I'm writing to tell you about my Airedale, Muffin. She is 9 years old. We got her from the Humane Society over 6 years ago when she was hit by a car on a four lane highway. I was a member of the Humane Society and agreed to take her as a foster dog until she recovered and a home could be found. The healing process was estimated to be about three months, because a pin was inserted in her right front leg. This happened in February of 1990, and, due to complications, the pin was not removed until June. By that time, giving her up was out of the question.
    She was a happy, healthy dog with no problems whatsoever until March, 1995. She had a large cyst on her side which had to be removed. At the same time, while at the vet, she was given her DHL Parvo Corona shot. About two weeks later she began to itch and scratch; her ears became scaly, especially around the edges.
    I took her back in April and my vet diagnosed the ear problem as flies biting her ears. He gave me some salve to use. She got progressively worse, itching and scratching constantly. On each additional visit she was given various antihistamines, prednisolone, etc. Nothing helped. The diagnosis was 'allergies.' I was told to try changing her food, which I did. She had a thyroid profile, a skin scrape, cephalexin, Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone) injections, baytril, diphenhydramine, and finally they suggested I take her to Ohio State University vet clinic.
    By this time she had lost about 60% of her hair, her skin was raw and bleeding; she had scratched her ears until they were so raw she left bloody marks if she would lay down on the carpet. I had to take her collar off because anything that even touched her skin made it bleed. She was so sick she wouldn't go outside except to take care of business, and she immediately cried to get back in. All she wanted to do was lay under the kitchen table or go down in the basement where it was cool or quiet. Day and night, I could hear her scratching and biting at herself.
    Sometimes she would cry when she touched a particularly raw or sore spot. I put some herbal salve on her and tried to daub aloe vera juice on her with a cotton pad. I sat on the floor many times just trying to comfort her, and each time she would look at me like she was saying 'Please help me.' I read every magazine and every book trying to find an answer.
    In October, I took her to a vet about 45 miles from home. He practiced as a regular vet, as well as doing holistic medicine. For 2 months he worked on her, trying to build her back up. (At this point she had lost weight.) He put her on some herbs, as well as some other medicine, and used acupuncture. At one point she was taking about 25 pills a day, and when I would start toward her, she would try to hide.
    It just wasn't the right combination. My husband and I talked about it, and we felt we couldn't let her continue like this. We've had dogs since we were kids and we would never let them suffer. We discussed putting her down, but it is a very difficult decision to make, and I was still hoping that somehow I would be able to find help.
    That is when I got my copy of Good Dog! in the mail. As I was walking back from the mailbox, I noticed the mention of Skin-eze in the index. After I read the article, I called to inquire about the product. I remember it was on a Saturday and I was hoping someone would be there.
    After talking with you, I thought, 'what can I lose, it might just be the solution.' She started on the old formula pills the first of December. It took about 2 weeks before I could see any results, but by the end of the month, I could tell she was on her way back. I gave her the first ones, which were the rather bitter ones, in dog food. She took them dutifully. (I think she knew they would help.) The next ones were the cheese-flavored, and I just mix it in her food and she loves it.
    I bathed her twice a week at first with the Skin-eze shampoo you sent me, but not as often now.
    Her skin has healed; her hair coat is thick like it used to be; the hair around her eyes and along the side of her face has grown back; her ears are healed; her eyes are bright again; she has that old energy again, wants to play with her ball, chases the birds, barks when I get her dog food ready.
    She's back to her old clownish personality. It's something I never thought I would see again. It's amazing. You'll never know how grateful I am. In all the time I was trying to find a solution, no one was ever able to come up with a diagnosis. I would highly recommend that anyone who has a dog with any scratching, itching problem try Skin-eze -- it could very well be the solution.
    I have a Miniature Schnauzer who has had allergies for about 5 years and I have started her on Skin-eze to see if it will help her. Her situation is a little different. She scratches a lot, but she has these little bumps on her back which aggravate her. (The vet calls them Schnauzer bumps, whatever that is.) He says lots of Schnauzers get them. (I have two other Schnauzers and they don't have them.) She also chews on her feet a lot. I'll let you know if it helps her.
    Please thank Judi, too, for helping me get additional tablets in a hurry. I was about to run out and she made sure I received them in time.
    Again, I thank you and Muffin thanks you.

Betty Ept
Pickerington, Ohio

    I just had to stop and write you a quick note about the success I've had with Skin-eze. My 2-year old Bouvier des Flandres (Darcy) has been diagnosed with many allergies. I tried many products, including BodyGuard, DermCaps, special shampoos, Benadryl® and evenprednisone.
    The "pred" gave him relief temporarily, but when it was gone, the constant scratching and biting of his paws returned. My vet said he should be put on an allergy serum, and in six months or so, the problem should stop.
    SIX MONTHS?? My guy needed help immediately and my husband and I needed a complete night's sleep. Well, relief finally came in the form of your Nov./Dec. issue of Good Dog! magazine. I read about Skin-eze and figured 'Why not? I've tried everything else.'
    I ordered the powdered form and he ate it sparingly. I even mixed in some canned food and he still barely touched it. Then I remembered it also came in tablet form, so I ordered those. I wrap each tablet in a piece of cheese and now he sits and waits for his 'treats.'
    All I can tell you is Thank God for this product and God Bless Good Dog! magazine for testing it and passing the information along to us.
    I started giving it to him twice a day, right before he eats and the results have been tremendous! He now scratches rarely and the paw biting is gone. He is also on the serum from the vet, mind you, but remember, he was getting the Skin-eze before the allergy shots.
    I see this as probably not a 'cure' for the problem, but it has definitely given him and us the relief we all needed so badly. So, many thanks to the Dr. and the people at Good Dog! magazine.

Pat Hagopian
Buffalo, NY

P.S. Woofs to Katie & Chops!