Because he's worth it!

For over a year now our German Shepherd, Scooby, has had on/off skin problems. He's a GSD so it should be no surprise to me really, as they are prone to that sort of thing. He gets big red weals all over 'down there' and the skin goes dark brown and leathery looking. When it's bad he licks at it a lot.

Scooby has had lots of doses of antibiotics - the spots can get infected if his licking is too vigorous - and no matter which brand he has they affect his appetite. He goes right off his food, which isn't a good thing as some of his medications for his arthritis and dysplasia get put on his food. So he's not been getting enough of them either, with the knock-on effect that he's a little more ungainly when walking.

Two and a half weeks ago I took him to the vet as this rash was back and it was really bad! It seemed to have appeared almost overnight. Since then he's been on more antibiotics and will need to be on them for at least another week and a half. These tablets alone are costing me £145! I already spend about £100 per month on his other must-have medications and the insurance will no longer pay out for them. We've reached our funding limit for that condition, £4000, as two years ago Scooby had a vertebra removed as it was degenerating and pinching on his spinal column.

This morning I was checking him over and noticed a new crop of spots. The rest of the skin in that area was healing nicely so it was back to the vet. Now I have to administer Fuciderm cream, Hibiscrub, and OTC anti-histamines. If that little lot fails to settle it Scooby will have to go to the main vet hospital and have some tests for allergens. This will mean him having an anaesthetic, and at his age (9) it comes with risks. (sigh!) Then he can have some whizz-bang medicine which is known to help allergic skin conditions. He will need it for at least a month and it costs £400+ per month! What's the betting that skin problems will become excluded once his policy renews in November. And I can't even change insurance companies because they'll just exclude anything we've already claimed for anyway. Aaarrrgghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But he's cute and adorable, and worth every penny.