Help Needed! Please help me help my bully baby!!!

[ABEBD]

Viking Girl,

What I thought I knew about ACV, nope...did not know ALL of that. I was just giving it for only a few of the reasons.
I give in food and water and use for rinse.

Thanks for the GREAT info.

btw. I copied and sent to all my other EBD people who are not here yet.

Good Day~

 

[MollysMommy]

Thank you for all the advice!!

Molly has had all of her shots on time, as scheduled by her breeder. Her mother was also up to date on all of her shots. It seems like it is one thing after another, but all of the feedback on this thread has given me hope

Hello,

You are not alone. So many of us have gone through some or even all of what you are experiencing. You just got a heaping helping in one swoop..

OK.
ONE thing at a time.

Skin problems take time to resolve and get cleared up. As much as a year so don't fret too much. I had one dog that had horrible skin problems and had bald patches so bad. But all of the fur grew back and you can never even tell any problems existed. IN fact, her hair is even smoother and better now than before she went through the problem. I'm sure it was and is because of the better treatment of food, shampoos, etc.

AS for the apple cider vinegar, it is one product. After you bathe your dog, mix a 50/50 of just water and vinegar and slowly pour and rub into the coat. If you pour too fast, it just runs off and you waste it. Pour slow, rub...wait... spend time talking to your dog while you wait. Rinse with cold water. Towel dry. WE start all of our dogs and puppies using a blow dryer after the bath to help dry the skin faster and the mild heat kills any surface problems. They love it as an adult now and know to go into the puppy room which is where we keep the blow dryer. They will lay on the floor and ooohhh and ahhhh while getting blow dried.

AS for the food; many good suggestions above. Start slowly. Mix over the course of a week if possible to transition or else you have another issue to deal with. The top 3 star levels all have dog foods that work with bullies. But certainly stay away from the bottom tiers, anything with chicken (meal or product) and a grain-free is better. Adding in yogurt helps to stabilize the GI. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE POO EVERY TIME THEY GO. You can detect and catch problems way before they blow up just by knowing if there are any changes in the poo. Gross..yes.... but if you pick up as soon as they go, you will see it fresh. Any changes in color or texture can alert you to problems. Many go away on their own, but you will know something is going on. Also, picking up ASAP prevents flys, bugs and other problems from building up.

The eye problems are rather common and 99.9% of the time work out with no problems. Don't worry about that.

And finally, as for the immune system. You can't do anything about it know, but depending on when the puppy shots were given does play an important role. The puppy has no immune system when they are born. They receive antibodies from the mom from nursing. Was the mom properly vaccinated? Was anything passed on? The puppy/mom anitbody only works till around 8 weeks. This is the cross over period when puppies are very prone to problems. This is why giving puppy shots has to start early enough to start to build up immunity for that cross over period. Take a deep breath.

Your emotions tell your dog how you feel. Be positive and happy. Use your love to help get through this. This too shall pass.

Good Day~

 

[2BullyMama]

Thank you for all the advice!!

Molly has had all of her shots on time, as scheduled by her breeder. Her mother was also up to date on all of her shots. It seems like it is one thing after another, but all of the feedback on this thread has given me hope

Onr thing at a time, do not change too much too fast as it can be more issues. Change her food, adding a vitamin and the probiotic is plenty for now. But, if you go with a high line like Fromm (I use Pork and Peas -- previous used Game Bird and Beef Fritatta) make sure you do a slow switch over 10 days. Then once there you might not need the probiotic, but make that call after a couple months on the new food. it take about a month to see any results.

Good luck and please keep us posted and keep the pictures coming

 

[cowsmom]

Thank you for all the info! I agree that her immune system is probably non-existent at this point. I started her on a puppy multivitamin but her breeder told me it wasnt necessary. Can you recommend a good vitamin and probiotic? I've been using Burts Bees shampoo, before this skin infection, but now she is on a medicated shampoo, which has really helped clear up the rash with only one bath, but she is still itching like crazy. Any recommendations for the itching? What do I do with the apple, cidar vinegar rinse? How much of each? Is there a recipe somewhere? She is on antibiotics to get rid of parasites. Are you suggesting diatomaceous as a preventative?

o if the vet gave you a shampoo that ids working keep using it I just said those because with bullies a good shampoo for skin issues is usually just good to have around to keep out of the vets office. same with the pads. culturrelle and align are two good probiotic s and will help with the diarrhea she probably has and yogurt will work but can give some bullies issues from the milk so I hesitate with that. the acv rinse probably I'd not needed if the shampoo is working but something else to keep in mind. the diatomaceous earth or de will fight the parasites from the inside n should help the antibiotic fight them. just a tiny spoonful in something wet a day. parasites can be very hard to get rid of and can require several treatments so whatever well help fight them I would think would be good. the vitamin should only be needed till he is better and on good food. I am on my phone now so hope this makes sense

 

[ddnene]

to EBN Amber!!! You've been given some great advice, I feed Winston Fromm's and it's been great for him.

