Allergy? Ringworm? Help please!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 4ca69f737e I asked the vet about it but he didn't really think it was anything, maybe a mild allergy. But then today I found more spots when I was blow drying him. AND a red, perfect circle. ( http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4 ... =516626439 ) He bites at all of these things quite often. He is on flea meds and is up to date on his shots. Any guesses to what this could be?? |
|
|
| Gnat bites would be a strong possibility. Chewie had circles like that from gnat bites last summer and again this year. I figured it out by finding little gnat bodies in his hair - as he batted and scratched at them, he mashed a few. His were primarily around his eyes and the part in the hair on his nose - but they look very much like your pictures. especially the circles. |
| the pic of the groind area 'freckles' Baloo has had too and the vet seemed to think it was marks from his biting there when he was sooo itchy this spring. Our vet wasnt worried about them either and they have, now, all gone away. |
| If you figure it out please let me know. This is what staph might look like. Darby was treated last summer for it... there was only one sore on her belly.  Bumble started treatment for a staph infection a couple of days ago. His boo-boos look nothing like the one shown in the picture above. I've dealt with dogs with allergies (dust mites or ragweed) before but never skin like this. They did a biopsy last week (using just a local) to see if they can figure out what's been causing his problem and they say it's Staphylococcus sp. Coagulase Positive. It's sometimes hard to figure out which came first... the itching causing the infection or the infection causing the itching. Are you dog's spots on areas in contact with the floor? Wondering if it might be a contact reaction. After months of eliminating things, I honestly think at least part of Bumble's might (emphasis on might) be a reaction to disinfectants. Bumble got horrible when we fed raw chicken for just a week as we tested for food issues. He had itchy pink/red bumps all over him, lots of brown spots, scabs too. But... along with the raw chicken came more Chlorox wipes to clean up after meal preparation. We also use Oster sanitizing spray was part of the cleanup process between grooming dogs too. All cleaning products were eliminated except for baking soda and vinegar. His skin definitely isn't cleared up but it's much better than it was. These are Bumble's brown spots on his chest, he's the only dog affected-  Ask your vet but spraying gold Listerine on the itchy areas can help to sooth the itch. But it's only a temporary fix. |
| I would have your vet do a skin scraping. Ellie had similar spots that would not heal. I thought it was the start of a hot spot but after many antibiotics and topicals, it never got better or really much worse. She would go through stages where she would really chew and scratch and then times when they didn't really seem to bother her. So after taking her to the dermatologists and spending a lot of money and switching her to a vegetarian and then raw diet for 6 weeks still no change. I was just about to do the Allergy testing when I knew deep down that it wasn't allergies when the dermatologist decided to do a deeper skin scraping. She was diagnosed with Demodectic Manage in less than 2 minutes and she was 18 months old. My vet should have diagnosed this when I first went to them and definitely the dermatologist should have know this on our first visit as well but that is a whole another story. On a positive note, Ellie is on the road to recover and doing great with her treatment. |
| I would also have a skin scraping done. As Jaci mentioned, it can be a chicken and egg situation, with an allergy causing scratching, which can lead to a skin infection, OR, a skin infection causing scratching, which impacts the skin and causes the infection to spread, and more scratching. Or it could be flea allergy dermatitis. Or mange. I've never seen ringworm, but I know that it is a fungus, not a bacteria. The best way to get a definitive answer is a skin scraping. Oscar has Immune Mediated Disease (autoimmune issue) which manifests itself in skin infection after skin infection. We kill one thing, and another grows in it's place.  Sometimes the bacteria is drug-resistant (MRSI, Psuedamonas) or sometimes it is a normal bacteria that just gets out of control and becomes pathogenic. Bottom line, Oscar has had at least a dozen skin scrapings or swabs done in the last year, in response to things I've seen on his skin. Different bacteria can cause the brown gunk that Jaci shows in her pic of Bumble's tummy, so throwing broad spectrum antibiotics at it without testing to see what is actually growing can be counterproductive, and contribute to drug resistant strains of bacteria. In addition, if it is in fact something fungal, an antibiotic won't help, and might make the situation worse.Laurie and Oscar |
