**Christar**

Re: **Christar**

• christar2000

  November 2009

  Yes, thanks so much for asking.  Although I had called to make the appointment to get his bite checked- tuesday and wednesday I had noticed he wasn't eating as much and had a bit of a drooly nose so I figured that while I was at the vet I would ask her to take a look at him overall, and see about those symptoms.  While I was in the waiting room I was petting him and noticed a bump on his head that was all pink.  So I was pretty much just totally anxious to see the vet and unload on her all of my worries (luckily she is super nice and understanding of how much anxiety I have because of what had happened to Yuri our Boxer that we had lost.)  So it turns out that his bite looks just fine, but he has kennel cough AND mites.  This is the second time he has had kennel cough the poor little guy.  I have never had to deal with mites before so I am going to have to look up information on them.  We came home armed with antibiotics and a cream for the spots he has the mites.  Of course I stopped at the store to get bananas for him...those are his favorite! 
  

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• Rock-n-Voll

  November 2009

  Oh my goodness, poor Luka!  I hope he's better soon!

  I'd rather be rock climbing or playing volleyball
  

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• christar2000

  November 2009

  Thanks.  I was just looking up the information on mites.  Have you ever dealt with them?  It says that once the dog's immune system is weakened then mites become a problem--otherwise they just live on the dog unnoticed.  I am trying to find out if once the dog has them if it is a reoccurring problem.  Our boxer never had a mite problem so I feel like I just don't know anything about it.
  

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• jCamsquared

  November 2009

  ::butting in::

  Poor Luka!!! I don't have any advice for the mites, but I hope you get them taken care of and he gets rid of the cough soon!

  

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• christar2000

  November 2009

  Thanks J.  I just called the place he goes to doggie daycare at to let them know that he has kennel cough....hopefully he has not infected another dog.  I also want to know what their policy is for the vaccination because this is the second time he has got kennel cough....the first time was when he was just a baby and we were going into the vet to get his vaccination...he already had it then.  I am not sure how common that is....our dog Yuri never got it. 
  

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• PunkyBooster member

  

  November 2009

  Yikes!

  KC vaccine only covers a few strains- like the flu vaccine. I find it an utterly worthless vaccine myself and hate giving it, but must to board her. I used to give it to her and one year, she got 4 different strains of KC from foster dogs! Useless! I do prefer the intranasal if your vet will give you a choice- I do think it works better than the shot does.

  As for mites, what kind does he have (I may have missed it) Some of the shelter dogs have gotten them, they have gone away after treatment. Poor Luka. We deal with more mange than mites, but at times, they go hand in hand.

  ETA- KC is very common, it's a doggy cold. The thing is, once one dog has it, it spreads like the plague. It is so contagious. 
  

   

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• christar2000

  November 2009

  PunkyBooster:

  Yikes!

  KC vaccine only covers a few strains- like the flu vaccine. I find it an utterly worthless vaccine myself and hate giving it, but must to board her. I used to give it to her and one year, she got 4 different strains of KC from foster dogs! Useless! I do prefer the intranasal if your vet will give you a choice- I do think it works better than the shot does.

  As for mites, what kind does he have (I may have missed it) Some of the shelter dogs have gotten them, they have gone away after treatment. Poor Luka. We deal with more mange than mites, but at times, they go hand in hand.

  ETA- KC is very common, it's a doggy cold. The thing is, once one dog has it, it spreads like the plague. It is so contagious. 
  

   

  Thanks Punky.  I was hoping for some feedback from you.  It is a relief to hear that kennel cough is so common.  I will ask the vet about the intranasal version of the vaccine.  I am not sure what kind of mites he has.  She just told me that the mites were most probably bothering him because he has kennel cough and gave me a topical ointment to put on the little spots (which I think is mange according to the photos I looked up on the internet) he has.  I am taking him back next Friday for a follow up.   I know German Shepherds often have skin issues so I am wondering if mange is common?  I am going to be armed with a ton of questions when I go back Friday.  Unfortunately after the vet took a look at Luka she got called on an emergency and so we only got to talk to the vet tech. 
  

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• PunkyBooster member

  

  November 2009

  I don't think you'll need to worry too much about mange-

  But, if he has skin irritations, it could be a few things- one thing I rec to those thick coated dog owners is a rake to brush them with. It really pulls out that undercoat and keeps the dead hair off of them.

  Also, food allergies or sensitivities can irritate skin. A good rule of thumb is to go by this website www.dogfoodanalysis.com and shoot for a 4-6 star food. I noticed a huge improvement in my dog's skin when I eliminated certain ingredients from her diet. 

  I hope he perks up over the weekend!
  

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