HOME THERAPY OF SEBACEOUS ADENITIS

Through the work of the Genodermatosis Research Foundation a method of treatment of SA that is very effective in most dogs has evolved. It results in a happy dog with lots of hair and a smooth skin that is generally odor-free. The cost is minimal and the time involved is not great.

Take your SA affected dog and shave down with a 10 or 4 blade. At your local K-Mart or Payless Drug buy the cheapest bath oil that you can find. Alpha Keri is good but it costs about 10 times as much as generic bath oil and is identical in composition. Take 1 cup of the oil and dilute with 1 cup of warm water and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the dog well, coating the entire body including ears, face and inner ear leathers. Put dog in crate for 1 to 2 hours. Put dog in bath tub and lather well with any canine shampoo. Do three shampooings. After lathering well scrub the entire body of dog well with a soft vegetable brush or soft hair brush. Do the scrub with the first two latherings. Rinse well. If you wish you may then apply a light rinse or oil containing aloe vera. (I use Nature's Choice coat remoisturizer) Towel dry the dog and let them air dry.

Initially you will see lots of dead skin and hair come off of the dog. Bathe in the same manner weekly for about 6 weeks. You will begin to see new hair growth, and very soon the dog is comfortable and no longer smells bad. Most people find that the bath rate can go down to every 2 or 3 weeks. As the dog regrows coat most people find that it is easier and less time consuming to keep them clipped quite short.

Dogs without thyroid disease and Addison's disease respond the best, but even the most severly affected dog usually can be made happy and comfortable.