Mike Raven, Carol Main, and "Whatsit".
By JANE NOLAN Daily News Staff Writer
Mike Raven of Simi Valley needs 90 dogs to make a point.
Raven, a Simi Valley school bus driver and stained glass artist, has developed a treatment for dogs with eczema, a skin condition that plagues many canines. He wanted to prove Raven Pet Products works.
The problem is no one is taking him seriously."I can't give it away," Raven said of his shampoo and lotion, which have no drugs in them. "The vets won't try it."
He is convinced his treatment works, but if his results are challenged Raven wants back-up evidence, showing how much the dogs improved after they were bathed with his shampoo. He has already compiled photographs of 10 dogs with the skin problem. The photos show animals who have lost much of their hair and are covered with scabs. Pictures taken after treatment trace the dogs improvement.
Anyone who has a dog with eczema, characterized by lacerations and hair loss, can contact Raven at (800) 888-DOGS.
A month ago, Lenora and Jack Grimm, a Simi Valley couple, heard of Raven and his treatment. They were concerned about their daughter's dog, "Shadow", a 7-year-old Siberian Husky. It had developed eczema, scratched most of the hair from its chest and head.
She was so listless. She was just like an old dog," said Mrs. Grimm as she watched the frisky dog run in the backyard.
After accumulating $150 in veterinarian bills and trying cortisone shots and pills, the Grimms were ready to give up on a cure. Their veterinarian attributed the dog's skin condition to fleas or an allergy, Grimm said.
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"I was so distraught, I was ready to have her put to sleep," said Mrs. Grimm.
Much of the dog's hair has grown back after weekly baths with Raven's shampoo and lotion, priced under $15. The Grimms like the shampoo because it's milder than the substance a veterinarian recommended.
"It was so strong we had to wear gloves" when bathing the dog, said Grimm.
In a few more months, Raven expects the dog hair to return to normal. If she develops the skin condition again, Raven believes it will not be as severe as the first bout.
A few miles away, Ed Bresnik, also of Simi Valley, and his dog, "Shiloh", a 13-year-old german Shepherd, are also part of Raven's experiment.
For two years, Bresnik searched unsuccessfully for something to help his beloved pet. He visited numerous pet shops and collected bottles of medicines from veterinarians. Still, the dog suffered from eczema. His tail was covered with a hard, rock-like scab and he constantly scratched.
"He's more calm now," said Bresnik. "I don't think he got any sleep at all." The dog's hair also is coming back after a month of using Raven's treatment.
Carol Main of Moorpark believes Raven saved her dog's life. "What's It", a 9-year-old mixed breed, was in such bad shape the family planned to have her put to sleep in another week. For three or four years, Main paid more than $200 annually in veterinary bills.
After four weeks of treatment "What's It" is getting new hair and no longer has open sores.
Raven considers his shampoo a treatment, not a cure. "There is no cure," he said, but he believes his product can help control the problem.
"Every case we have been able to observe has been controlled," by the treatment said Raven.
Raven also has a theory why some dogs develop the condition and others don't. Most veterinarians believe the flea (or an allergic sensitivity to fleas) is the primary culprit in eczema conditions.
Raven contends stress is an overlooked factor. Dog's under stress are more likely to develop the skin condition, Raven said.
"The fleas are not the cause of the problem," he said, but they do carry a microbe that causes the skin problem. Stress triggers a change in the animal's body which allows the condition to develop, said Raven.
When Raven begins working with the dogs, he looks for significant changes in the dog's routine that could be responsible.
The Grimms' dog had lived in their home for most of her seven years. Then the dog moved to their daughter's. Raven feels that may have been traumatic for the dog. In the Bresnik case, there was a serious illness in the family.
Raven cited his own dogs, Mastiffs, as experiencing stress. His dogs did not have fleas, but they developed skin problems during the show season.
"They didn't want to go to the show rings," he said. It meant taking them away from their home and routine. He also acknowledged, "I had some personal problems at the time," which may have influenced the dogs.
A new baby or kitten can also be stressful for dogs, said Raven. " The dog goes from being in the favorite position to the point of being a pariah" because of the eczema.
"It's a horrifying social consequence" for the dog. "They put the dog outside because they don't like the odor or the scaly condition," he said.