We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Cooper's skin has been so itchy and dry with this cold weather that he has been scratching his face, his eyes and knawing on his paws. So yesterday DH went out and baught him dog booties. He hates them but it keeps him from ripping apart his handsome face when he scratches and from chewing on his paws.

We've been giving him Benadryl, but we don't want to rely on that completely. And we've been bathing him with his Epi-Sooth shampoo weekly.

I'm just venting, but our poor little guy just can't cut a break

UPDATE:
Cooper is off to the vet today.

While the booties work great while we're home to supervise him, when we're gone he's able to get them off his feet and scratch away. Well, yesterday he put a huge gash in his handsome little face... so enough is enough. DH is taking him to the vet today (he'll leave work early so while Coop's home he's wearing a cone and is very p!ssed off).

Hopefully he'll be able to do something to help my poor little bubby get more comfortable in his skin.

Message edited 12/4/2008 12:34:23 PM.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

You should give the vet a call and see if they can recommend something. I've been addition fish oil, vitamin E and canola oil to Brinkley's food. It seems to be working.

I have Epi-Soothe too but maybe you could cut back on the shampooing to allow the oils in his skin to hang around longer?

I'm sorry he's uncomfortable. Good call with the booties - I might be doing the same soon too!

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Good advice with the fish oil and what-have-you.

The weekly baths were actually a reccomendation from the vet so that's why we do that.

It sucks bc there is only ONE vet dermatologist on LI and her hours are TERRIBLE!! (8-3 mon-fri... ugh!).
THANKS!!!

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

We were having problems with this also.
Our vet gave us Skin Formula 3V caps.
It looks like a vitamin 3 pill. I pucture a hole in it and spread it on his food at least once a day.
It has helped A LOT!

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

We just got back from the vet and she told us to continue doing the fish oil and vitamin E but that the canola oil probably wasn't necessary.

We do 600mg of omega 3 fish oil (that's 2 1000mg tablets from Costco) and 400 i.u. of vitamin E per day. Apparently, higher levels of fish oil can prevent a dog from absorbing vitamin E.

But Brinkley is 68 pounds, just a liiiiiittle bit bigger than yours.

We got a plastic collar to prevent him from scratching his neck but he TOTALLY freaked out when they tried to put it on him. Where did you get the bootie from and how does it tie on? He doesn't try to rip it off his foot?

Message edited 11/30/2008 10:24:41 AM.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Posted by greenfreak

We just got back from the vet and she told us to continue doing the fish oil and vitamin E but that the canola oil probably wasn't necessary.

We do 600mg of omega 3 fish oil (that's 2 1000mg tablets from Costco) and 400 i.u. of vitamin E per day. Apparently, higher levels of fish oil can prevent a dog from absorbing vitamin E.

But Brinkley is 68 pounds, just a liiiiiittle bit bigger than yours.

We got an e-collar to prevent him from scratching his neck but he TOTALLY freaked out when they tried to put it on him. Where did you get the bootie from and how does it tie on? He doesn't try to rip it off his foot?

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Thanks! I'm taking a trip to Michael's in a few and there's a Petco next door. I'll see if they have them.

Btw, I said "e-collar" in my last post which is what the vet called it - but I've also heard people refer to those electric shock collars as e-collars. That's not what we got! It's actually a plastic cone. I altered my post but you quoted me before I did, so I wanted to explain. I'd never put a shock collar on Brinkley.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Posted by greenfreak

Thanks! I'm taking a trip to Michael's in a few and there's a Petco next door. I'll see if they have them.

Btw, I said "e-collar" in my last post which is what the vet called it - but I've also heard people refer to those electric shock collars as e-collars. That's not what we got! It's actually a plastic cone. I altered my post but you quoted me before I did, so I wanted to explain. I'd never put a shock collar on Brinkley.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

I'm glad the booties are working for you! We weren't so lucky, I'm bringing them back. We got them on his one foot and he turned in circles trying to get it off and was successful, every time. Regardless of how tight I did the velcro. He thought it was a toy and tried to eat them.

We cut up a pair of cloth shorts and put it around his neck to cover the bare spot. It just sags down and exposes it again. It's so high up on the neck, it's a really awkward spot.

It looks like it's going to have to be the cone. More freaking out to come! Sigh.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Awww, poor Brinkley. Sounds like he has a really bad hot spot.

Cooper tried to get the booties off at first too... then we kind of swaddled him like a baby (it's actually funny and I took a picture.. I'll post it!) and that worked like a charm. But Cooper is a whopping 22lbs so he's a little easier to get wrapped up in a blanket and stay there.


Here's Coop with the booties on... it's kind of funny, but we try not to laugh at him (sorry for the crappy picture.. it's from DH's cell phone... but at least you can tell he's winking at the camera!)


And here's Coop all swaddled for bed so that he doesn't try to chew his botties.

Message edited 12/1/2008 10:45:55 AM.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Ooooh my God that is ADORABLE!! He looks like he's snug, and smiling in the second picture!

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Oh no poor Coop!!!! He sleeps wrapped up like that?

Brutus is also constantly scratching and chewing himself maybe we should look into that.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

cooper is such a ladies man. Those booties are HOT

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

coopy!!!!!!!!!! Aww, poor baby - LOVE the swaddle!!!

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Bump for small update.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

so sorry to hear the update - i hope he feels better soon!!

Brutus is going tomorrow too bc he is rubbing his legs raw

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Aw, Cooper

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Looks like we're all struggling right now.

I'm sorry that wasn't the answer for him. If it helps, I found a fabric/soft cone is easier for Brinkley to deal with. I got a cheap fabric one from the vet which is tattered but it keeps him from scratching overnight and while in his crate. He even lets me put it on without having to restrain him.

I ordered the Comfy Cone from Amazon and it shipped the same day. I don't have it yet though. From talking to a lot of people with the same issues, they said it's a Godsend. I hope so.

Most stores in our area don't carry it, I've tried Pet Supplies Plus and Petco. I think online is pretty much the only option. This is the official product website and there's a video about it. It looks pretty great.

I hope you can find a solution, I'm really sorry Cooper is suffering.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Thanks everyone!

The vet gave us some antibiotics and strick intructions on 2 20 minute baths a week.

Next week we have an appt. with his internist so we'll discuss food options that will help the skin issues but won't hurt his sensitive little belly.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Posted by CoopersMom01

Thanks everyone!

The vet gave us some antibiotics and strick intructions on 2 20 minute baths a week.

Next week we have an appt. with his internist so we'll discuss food options that will help the skin issues but won't hurt his sensitive little belly.

Re: We had to buy booties for Cooper. UPDATE

Have you ever read the Epi-Soothe instructions? It says to lather and leave it on for about 10 minutes I think? I guess there are oils in the shampoo that need to absorb into his skin to do the job.

I never read the instructions till yesterday.

By the way, I got the Comfy Cone today - 2 days after the order. It's awesome.