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excessive scratching after swimming

Sent to Pet Experts May 3 2005 at 6:10 PM
   

My black lab after swimming in a lake starts scratching vigorously for days. This began at 2 yrs old. He is now 4.The different lakes all seem clean, and he loves swimming all day. What do I do?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Info Request
May 3 2005 at 6:12 PM (1 minute and 27 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
 Do you have the ability to rinse him well with a hose after swimming? How soon after swimming does this happen?

Dr.V

Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian
Dr. Vamvakias -- Veterinarian -- 100% Positive Feedback on 992 Pet Accepts
Small Animal & Emergency Medicine
Reply
May 4 2005 at 4:45 AM (10 hours and 33 minutes and 52 seconds later)
         
Reply to Dr. Vamvakias's Post: Last week he swam in a NH lake for 3 days. On the 3rd and 4th day he began scratching and has continued for 1 week up to present. I did not rinse him off because I figured the lake was clean enough.I have been adding Linatone Shed relief to his food for his excessive shedding and thought this may also help with his scratching, but it hasn't.My vet is perplexed. He gave me vetalog 1.5 awhile back which keeps him urinating and eventually stops the scratching. Do you recommend this? Or should I just rinse him and or give him a medicated shampoo bath after swimming?
Thanks
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 4 2005 at 5:31 AM (45 minutes and 20 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

 You may want to try DermCaps which have the Vit E/omega fatty acids, etc.  I don't know the formulation of the Linatone Shed so you should compare it.

Vetalog is a hefty steroid and probably not something I would do very often.

I did alittle research into "swimmers itch" and causes for humans and possibly animals with the larval infections of the skin...

I guess my approach for the summer would be two fold. I would take a good skin/follicle flushing shampoo from your vets office. I would take a gallon jug and the shampoo with you to the lake. After the swimming I would fill the jug and place a few good squirts of the shampoo into the jug and shake well. Dump and lather and let it sit for about 2-3 minutes then rinse...Next do the same thing with a oatmeal/moisturizing conditioner...jug/mix dump...and let it stay on.  Try it and let me know. You can start benadryl 25-50 mg every 8-12 hours during your lake trips and see if that lowers anything...lastly. If the itching occurs...ask your vet for TEMARIL-P ...it has a lower dose of steroid mixed with an antihistamine. You can give it in smaller doses during your lake trips and not have to put your dog thru the side effects of steroid injections!!

Goodluck

Dr.V



Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian
Dr. Vamvakias -- Veterinarian -- 100% Positive Feedback on 992 Pet Accepts
Small Animal & Emergency Medicine
Reply
May 4 2005 at 5:42 AM (11 minutes and 35 seconds later)
         
Reply to Dr. Vamvakias's Post: Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, I'll let you know what happens
Jay
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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