghan Health

cshellenberger · 03-03-2008, 11:47 AM

Yeah, I know that any one commercial food can't insure a stable immune system, I just meant that the Merrick I'm feeding is a well balanced food and highly rated by WDJ. I'm already supplementing with Fish oils and probiotics and now echinacia. I'll look into Vitamin C, but I know that it can casue problems if given in high doses espcially to a 7 1/2 month old.

I've contacted my doctor and talked to him about the thyroid, he thinks it may be a good idea, since she also is showing some stranger anxiety as well. I DON'T want that anxeity turning to aggression so if the thyroid comes back low or borderline low it will help in her rehab and resocialization as well as explaining the lowered immune system. I'll let her breeder know she has if she has low thyroid too as the rest of the litter should be tested and possibly the parents retested and taken out of her program. Until now I really though it just the lack of socialization that made her shy. Poor baby, those buttwipes that bought her (originally) really screwed her up!!!

Does anybody else have any supplement suggestions?

natdobe · 03-06-2008, 03:24 PM

My female was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so hopefully her meds will help her thinning hair. I give Salmon oil every day and raw eggs on her food a couple of times a week. That seems to help her dry skin. Also, my dog's skin is always a little dry in the winter.