Carrsen Jenkins

Carrsen is a very energetic and loving four year old male neutered Cocker Spaniel. He just loves everyone that he meets! 

Carrsen first started coming to see us back in 2005 for his regular health care. Like many Cocker Spaniels, Carrsen suffers from skin allergies and recurrent superficial bacterial skin infections. These infections were treated as needed with oral antibiotics, topical skin therapy, special medicated baths, and oral antihistamines. He also will get the occasional ear infection (a very common problem with Cockers). Carrsen would respond well to each treatment, but then a little later, the infection would recur. 

In October of 2006, Carrsen didn’t respond as well to the antibiotics as he had in the past. We elected to try an alternative therapy, stopped the antibiotics, and started Carrsen on three different herbal medications: 1) Si Miao San powder to help relieve heat, 2) Qing Ying Tang powder to remove the pathogen, and 3) Astragalus 10+ to support the immune system. In less than a month’s time, Carrsen’s skin looked great! In December, we weaned him down to only the Astragalus herbal formula and he has been free of skin infections for the past year and half with no other therapy needed!

While we would love to be able to tell everyone that herbal medications will help with all skin problems, unfortunately, this is not the case. Skin disease, in general, is usually multi-focal and can be affected by external parasites (fleas, ticks, mites, and lice), bacterial and fungal infections, hormonal imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, pituitary), a reaction to the diet, bathing/not bathing, the weather/seasons and allergies (hay fever, contact, and food). 

Examination, diagnostic testing and food trial can help to determine a diagnosis and recommended treatment. Many times, the treatment will address multiple issues. Skin allergies are always a managed, not cured, disease.

Please do not hesitate to call with any concerns or questions about your pet.