I think it is important to start from the inside out . The first thing I would want to ask you would be diet? What is he eating? then...bathing...how often do you bathe and what do you use? There are many dogs that are or can become allergic to grains and that can cause many skin issues. So...look at your food. Start with possibly changing that to a no grain, no dairy, no soy, low sugar diet. There are many commercial foods out there...Taste of the Wild, EVO, Orejin, etc that are grain free and good kibbles. We personally switched to raw feeding about a year ago and it has shown tremendous changes in both skin and coat isssues as well as teeth, and other things.
Then...with being partially hairless know that your Chi can have real issues with the sun. Most hairless dogs need to be bathed way more often than those with coats as their fur isn't there to protect their skin from dirt and oils that can cause pimples and rashes. I would bathe at least once a week and apply a nice lotion with sunblock everyday. Use a mild shampoo designed for sensitive skin...unfortunately this is really an area where you get what you pay for...the good shampoos are costly but the upside is you don't need that much for a Chi. Those would be just the first places I would start to make changes and see what happens...giving yourself about a month or so to see results. Then...a vet who specializes in dermatology might be a good avenue to pursue. They are difficult to find but they are out there...and worth your time and expense as regular vets get little to no training concerning skin issues. Just my thoughts...at least it gives you possibly a jumping off place. Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable,Madison and Caleb and honorary non-dog members of The Dog Park: Stella-Macaw, Stanley-Amazon, Miles the cat www.joys4toys.com ________________________________ From: mdsecty <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 5:42:44 PM Subject: [Chihuahuas] My baby Belle I have a 3 year old, partially hairless 3lb. blue Chi. We adopted her about 1 year ago. She seems to have a skin issue and I was wondering if anyone can help. She develops small cyst-like pimples on her skin. They hang around for a long time. Also, she has devloped a small round swelling at the base of her ear. Does anyone have a similar problem with their Chi? any advice? We love our baby!
