Ollie’s Skin: The Saga Continues

~ beetleypete

So many times I have written on this blog about the skin conditions afflicting my poor dog, Ollie. After the last bout cleared up, the fur grew back slowly. But by the end of March, he was looking pretty good. Good enough for other dog-walkers to remark on how well he was looking, and how shiny his coat was.

Then the weather warmed up in May, and he started to moult. Nothing excessive, and to be expected. Just a lot more of his shed fur collected in the vacuum claner. Two weeks ago, he started to smell rather ‘doggy’, and I thought about booking him in for a bath at the groomer’s by the end of June. But while the tiling was being done, I wanted to stay around the house.

Then last week, we got the real mini-heatwave I have mentioned. Ollie started to scratch a lot, and I noticed the fur that had grown back had fallen out again, leaving bald patches of inflamed skin. So today, he had to go back to the Vet yet again.

They have a new procedure for Covid-19 safety, whereby no customers are allowed inside the large building. You telephone on arrival, and let them know you are there. Then a Vet comes to inspect the dog in your car, or outside it, before deciding whether or not he has to take your dog (or cat, or whatever) back inside for treatment. In Ollie’s case, the regular Vet knows him well, and carried out a car-park examination while Ollie stayed on his bed at the back of the car.

Allergies and skin infection was diagnosed, as it has been so many times before. He returned with steroid tablets, antibiotic tablets, and the suggestion that we give Ollie a cheap antihistamine tablet every day of the summer months. I had to come home and pay over the telephone, as he wasn’t letting anyone use the card machine, for fear of infection.

Ollie now has two weeks of tablets, twice a day. We already know they make him extra thirsty, and increase his appetite too. So I will give him slightly bigger dinners while he is on them, and make sure to keep his fresh water filled up.

I phoned as requested, to make a card payment over the phone. £160. Pretty hefty, for ten minutes in a car park.

But he is worth it of course.

73 thoughts on “Ollie’s Skin: The Saga Continues”

    1. Not just the heat, Arlene. Also the pollen in the air, and the long grass and plants that rub him when we are out. The hot weather triggers his fur moult, and that allows things to get on his skin.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Ollie sure has a rough time of it. I’ve read that the Shar-Pei breed is highly susceptible to recurring skin problems, but is the frequency of Ollie’s skin condition typical for the breed? It seems like he hardly gets over one bout before the next one occurs.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. We were lucky this year, according to the Vet. He has had a lot more dogs in with skin problems, and had expected me to appear with Ollie sooner. Apparently the lack of pollution is allowing pollen to spread longer distances, and in greater numbers than ever. I imagine everyone must have had hay fever before the Industrial Revolution! 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  11. I hope the tablets work, as so many say its hard to put a price on your pet\friend\companion.
    We had to have Jackie in to the vets the other month as she had a growth, three visits and few injections and then finally a local aesthetic, a scalpel and a plastic cone for a few weeks along with further antibiotic jabs for three days and she is back on track. £50 all in!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. The neverending saga of our pets goes on. My vet does the same thing and comes out to the car to take my dog in. I like being with my dog—not because I don’t trust the vet, but because I want to see the care she is getting.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Maggie. I know a lady around here who sold her house to pay for an operation for her 9 year-old dog, and downsized to a smaller place. They are family to most of us, after all.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Like

      Reply

  18. Poor doggy! Years ago, I had a cat who suffered like this and he turned out to be allergic to himself, no lie. He spent many happy years on steroids 😸

    Now, I have one who goes to the vet every 2 weeks for a vitamin B-12 shot for gastrointestinal issues and, yes, our furry kids are worth the cost 😃. I hope Ollie will feel better soonest!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Curbside pickup and examinations in a parking lot could spell hard times for landlords who rent the office and shop space that we used to use. None-the-less, I do hope Ollie heals quickly. Warmest regards, Theo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. I hope it clears up soon. Poor Ollie! Oh I know, vet bills. Felix got his vaccine two weeks ago and because of Covid 19 we’ve been separated which was tricky as he doesn’t like his vet very much.
    All the best Pete! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. Our dog Asha, who has since gone over rainbow bridge, had a similar problem. And strangely, Hope now has it occasionally. It is horrible to see great tufts of fur coming out, and a bald patch appear. I hope that Ollie’s sking improves Pete. We hate to see our fur babies suffering.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. Of course, he’s worth it, but the vet bills are hefty indeed. I hope poor Ollie feels better soon. The weather at the moment should ease his problems. What exactly is he allergic to, do you know?
    Best wishes to you all in Beetley and a big pat and a virtual distant hug for Ollie ❤
    from us in Cley,
    Dina

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It is believed to be an allergy to grass pollen that lodges in his skin, Dina. Of course, that makes it likely to get worse every time I take him out. I will give him the pat and hug when he wakes up. 🙂
      Love from Pete and Ollie. X

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Temperatures are back to normal now. I suppose Ollie would object to wearing some sort of a light coat to prevent the pollen contact. At this time of the year I take an antihistamine before I mow the lawn and it works fine. I’m happy to see that the medicine has the same effect on dogs 🐕.
        Light rain in Cley this morning, that’s good for the garden but not nearly like anything what is desperately needed. Xx

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  29. Vet bills… nightmare. Mine is expensive too, but when my dog swallowed something that blocked her gut, she operated on her twice, once on Christmas Eve and once on New Year’s Eve, and saved her life. And the bill was surprisingly reasonable, too. So I pay happily the rest of the time! Hope Ollie feels better soon.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

All comments welcome

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.