| If the new red ring is still there tomorrow and it looks the same or worse, I'd ask the vet to take a look at it. Hoping that it's something simple! One example of a product that can cause bad skin problems on dogs is carpet powder... a vet recommended my sister euthanize a puppy to save the children the heartache... the vet thought her immune system was horribly compromised. My sister couldn't do it. Turned out it was the sprinkle carpet freshener she used on the carpet. That's great news about Ellie  Quote: We kill one thing, and another grows in it's place. Oh, Laurie... it's sad. You stay on top of things so well with Oscar! The vet told us about a month ago that this just may be the way he's going to be. I'm not ready to accept that... I need an answer. But if that's the case, we'll deal with it. Along with the red bumps and brown spots, Bumble's skin gets physically hot in areas, then itches. We did two rounds of antibiotics back in Nov/Dec and an holistic vet's supplement suggestion for 4 weeks. We've been through months of food trials including z/d Ultra for about 10 weeks and then pork loin roasts and veggies for about 2 months. He did this to his skin  by the end of the week long raw chicken (and Chlorox wipes!) trial. We did multiple skin scrappings... repeated a second time at my request just to be sure  ; rounds of Revolution 15 days apart to be sure it wasn't mites; dermal and RAST allergy testing; thyroid testing; hair follicle tests for fungus and yeast but nothing grew; so many different shampoos that I could open a grooming salon  ; removing a great big list of things used around the house (even rubber backed rugs) and on us (poor Jim now uses witch hazel as aftershave  ), washing with just baking soda for now; a biopsy; and more. Hoping this antibiotic will be the cure!! If the bumps are caused by staph then the 6 week treatment with Clavamox will fix him up. If it's a contact allergy causing a secondary infection, well... we'll keep trying to figure out the trigger so we can eliminate it.Hopefully one antibiotic or skin scrapping will give you the answer you need to get Hank back to his old self.  |
| Poor Bumble, too! Jaci, sounds just like us here, changing everything in Oscar's environment in order to try and get him as healthy as possible. Has Bumble had a Coombs Test, to check for Immune Mediated Disease or other autoimmune issues, like Lupus? That's how we came up with a definitive diagnosis for Oscar. (Oscar's IBD is autoimmune related as well.) Bottom line, we changed everything with little or no positive effect on Oscar's health. After years of constant skin and tummy management, seeing both a regular and holistic vet (not to mention the specialists), and all of the time and energy, Oscar's immune system still sucks. He takes 5 maintenance meds per day, and we add in antibiotics as needed, depending upon what his skin is growing at any given time. As much as I hate to give it to him, Oscar's saving grace has been a daily low dose of prednisone. UGH. Drug of last, last, last, last resort. But I don't think he would be alive today without it. For some reason, in him, it cuts down the number of infections and their severity. We've tried to wean him off it a number of times and all hell breaks loose. He is so much sicker when he's off the pred, so we are trading longevity for quality of life, I fear. Laurie and Oscar |
| Thanks for all your advice!!! Hank's vet looked at the spot and feels it could be a bit of the non-contagious mange or a mild staph infection to do a lowered skin defense response. Hank was very sick when he was a young pup, in the doggie ICU for weeks, and it was touch and go for awhile. Because of this, she thinks his immune systems is still slightly compromised. We are going to make sure he's eating well, and using medicated shampoo, and see what happens. If it does not improve with time or gets worse, we will do a skin scraping and look at other options. I'll be crossing my fingers for all your puppers! |
| We've had this with more than one of our sheepies over the years. They have always been staph infections and aren't hard to treat. When they get bad, pills are a good idea. When it's just a few a topical ointment will do. We used panalog from the vet, but whenever we were out we'd just use polysporin. Worked just as well. If you see a puss filled lump (looks like a really gross zit about to pop) that is the first stage. When it bursts the oozy stuff causes the red circles and itching. Later they get the dark scabby flakey stuff. If you catch it as a "zit" and pop it, making sure none gets on the skin you actually prevent the circular redness, itching and scabbing. Easier to say than to do, but if you catch any at that stage you can avoid some irritation for your pup. Ours were often seasonal. One was a reaction to new carpet and eased up with time. Two of our dogs would get them in early spring, just after the snow melted. The vet figured it was a mold from the dead grass that had sat under the snow. If it is staph (and it sounds likely) it's a nuisance, but something that can be managed. You can even test it by choosing one small area to try some polysporin on. It doesn't usually take more than one application (light) to really make a difference in the itching and redness. Good luck to you. |
| Perfect round shape and red? Tick bite! for sure! Its the true text book ecample of Lyme's disease. See your Vet. If its Lyme;s, it needs to be treated or can turn into a HUGE problem. |
