Ripley has a weird skin/coat thing going on, and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what it might be. It started near the base of his tail, and has gradually moved up his whole back. His skin looks super dry and flaky in a not-dandruffy kind of way. He has a weird icky smell and the flakes are kind of greyish brown and while not huge, they're relatively big compared to normal dandruff. His coat feels kind of greasy to the touch as well in those areas, and his hair looks thinner to me (but likely wouldn't to somebody who doesn't see him everyday). I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago and I gave him a bath because he smelled disgusting (kind of sweaty feet like I guess), which probably made him drier, but I couldn't stand the smell anymore. He's been really itchy too in not only that area, but also his chest, flanks and armpits (though there is no visible problem there). He could just be scratching those areas because he's frustrated and can't reach his back properly.
The only thing that's changed is that I started giving him fish oil at the end of September, but I've given it to him in the past and I think he was fine (it was a different kind though). Do you think it could be an allergy or something to that? I've stopped giving it to him now to see if it clears up, but it's been a few days and there is no noticeable change yet. I've made him a vet appointment for next Thursday as I am stumped as to what this could be. I've seen dry skin before, and this just doesn't seem quite like dry skin. And the smell that comes with it is weird if it was just dry skin too I would think. My mom thinks maybe it's a yeast infection, but I thought those mainly affected ears and bum areas and he is fine in those areas. I don't normally go to the vet for every little thing, but this is gross and I don't know what to do to clear it up. Has anyone else heard of anything like this before or experienced it for themselves? I remember when he was about 9 or 10 months old he had something similar but it was accompanied with hives and a rash, and it cleared up with a food/protein source change. Other than that particular instance, we've never had dogs with skin issues until now so I am pretty clueless.
The only thing that's changed is that I started giving him fish oil at the end of September, but I've given it to him in the past and I think he was fine (it was a different kind though). Do you think it could be an allergy or something to that? I've stopped giving it to him now to see if it clears up, but it's been a few days and there is no noticeable change yet. I've made him a vet appointment for next Thursday as I am stumped as to what this could be. I've seen dry skin before, and this just doesn't seem quite like dry skin. And the smell that comes with it is weird if it was just dry skin too I would think. My mom thinks maybe it's a yeast infection, but I thought those mainly affected ears and bum areas and he is fine in those areas. I don't normally go to the vet for every little thing, but this is gross and I don't know what to do to clear it up. Has anyone else heard of anything like this before or experienced it for themselves? I remember when he was about 9 or 10 months old he had something similar but it was accompanied with hives and a rash, and it cleared up with a food/protein source change. Other than that particular instance, we've never had dogs with skin issues until now so I am pretty clueless.
