Source
r/StandardPoodles•
wasted12

Constant face scratching and flakey skin with my 7mo Standard Poodle

Help

Looking for some advice, my standard poodle recently developed a skin condition which has him rubbing his face constantly with visible white skin flakes coming off. It's occuring on the sides of his snout, near his eyes, and the top of his head.

We've been washing his food and water bowels every day, washing his bedding every week, and washing his face mostly every week but it doesn't seem to be getting better.

Any advice? We're taking him to the Vet this week, but wanted to see if others have dealt with this.

Posted May 18, 2021, 1:31 AM UTC

727
Spoo_lover•

It could be his food. Maybe an allergy to his food or something else with his food

6
AlokFluff•

Could be! Environmental allergies are more likely if it's allergies at all though

4
wasted12OP•

It's on the list of possible options for sure. He's been on this food since he was 3 months old, and this just recently started about a month ago. It's gone from light itching to the constant scratching and flaking skin. This led us to believe its something more recent that changed

3
Spoo_lover•

Allergies can also develop while they are eating something. Keep us updated if u find out what it is

2
wasted12OP•

I will! I'd say changing food is probably the last resort before medication as I've heard about the struggles with mixing up diets before. If you have any suggestions I'm all ears!

2
Spoo_lover•

I know there a special dry skin/ itchy skin shampoos and conditions so maybe try one of those. I can’t recommend any tho because I have never needed to use any

2
Toirneach•

Hay fever! Dogs get seasonal allergies, too. If he has a mild allergy to something in his food it can make the seasonal allergy worse, too... like raising the background level. My girl had issues with corn that we actually didn't notice, but when spring hit.. whew. Her whole face swelled up and her nose dripped and she was miiiserable. By the next year we had swapped to corn free (at her vet's suggestion) and she had a few days of a mildly runny nose and was otherwise herself. The rest of her life we could tell when she had allergies but they were very mild. You're doing the right thing, working with his vet.

2
applejackrr•

I dealt with itchiness with my poodle. He has sensitive skin and is allergic to chicken products. Check to see if he’s allergic to anything in the new food. Check to see what’s different too. Also make sure they do not eat out of plastic. Plastic can cause issues too. I had a cat that was allergic to plastic bowls.

3
chesterfielders•
  1. For the allergies, you can see if your vet will give a prescription for hydrolyzed protein. It's disgusting but it helps clear up the allergies. They break all the proteins into amino acids so they don't cause allergies.
  2. It could be seasonal allergies too
  3. Use non-allergic shampoo

I see a vet dermatologist. Yes, that makes me sound like a dingbat, but the dermatologist really helps.

3
wazwsxedc19•

Don’t feel like a ding bat. My puppy has to see a doggy ophthalmologist next week.

5
spookyj0211•

When I told people I took my dog to the eye doctor they thought i was crazy. It was worth it

1
wazwsxedc19•

What was going on with your pup if you don’t mind me asking?

2
spookyj0211•

Sure. She had “pink eye” on and off for about 5 months starting at 6 months old. I couldn’t determine a specific cause and no other dogs at my complex were getting it so I knew something was up. Eventually we were referred to an eye specialist and it turns out she has deep pocket syndrome. Basically, due to the shape of her head and where her eyes sit in the socket, it’s difficult for stuff to drain out. It builds up until it eventually comes out as nasty pink eye looking stuff. There’s really no treatment because my Lola’s wasn’t allergy related, so I now get her a haircut that keeps all the hair away from her eyes and wipe away any signs of discharge immediately. Probably more than you’re asking, but it’s common in dobermans and poodles and presents when they start to reach full head size

1
snappykitty•

It's most likely something already mentioned in this thread (food allergy, regular spring allergies, etc.) But if you have tried addressing those and the itching/flaky skin is still a problem, you may want to ask your vet about Sebaceous Adenitis. It's a skin condition that poodles can get. My standard has it, and it took us a year to get a diagnosis. We treat it pretty easily now with supplements and a special shampoo.

3
AlokFluff•

Do you keep his face shaved? How are you washing his face?

2
wasted12OP•

We don't keep his face shaved, more of a teddy bear cut. About 2 weeks ago when we noticed the itching starting to get really bad we had him cut down to 1/4" all over, including his face. Hasn't changed anything. Still isn't a typical shaved poodle face, but pretty close

Regarding washing we're just using Burt's bees tearless puppy shampoo with a washcloth to try and help exfoliate/clean. Then washing it out with strategic water pours. Try not to do full head washes to stay clear of the ears to prevent a worse problem.

2
AlokFluff•

I really think you should stop washing his face so much, it cannot be helping. Overwashing often takes away the natural oils of the skin and makes problems like these worse, especially with sensitive skin.

How are you drying it? If it stays damp for any period of time it might also be making it worse.

6
wasted12OP•

We've only done it twice in the past 2 weeks, and I agree it doesn't seem to be helping. I don't think we'll do it again. Drying is getting tough, we use the hairdryer without heat. With his short hair it didn't take long the first time, but it's growing fast and we didn't get him as dry as I would have preferred yesterday when we washed him.

We don't have the grooming tools and he's very unhappy with it, so holding him is near impossible when he's had enough.

2
Janezo•

If by “our soap” you mean soap formulated for humans, you should use only shampoo (etc) made for dogs. Human soaps, shampoos and conditioners are the wrong pH for dogs.

The timeframe in which the skin issues developed is suggestive of an environmental allergy, though of course it could be another issue entirely. If your vet can’t get a good solution after some trial and error, consider a veterinary dermatologist. That specialist was the only one who figured out that our youngest spoo has an allergy to grass.

1
wasted12OP•

That was a mistake, I updated the post, but the soap is Burt's bees tearless puppy shampoo.

Thank you for the advice. We were curious about the possibility of grass as spring as brought the tall lawns/weeds recently. He was mostly dealing with a blanket of snow from months 2-5 when outside.

What did you end up doing to help the grass allergy for your youngest?

3
Janezo•

He takes a prescription allergy medication starting in March and ending when we’ve had a few frosts in October or November.

2
applejackrr•

Sounds like an allergic reaction. I posted on here what my options of changing were for my dog.

1
warped-cuttingboard•

Could be your laundry detergent.

2
wasted12OP•

This is something to look into, thanks for the suggestion

1
jocularamity•

If it's only in that one spot, my hunch is something that touches that skin. Shampoo not fully rinsed, or fur was long and trapped moisture and now there's fungus or yeast, sensitive to the soap you use to wash the food dish, or to the dish itself (try glass).

If it's all over him, my hunch is a. Environmental allergy (laundry detergent, cleaners, pollen, dust), b. Food poorly balanced (not the right ratios of oils etc), or c. food allergy.

Getting the vet to do a skin scraping sounds like a good early step. See if there's something like yeast or fungus or mites etc.

Until you talk to the vet, I would personally lay off of any and all soap or shampoo in those areas, and only wash laundry in fragrance free detergent.

2
wazwsxedc19•

What does your vet say?

1
whydoyouflask•

Purina proplan sensitive skin and stomach, also make aure you switch to a colloidal oatmeal shampoo this should help soothe the skin.

1