 

[Ashleym]

Molly is adorable! poor thing had a lot of issues in her short life. You got a lot of great information and advise from everyone above. It can take up to 30 days before the old food will work out of her system and for you to start seeing improvments. I also feed Fromm Pork and Peas and Fergus does great on it. Your a great bully mom who cared enough to ask questions Molly is lucky to have you

 

[Lokismom]

Welcome to you both, I know that you will get some great advice from the other folks on here

 

[ChrisRN]

Amber and Molly. You have gotten some outstanding advice already. I have nothing to add except that Molly is beautiful!

 

[AubreysMom]

[MENTION=9865]MollysMommy[/MENTION] I like to use Salmon Tunalini, but I know a lot here like Pork and Peas. Aubie's allergies acted up with that one, so we stick with the fishy kinds.

 

[MollysMommy]

Aw thank you!!! I just love her so much!! And yes, the advice has been so amazing and so helpful.

Amber and Molly. You have gotten some outstanding advice already. I have nothing to add except that Molly is beautiful!

 

[MollysMommy]

Hi everyone! Just a quick update on my girl.....

We started the Fromm Pork and Peas yesterday. I added a little in with her old food, and for the first time in days, she gobbled all her food down in one sitting. Her poop is looking SO much better, and doesn't smell nearly as bad as it has. I couldn't believe it changed so quickly. I suppose it could also be the antibiotics making it more solid, but there is no way they are making it smell less. Sorry for the TMI, but I'm quite happy about this part.

She seems to be getting back to her happy, playful self, which makes me feel warm and fuzzy....lol.

Thank you all again for the wonderful advice!!!

Amber

 

[MollysMommy]

Thank you Molly is my first bully, and I never knew it possible to love a dog as much as my "human" children, but she has shown me just how possible it is!!

Molly is adorable! poor thing had a lot of issues in her short life. You got a lot of great information and advise from everyone above. It can take up to 30 days before the old food will work out of her system and for you to start seeing improvments. I also feed Fromm Pork and Peas and Fergus does great on it. Your a great bully mom who cared enough to ask questions Molly is lucky to have you

 

[mjtabs2000]

Hi Amber, my name is Lisa and we brought Bella home on July 6th when she was just 8wk old (so our girls are nearly the same age). Pretty soon Bella developed a respiratory tract infection and diarrohea with a small amount of blood present, and this was treated with 3 different lots of antibiotics. At this time she was on a diet of chicken fillets, kibble, and occasionally tinned dog food, but to be honest she will eat anything. Bella also developed a small patch of hair loss on her cheek. After the vet inspected this under an ultraviolet light she said Bella had ringworm, which was treated with Imaverol. The cough and cold cleared up, the diarrohea stopped and the patch of ringworm cleared up and her hair grew back. For a week Bella had no problems, and then she began to lose hair on top of her head and then another patch near her right eye. Thinking it was another case of ringworm I bathed it again in the lotion from the vet, but when this failed to get any better I took her back to the vet who took skin scrapings, and the test results came back as dermodectic mange. Since then we have started bathing her once a week in Aludex lotion, and we have fed her just chicken and tuna. I have also added low fat natural yoghurt into her diet, and she has been started on "Cephacare" antibiotics from the vet. Her patches are starting to look a little better. She has never been ill in herself or off her food, in fact she's full of energy!!!! I just hope we can get on top of her skin and get her back to being our beautiful baby bully!!!! Just wondering now if any other experienced bully owners can recommend anything else?? All help greatly appreciated. xx

 

[brutus77]

Welcome to you and molly. I hope all of the issues you are experiencing will soon disappear. I know what you mean when you say you never knew you could love a dog so much. I have always had labs and I loved them so much ( I still have two) but the day we brought Brutus home Jan. 30th 2013, we have experienced such unconditional love and joy. There really is no other love like the love of a bully! You sound like a great bully mom already and Brutus and I wish you all the best in your journey of crazy bullyness. There really is no better place!!!