Buster the Wonder Dog And Fish Oil

by pam
(tampa, fl, usa)

Hi. We have always called our black Pug "Buster, the Wonder Dog" because it's just funny. He has survived a severe reaction to his one year rabies booster that almost killed him (he is now 7) and has always had issues with allergies, paw licking, dandruff and painful scabby sores on his skin. These are worse, of course, in heat and we live in Florida.

He also suffers from arthritis and has been off and on somewhat limpy in front and to top things off, has had chronic UTI's and urinary crystals (both struvite and oxalate, which I have been told - don't recall which one - is not common for a male dog, although I had one other Pug - a female - who suffered from crystals, too.).

Poor Buster! He also seems to have become sort of "autistic" after his live rabies vaccine reaction and unlearned the many tricks he used to know. But throughout all of it, Buster has the sweetest disposition and his funny face, with a partially always protruding tongue, just warms your day.

Since he is limited to prescription food for his urinary issues (which have been now long under control, happily) we were struggling with cracking the code for his other health problems, primarily his skin and allergy problems.

It was a very long process of trial and elimination, but he is doing GREAT and has been so healthy now for almost a year. Just last year at this time his incessant itching and butt dragging and licking was driving us all nuts. We tried to groom him/brush him and found these bleeding, crusty sores all over him under his coat. The vet prescribed a special shampoo which we had to wash him with every other day for several months, and then once a month. EACH TIME the shampoo had to sit on him for at least ten minutes. The vet thought we might have to do this forever. It did seem to help, but we do some travel and board him (with his Pug "brother" Gus, who by the way is totally healthy with none of Buster's issues) so washing him constantly was no possible and he was miserable otherwise. Did I also mention his breath was horrible and his ears always red and painful AND eyes weepy? What a mess.

This is what we figured out to do for Buster and he is the picture of health now!

1/2 c. of his Hills C/D food (this can't change, although it isn't otherwise the best food in the world) mixed with two 500 mg Glucosamine w/MSM, 2 tablespooons premium wet food, usually Wellness CORE, Clenz-a-dent powder (for breath and plaque removal), and one 1000 mg Fish Oil capsule, cut open into the food. I mix this up with warm water and he acts like he's eating a steak! Loves it! That is his a.m. feeding.

At night he gets the wet and dry food mixed with one more Glucosamine cap (it's powdered so it mixes right in). He ALSO gets one Previcox for his arthritis and one Benadryl (these get wrapped up in a small bit of wet food in the morning). His eyes cleared up and the whites are WHITE, his ears are not red and sore looking, he doesn't itch and lick like crazy anymore and he has a GORGEOUS shiny black coat with not a bit of dandruff. The sores are gone.

This is quite a process and a lot of stuff, but it works. I know people who are going nuts trying to help their itchy, miserable dogs. When there are multiple health issues it is very difficult to figure out how to help them. I also have found out that dogs have a very limited blood supply to their skin and once they get an allergy it is very difficult to get antihistamines to the surface for itch relief. So year round, now that he does well with benadryl, he gets one every day along with everything else.

But the huge element to his health is the Fish Oil daily. Gus gets one too (and a cranberry supplement and the glucosamine) with his Castor and Pollux UltraMix and a little wet food. We DO have hard water here, and although we have a water softener, I want to prevent the UTI issues with him. This all sounds complicated but it isn't once you figure it all out. Take a look at our boys!

Answer:

I am very glad to hear your "boys" are doing great....