Got a question about skin problems in hound dogs

[Mary Plummer]

Hello everyone,

I've got a very general question tonight. Our good dog friends just adopted a Black and Tan Coonhound, that some friends of theirs found running stray. They posted signs, checked for microchips, posted a found notice in the paper, contacted the Humane Society, etc., but no one called. So our friends have adopted Hank the hound! He looks just like this AKC picture: http://www.akc.org/breeds/recbreeds/blkntan.cfm

Hank is a real sweetheart, and him and Mr. Blue are getting along great! They wag tails, sniff noses, then both put their noses to the ground, ready to go to work! Poor Hank had a bad ear infection, and his skin is really dry and is shedding a lot of "dandruff-like" stuff. He's pretty itchy, too. We've been through all of this with Mr. Blue, which made me wonder if hound dogs are somehow more prone to skin stuff than other types of breeds. If anyone knows, I'd be greatly appreciative! I've told our friends to ask their vet about fatty acid supplements, and gave them some skin moisturizing spray I'd got at the pet store. It didn't work real well for Blue, and I now have a spray from the vet for him. I wasn't going to give them any of the stuff prescribed for Blue, because I just don't think that's a good idea. I also told them to ask their vet about the possibility of allergies.

Thanks for any help you can give with this!

[Traci]

I don't think the breed is any more susceptible than other breeds. My guess would be simply due to his environment, lack of care, diet, etc. Stray dogs can get into a lot of things, into areas not otherwise appropriate if he were your pet.

I'm assuming you've advised your friends to get Hank thoroughly examined by a vet and vaccinated, etc?

[davet]

i can't beleive this.....Traci and i agree again

[Marty]

I have heard of hounds with skin problems...met a lady who put her Basset down because she couldn't fix it...Grrr. I would tend to agree with Traci and Davet........put the dog on a good quality food and maybe salmon oil suppplement for a while. Ole Roy won't do it! And give it some time..

[Mary Plummer]

Thanks everyone! Hank has been neutered, and vaccinated, and was just given medicine for the intestinal worms he had. He is such a sweet dog! I wasn't sure if hounds were more prone to skin problems. Poor Mr. Blue sure is, so I was wondering. Marty, that story about the woman who put her dog down because she couldn't fix the problems makes me angry, too! I guess the way I see it, picked up from our vets, is that we can't "fix" Mr. Blue's allergy skin problems, but we can manage them so that he's comfortable and has a good quality of life.

[Marty]

Maybe just being treated for the worms will do the trick! I imagine those would take a lot of nutrients away from him....

[E's]

Actually, there is at least one type of skin disorder which is breed-specific in certain related shorthair breeds, including several hound varieties... I do not recall what the condition is called. It is quite rare - or anyway was 25 years ago when a Dalmatian of mine had it (the Dal is an ancient breed and thus a gene contributor to a lot of other breeds, including, as I say, several hound breeds.) At this time - 1979 - it happened that the school of veterinary medicine nearest to me was doing an extensive study of canine skin problems at a lab in Gonzales, LA... my dog's vet consulted with the researchers there. I don't know if you could find out anything more, but you might give it a try, since you are connected to Academia yourself... and since Gonzales is just up the road from LaPlace, Skeptic may know more about current studies.

http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/

Dot B
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"If it puts its mind to it, a dog can be as much trouble as a set and a half of triplets!" Mr. Beauregard Hound in Walt Kelly's comic strip POGO, ca. 1960