Staph Infection OR What?

[bluediamond]

My year old chow chow has some kind of skin problem. I am asking my question here to see if anyone who has a chow that has or had a skin problem like my pup. Little pimple like forms underneath the skin with pus then breaks open to form a scaly scab. It is not all over the body, just around the back of the neck down his spine, and perhaps one or two here and there. His vet started treating him three weeks ago with Clavamox for the next six weeks for a staph infection. However, the vet checked him yesterday and was not happy with the results the first three weeks of antibiotics. Seems it didn't do anything. Per the vet, my puppy is eating only fish and kibbles with a little salmon oil in it. (fish is Telapia or Salmon). The kibbles are herring and sweet potato. He eats yogurt for his snack. That is it. No grain. He is also having a bath every week for the next six weeks also per the vet. The groomer bathe him with Mega-Tek shampoo by EQYSS. Is this a good shampoo or should I be using something else for the skin, i.e. something with tar in it? I think the vet mentioned a tar shampoo. But the vet is aware of the shampoo I am presently bathing him with and didn't say if it was a bad idea. Anyone has any experience with this? Anyone can shade some light on what I can do? -----On another note: my puppy also had a distemper shot yesterday and today he is rather sleepy and slughish. Is this normal? OR is he just being lazy since it is raining outside and gloomy?

[kiwani]

Little pimple like forms underneath the skin with pus then breaks open to form a scaly scab. It is not all over the body, just around the back of the neck down his spine, and perhaps one or two here and there.

However, the vet checked him yesterday and was not happy with the results the first three weeks of antibiotics. Seems it didn't do anything.

The bumps might be keratin cysts in the sebaceous glands, and you might also research follicular keratosis and related keratin disorders, especially if your Chow is a dilute color. The long term use of antibiotics not only weakens the gut immune system, it also *interferes* with vitamins, minerals, hormones, some of which are involved in regulating the sebaceous glands.

That is it. No grain.

Whole grains contain important micronutrients, needed by the body and immune system, plus valuable nutrients such as vitamin e, etc.

The groomer bathe him with Mega-Tek shampoo by EQYSS. Is this a good shampoo or should I be using something else for the skin, i.e. something with tar in it?

If it contains triclosan, that chemical is linked with adverse effects. Rather than trying to maintain a sterile bubble around your Chow, in my opinion it's better to build-up the immune system.

my puppy also had a distemper shot yesterday and today he is rather sleepy and slughish. Is this normal? OR is he just being lazy since it is raining outside and gloomy?

The antibiotics would have had a negative effect on his immune system. Dogs who are ailing in any way, and on medication, shouldn't be vaccinated.

[bluediamond]

Thanks for your response. I will check for keratin cysts on the internet. What is done for this in dogs? I just need to get a grip on this as soon as possible. Any suggestions for shampoos?

[kiwani]

I will check for keratin cysts on the internet. What is done for this in dogs? I just need to get a grip on this as soon as possible. Any suggestions for shampoos?

Also take a look at keratin cysts in humans, just use the keywords
"milia cysts" and see if those resemble the bumps your Chow has. The treatment for those includes topical retinoid creams, (which increases skin turn-over eliminating the trapped keratin bumps), and drying agents such as benzoil peroxide, etc. While you *are* providing vitamin A in the diet, (similar skin effect as retinoid creams) the antibiotics do interfere with vitamin A, so it's like being trapped spinning your wheels in the mud - fix one thing, break another.

The keratin cysts do ooze a 'cheesy' matter (keratin), and can become inflamed. I'll try to posts some excerpts, later on today...

[bluediamond]

Thanks again Kiwani,

This sounds exactly what my puppy may have. I am wondering why the vet did not indicate this. I hate vet hopping, but I had one original vet for him who said my pup had seborrhea dermatitis and only wanted to treat this with shampoos. We tried it to no avail. We were highly recommended to his present vet whom we've only had for three weeks. He said my pup has a staph infection and therefore is treating him for that for the next three weeks. We shall see what happens on his present regiment and if he is not improved, I will have a heart to heart talk with him before spending anymore money. I will address the "cysts" as well as possible "follicula keratosis". Something has to be done about this. I will also continue his weekly shampooing for the next three weeks and also see what happens with that.
I would like to learn more about this condition. You mentioned a drying agent, but wouldn't that continue to dry out his skin? When the lil bumps burst, it leaves a crusty agent and the skin around it is dry. I've been spraying some efa Hylyt on the affected areas. It's just a bath oil with essential fatty acids. It's hypoallergenic and is also a moisturizer.

Thanks again for all your help.

[kiwani]

...I would like to learn more about this condition. You mentioned a drying agent, but wouldn't that continue to dry out his skin? When the lil bumps burst, it leaves a crusty agent and the skin around it is dry. I've been spraying some efa Hylyt on the affected areas. It's just a bath oil with essential fatty acids....

I'm trying to find one holistic reference site for you, containing most of the information needed to discuss this with your vet, rather than posting several different excerpts.

