My last post left off talking about Apoquel for Yuki’s allergies. I’d never ordered medication by mail, and I had no idea how long the process was going to take. From ordering to my front door, it took three weeks by the time I received the prescription. Unfortunately for Yuki (but fortunately for me), I had a long trip to Panama scheduled in January. I didn’t want to start her on a new medication and be out of the country if there was an adverse reaction.
Image from Howling Dog Alaska.
I had however started her on a multivitamin/probiotic blend before I left and switched her to a different dog food. Because I’m a crazy dog lady, while I was in Panama I was constantly thinking about my pup. After spending the day in the sun, I was relaxing in bed researching dog health topics. I found a forum post about zinc deficiency. The poster had said that the Zinc-responsive dermatosis, ZRD for short, manifested in her dog’s paws, not on her face like it traditionally presents. She mentioned a product called Nutrazinc that helped her dog. I ordered Howling Dogs Alaska’s Nutrazinc right away!
When I returned home from Panama her paws were looking less inflamed, but there were still sores. I started giving her Nutrazinc right away. To see if the product was going to help, I decided to wait a couple weeks before starting medication. She’s been on it now for about a month and a half. I have her dose doubled from the daily maintenance dose.
It’s a miracle! Her sores are all dried up!
They don’t burst open, and they aren’t growing. She still has scabby spots on her paws, but they are hardly noticeable unless you are scouting them out.
I’m so amazed at the improvements!
When it comes to her funky tail spot goes, I did buy a detachable shower head just for washing my dog. I hate to admit it, but I’m still not diligent about washing her tail. It is just such an ordeal every time. I have washed it about once a week, but don’t really see much of an improvement with the specks on her skin. The hair seems to be growing back though, so I will have to be better about washing her more often. I dread it.
If you never hear from me again, Yuki ate me in my sleep for giving her so many baths. On the plus side her tail will probably be better.
