Hi Grace,
Thanks for your question and thank you for listening to the show. I greatly appreciate it.
I strongly recommend you visit your veterinarian for a consultation and examination to determine the cause of any skin condition that your dog is experiencing. The other caller you speak of described a situation that matches the symptoms of seborrhea which is the excessive production of oily secretions typically found along the top of the back of dogs. It is also important to know that there are often concurrent conditions contributing to skin lesions that may or may not include bacterial infection, yeast infection, ectoparasites, underlying metabolic conditions, nutritional deficiencies and/or allergic skin disease. I didn’t offer a brand name for the shampoo as my license restricts me from endorsing a specific product or service. I told the caller that she could discuss the possibility of seborrhoea with her veterinarian and if using an anti-seborrheic shampoo would be a recommended treatment trial. Again, this could be the wrong treatment for your dog’s condition. It is a common mistake that owners can make when they assume what is going on in another dog is the same problem they are dealing with. Many different diseases can manifest similar symptoms to promote this confusion so it is important that you base your decision on the result of a physical exam with your veterinarian.
I wish you all the best.
Dr. Clayton Greenway