The 'drying agent' (such as the retinoids, etc.) is just spot-applied to the keratin cysts, to help drain them, and to help prevent secondary infections, such as yeasts, etc. There is *always* staph and yeast populations living on the skin, but the immune system usually keeps them in check. Medications can upset the healthful balance of the skin though, as well as weakening the immune system overall.

As already mentioned, the antibiotics interfere with vitamins, minerals, etc., including the ones needed for healthy skin function, such as
vitamin A, B-complex, zinc, etc. Vitamin A plays a role in keratin production, and research shows that a vitamin A deficiency is linked with keratin cysts. Vitamin A is also needed for moisture retention in the skin, and it's also important for a healthy coat. If the diet is deficient in other nutrients, that can cause the vitamin A to become unavailable. It's important to have a well balanced diet, with several protein sources, and *not* restrict certain groups like whole grains, fruits/vegetables, eggs, etc. A restricted diet, in addition to meds which interfere with vitamins, can leave your Chow with deficiencies. Probiotics are also vital to the immune system, especially when meds have been prescribed.

I'll be back later on...

[bluediamond]

Thanks again. This is all helpful information. The vet is isolating his diet to find the source of allergies. The special diet he is on is to weed out what he might be allergic to . He has three more weeks to go on this diet. However, I am giving him yogurt everyday, salmon oil in his food, and the missing links for any nutrients he may be losing. But then again, you said the antibiotics will kill those. Oh well, I am in a damn if you do and damn if you don't situation. What does one do? I must say that today, he has form a few more of those under the skin lesions and I had to take him to the emergency hospital this afternoon because he was coughing and trying to catch his breath. The vet there told us he had what you call an "invert cough" caused by an allergy. He was otherwise fine upon further examination especially with the lungs. He gave him some bendryl which relieved him quite a bit. I want to discuss what we have discussed and what the vet at the hospital said with his vet on Monday. Again, thanks for all the information. I will return to the board to see if you found other info for me.

aG

[kiwani]

I had to take him to the emergency hospital this afternoon because he was coughing and trying to catch his breath. The vet there told us he had what you call an "invert cough" caused by an allergy.

With this new development, I've revised the excerpts to include the mucus membranes. Vitamin A deficiency does play a role in forming keratin cysts, and it also affects keratin in the mucus membranes, leaving the membranes more vulnerable to irritants, etc. That may be what's going on with the breathing/allergies.


Excerpts:

"While the vitamin A we obtain from food comes in many different forms, these can be divided into two main types - pre-formed vitamin A and provitamin A. Pre-formed vitamin A which is often in the form of retinol or retinal, is found in foods of animal origin (such as cod liver oil, beef liver, some seafood, butter, whole milk and egg yolks. It is sometimes added to milk.) Provitamin A is the name given to around 50 compounds in a group of plant pigments known as carotenes (or carotenoids), with beta carotene being the best known of these.


Vitamin A is vital for the formation of healthy epithelial cells. These cells cover the internal and external surfaces of the body and are found in the skin, lungs,...etc. Many epithelial cells produce mucus which is necessary to lubricate body surfaces and protect against invading micro-organisms.



Protection against infection:

Known as 'the anti-infective vitamin', vitamin A plays an essential role in protecting your body from infection. It keeps body surfaces healthy so they can act as barriers to invading micro-organisms. Vitamin A stimulates and enhances many immune functions including antibody response and the activity of various white blood cells such as T helper cells and phagocytes. This immune-enhancing function promotes healing of infected tissues and increases resistance to infection.


Skin:

Prolonged deficiency leads to thickened dry skin which is prone to infections. Small hardened bumps of a protein known as keratin may develop around the hair follicles.

http://www.vitamin-update.com/definition.cfm/id/1.html




Excerpt: Mucus membranes

"Vitamin A supports the mucous-secreting cells of the internal mucous membranes. Mucus protects these membranes from infection and irritants. When vitamin A is deficient, these internal epithelial cells secrete a protein (keratin) commonly found externally in hair and nails. This keratinization process makes the epithelial cells harder and dryer and thus less protecting."

http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=1923&xcntr=4

[bluediamond]

This is so informant. I truly appreciate all this information. I am printing this out and as I said before, I will speak with the vet first thing tomorrow morning with all of this information so we can get to the bottom of my little puppy's situation. The vitamin A seems to be just what he needs and while giving the antibiotics, it will deplete the vitamins. So my vet and I will talk and I will let you know the conclusion. Again, many thanks so much.


aG

[kiwani]

I tried posting excerpts from this veterinary link below, but the copy/paste prevents my post from getting submitted to this forum. See the section titled cysts, nevi, and keratoses. It includes technical info on keratin cysts...

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedi ... &O=Generic

[kiwani]

This link is probably the best resource so far, but I'm unable to post excerpts to this forum. Focus on the Vitamin A mentioned through the page...keratin, crusting, etc.

Link: Dermatoses, Nutritionally Responsive
https://app.vetconnect.com/5min/data/05100511.htm