There is a new product, a spot on treatment, called Allerderm. Our vet gave me samples when Toby started itching this winter (no diagnosis). It supposedly soaks into the skin and provides moisturizing benefits and helps reduce itching. I wonder if this might be helpful to your dog. After the first month's treatments (1xweek for 4 weeks, 1xmonth after) I noticed a dramatic improvement in his coat and his itching. I don't know if it's the treatment or the fact we aren't using our indoor heater anymore because the weather warmed up and it's not so dry inside.

Allerderm Spot-On for Small Dogs & Cats Veterinary Information from Drugs.com

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

I first heard of this disease 2 years ago. When my hunter (avatar) was killed by proheart6 back in oct. 2--3, i "met" jean over the net. She had lost 2 dogs to prohearts 54 about a year before i lost hunter (and her 3rd is still on meds because of his problems with ph6).

She had never had experinece with goldens and her boy firned had a goldne who had "dandruff flakes as big as corn flakes." they wre at a loss--and so was their vet. She asked me, i asked her, someome told me about this disease, i e-mailed jean, they took summer to anothr vet and got this diagnosis.

It didn't actually bother her that much, she just had huge "dandruff flakes" falling all the time. She was put on fish oil and vitamins and it did help some. However, they lost her to cancer about 8 months ago, so not sure if she would hae continued to have improvement on this disease or not.

On, the eogs jean lost was a 112 year old "skipper key" and a mutt that looked like a giant cotton ball and the one still on meds, and now 11 years old, wa shepherd and lab mix. Well, after she met her boy firned and got to know summer she fell in love with goldens and theynow have one that is just about 6 months old.

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HONEY-- 1ST BIRTHDAY, GOTCHA DAY 12-7-2002
AND
MY GOLDEN BABIES AT THE BRIDGE, BUT FOREVER IN MY HEART
SCOOTER--6-14- 1994 -- 8-22-1999
BUCK 2-8-1995 ------5-15-2007
HUNTER 8-19-1999--10-16-2003
KAYCEE 8-19-1999---5-25-2008

Goldens bring light into the world.

My 12 yr golden, Caesar, has had problems
With his skin for his whole life. No one has
Even mentioned this as a possibility until
Today. We did a biopsy and will know within
A week. I am very frustrated. My poor dog
Has been miserable for basically his whole
Life and now, just before his 13th b-day
We get a possible answer. We have mixed
His food with many additives (Dino-vite),
Fish oil, fruits, hypoallergenic food, you name
It. I am baffled that more vets don't know
About this condition. At one point, his whole
Body peeled a layer of skin. Big flakes 2"
At a time came off. I am in shock a bit that
There is this whole forum out there about
This.

Welcome to the forum, I am glad you found us. Nobody knows it all but so many could know a lot. I am sorry for your Caesar and I know how you feel, hope your boy will finally get proper care for his condition.

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9 & half short years in my life but forever in my heart http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...-my-buddy.html
"He took my heart and ran with it, and I hope he's running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his forever" - Patricia McConnell

Charlie could watch birds for hours and I could watch Charlie for hours too http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...n-morning.html

Hi Dawn and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you found us under these circumstances.
I don't know if a biopsy will confirm ichthyosis, I believe you need the DNA test that is available from Optigen. It has only been available since January 2011 so breeders are just now starting to test their dogs before breeding. Almost 70% of the dogs are being diagnosed as either carriers or affected, so it's obviously a common problem in the breed.
It can range from very mild, where the owners of affected dogs aren't even aware of it until the DNA test comes back, to very severe, which is what is sounds like your dog has.
Stress seems to make it worse.
There are some other threads on this forum about it, if you do a search you will probably find some good information.
About the vets....well, I agree. We need to get them educated to think of it as a primary consideration, not secondary to allergies or thyroid issues. A lot of dogs are on unnecessary treatments, which will not help, because it's ichthyosis and not allergies.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

I am wondering if a holistic approach might help.

A couple week's ago I saw on TV, I think it was Dr. Oz, that washing human hair with apple cidar vinegar will control even the worst cases of dandruff.

I used to rinse my Great Pyrenees out with vinegar quite often, it was mostly to get the soap out from a bath, so I know it doesn't hurt them. It was recommended to me by a show breeder.

ACV has a lot of benefits even when given in a pets water. I have given it to my dogs, bunny, chickens and ducks.

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well if Doc Oz says its good then.............

Rude...

cubbysan, you're right...ACV is a great product with many health benefits for both us and our pets.

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Karen, Chance, Lucy and Savanah RB



“Everyone needs a dog to adore him, and a cat to bring him back to reality”

Thank you all, I will mention the DNA test
Biopsy came back negative. They took blood
Fridat (again). Thyroid is normal. Ugh
It has been years of all of this! Caesars
Skin has always been darker in pigment
But now it is down right black and is spreading
To areas tht used to look somewhat
Normal. This is discouraging. Now he's on
Prednisone again and a different antibiotic
To just keep the fire at bay until we can
Get an accurate diag
no:

Will this be seen in newborn puppies or will it appear later?