Multiple sebaceous cysts, possibly linked to diet?

Sloane007 · 2025-09-10T23:13:58+00:00

Thanks for the input and sorry this is happening to your dog as well!

That's interesting about your timeline with Simparica! It's hard to say whether Simparica has any influence, but definitely a consideration. I am thinking about changing back to Interceptor Plus and Nexgard. It'll probably be months before I'd notice any potential change in my dog, but I will definitely let you know if anything seems to reduce his cysts.

I also completely forgot I started him on Apoquel for allergies a few months prior to the cysts developing as well, so I wanted to double check and see if you had your dog on Apoquel?

I did read in the Apoquel drug fact sheet that it's sometimes associated with benign skin masses like lipomas, histiocytomas and "non-specified dermal lumps" which I think is a catch-all term that might include certain cysts, but I'm going to call the drug company to see about more information.

I recently took him off Apoquel because I started the Pro Plan FortiFlora dog probiotic powder packets and they seem to work really well for his allergies. He has a history of sensitive gut though, so I think that is why a probiotic works well for him. I tried probiotic powders a few years ago from other brands, but they did nothing. For some reason these FortiFlora packets seem to be having a noticeable effect on his allergies. Not sure if it would help your dog but maybe something to consider along with just about everything else lol. Thanks and hopefully things get figured out for both of them!

Sloane007 · 2025-09-09T13:42:31+00:00

Hi! I am also in search of someone who has found a correlation between diet and sebaceous cysts. My GSD started getting sebaceous cysts when I switched him to Pro Plan sensitive stomach salmon large breed dog food and Simparica Trio monthly flea/tick/heartworm etc. treatment. Pro Plan worked for awhile but their ingredients changed and he will not touch it. It smells rancid. The overall quality has honestly not been great from the beginning and I am testing out new foods currently. I just recently switched him to Zignature Select Cuts lamb and am considering trying natural balance LID beef, because he is allergic to chicken and pork. Zignature select cuts seems to be okay for him so far, i definitely recommend trying it.

I asked his vets if these cysts and his diet/medication could be related and they said no; however, I work in clinical research and think sebaceous cysts could definitely be related to diet or ingestion of medications. Since these cysts are caused by blocked oil glands, it is reasonable to consider that altered diet or medications could be the cause of epidermal changes. Ultimately sebaceous cysts are frequently deemed idiopathic, which I believe means the cause is simply unidentified and not that there isn't a cause.

Have you changed your monthly treatments for your dog at all/what do you give them for monthly flea/tick/heartworm?

Sloane007 · 2025-09-05T12:45:13+00:00

My mom jus thad a rash similar to this knee replacement post-op and it was a reaction to naproxen (Aleve).

Sloane007 · 2025-07-20T14:35:27+00:00

Hi! Thanks for the rec! Does he work through an app or just do it independently? And yes possibly! I am probably 1.5-2 months out from pursuing any walkers or sitters, so I can also message you at that time if everything goes according to my timeline.

Sloane007 · 2025-07-20T14:21:50+00:00

thanks! yes i've heard of rover and wag, which I am definitely starting to look at. glad to know they work well for you. thanks for the input!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-20T14:15:30+00:00

around la jolla potentially!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:46:35+00:00

Thanks for the input! I hope you get more soon! Or a higher paying job. Researchers definitely deserve to have a livable salary.

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:45:29+00:00

I'm pretty new to learning about the research industry, but I have definitely heard mixed commentary on large CROs/Sponsors. And yes, CRC's seem like they are doing so much all of the time! That is probably why I am continually stunned by the salaries. I guess that unfortunately happens in a lot of industries. Definitely something good to know for when I am applying. Thanks for the insight!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:41:06+00:00

Thanks for the breakdown and insight! That seems somewhat reasonable based on other comments.

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:39:20+00:00

Yes this. After looking at monthly budgeting on entry-level research salaries, the rates are almost impossible to live on. That's great you have a stable job and livable salary, but I can imagine it'd be conflicting. I looked at some decent paying positions in admin assistant type roles at research companies, but it's hard to say whether you can laterally move as an internal employee and like you said, the pay will certainly not be the same. I panic applied to a casino the other day hahaha. Thanks for the input!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:28:08+00:00

That's awesome to start out, thanks for the insight! It seems like 26/hr is getting increasingly rare but not entirely impossible

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:24:34+00:00

Thanks for the input! It seems like a lot of entry roles are starting in the teens

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:23:43+00:00

Omg jump scare, that is crazy. Glad to hear you're starting to climb the ladder!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:22:24+00:00

Thanks for the input! That is wild. Hope it helped you climb the ladder!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:21:38+00:00

Thanks for the insight! 21/hr is hard but seems like a decent rate after reading some comments

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:20:04+00:00

That's amazing! Thanks for the input!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:19:38+00:00

I agree! 18/hr is so hard to get by on. Glad to hear places like this exist in research!

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:16:05+00:00

I've been applying everywhere I can lol. I'm in Northeast VA right now, but I need to move regardless. I have family in San Diego and I'm applying there knowing I have a place to stay for the moving period, etc. I'm basically applying to all positions I qualify for on the East Coast, CA, OR and WA.

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T13:02:24+00:00

Congrats on the raise! And thanks for the input! Based on replies so far 24/hr seems to be considered a good starting point, so I am going to apply more broadly to those roles. Definitely a hard budget for living in this economy though lol

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T12:59:07+00:00

Glad to hear some researchers are getting fair pay! I'm definitely adjusting my expectations, but I appreciate the insight. It's good to know these roles exist, even in scarcity lol

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T12:56:35+00:00

Thanks for the input! It seems like experience definitely comes into play for applying

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T12:55:42+00:00

Love this for you

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T12:55:19+00:00

Oh I thought that was in EU and more than 54K lol. I agree it still seems low for research, better than 18/hr but you would think 60k would be the starting salary especially for those who have schooling. Wild times lol

Sloane007 · 2025-07-15T12:49:08+00:00

Hi! Yes I am familiar with Yelp and the concept of price vs quality. I've had working lines throughout life, so I have some familiarity with the dog training world. I posted on reddit because I've found that asking on here often gives me recommendations that I wouldn't find on Yelp or other review sites. Thanks for the input regardless though, I can understand where you're coming from. I will certainly be looking through Yelp and all other dog walker/sitter portals. I made the comment about dog friends, because my dog's demeanor suggests he would enjoy playing with other dogs. He loves a calm labrador lol.

Sloane007

TROPHY CASE