| Glad the vet took a look. Hoping it will clear up soon. Quote: As much as I hate to give it to him, Oscar's saving grace has been a daily low dose of prednisone. UGH. Drug of last, last, last, last resort. But I don't think he would be alive today without it. For some reason, in him, it cuts down the number of infections and their severity. We've tried to wean him off it a number of times and all hell breaks loose. He is so much sicker when he's off the pred, so we are trading longevity for quality of life, I fear. Thanks for the name of that test, Laurie... I was going to ask you for it, just in case. I'm so sorry Oscar faces these many challenges because of his immune system. Pred is a bad thing when used repeatedly as a quick fix if the underlying condition might be corrected or it can be a life improving/saving tool when there are more serious conditions. I've seen it improve my mom and dad's lives and save a life of my nephew so it's not that Prednisone is an evil thing. On the contrary, it's wonderful we do have that last resort drug we can rely on! We simply do the best we can with what we have to work with. Hugs to your man Oscar |
| We had a terrible time last year with my dog catching everything and anything..Then we tested the thryoid and found in underactive, Since he's been on thryoid pills, his total behavior and health ahs improved. He doesn't seem to get as sick anymore. I believe the thryoid effects the immune system. Have you had it checked? My dog was "borderline" low but we opted for the meds anyway. What a difference. Hasn't been sick a day since. Nothing. No problem with itching, poop or anything else. Just a thought.. |
| Jaci, Oscar appreciates the hugs (and the pred) . Ashley, thanks for the reminder about the thyroid. Oscar has had detailed thyroid panels and his levels are on the low end, but still within normal range. My vets thought this might be contributing to Oscar's skin issues, along with his compromised immune system. However they are reluctant to medicate for the thyroid until he definitively tests hypo, as they are concerned that the meds will rev his entire system up, exacerbating his inflamed digestive system (IBD). Taking care of Oscar is a highly delicate balancing act......feels like I'm constantly walking a tightrope........ We have to weigh pros and cons before we do anything with Oscar, to make sure that the cure won't be worse than the disease. If Hank continues to have skin problems, a thyroid check might help rule it in or out as a cause. Hopefully, this will be his one and only time around this block!!!!! Laurie and Oscar |
| Laurie, My dog was "borderline" as well. I can only tell you that I insisted on trying the thryoid meds. We did. We use soloxine. Within a week or so, I had a different and improved dog. We had to get rechecked about three weeks later. At that time, the vet increased the dosage. Initially we trired one tab, twice a day. we are now on one and a half twice a day. Can't even describr the difference! Plus, before he was always sick. catching everyhting. Immune system was so low. Now, about 6 or 7 months of meds and he is not ony a different dog with snergy and playfulness and non agressiveness, he hasn't gotten sick at all! Poops good, appetite good, energy level good... Just a thought out to you.....borderline might be worth a trial on a lopw osage med. And the Vet will usually redo blood about three weeks later to adjust dosage. . Good luck! |
| Last fall Nelson came up with a rash that looked like your photo. Our vet thought it was a seasonal allergy because Nelson had been running in a nearby field that wasn't a place we normally go on walks. He got a steroid injection and it cleared up some but not completely. A month or two later it was back just as bad but it was still warm enough for it to still be a weed allergy. Another injection that helped about the same as last time. We almost resorted to prescription diet food but with two dogs it would be really hard to do, especially when the dogs are addicted to cookies and even they would have to be prescription treats. Last resort before going through allergy testing was to put him on a course of Cephalexin and amazingly it completely cleared up the problem. It's been several months and we haven't seen a single lesion on him so it evidently was a staph infection. Allergies and skin problems are so hard to narrow down the cause and frustrating because we know the dogs are annoyed by the itching. I hope your vet gets things sorted out and that the rash can be cleared up as easily as Nelson's. |
| Hi there, after reading all these posts I sympathize with all of you and these skin issues, I have been there. We had our bulldog (who just passed away this past easter) who had severe allergies and immune suppression since puppyhood. When he was about 2 yrs old he contracted staph (from his allergies) and the vet could not get rid of it over a 3 1/2 month period. Our Wellington had lost approx. 12 lbs in this time and we spent ALOT of money trying to get this situation remedied. The vets final advice to me before I left him was that he wanted to put him on a drug that was approved for organ recipients in humans and would cost me $250/month for the rest of Welly's life. My bet bills had already run me around $1500 at this point for this problem. I did my own research on the internet and ended up finding this website that literally had saved Welly's life---www.petsbestrx.com--they have live help and will guide you in what you need. I tried the orange shampoo, this healing protection gel, and a pump spray that went over it and it was gone in a week. I also HIGHLY recommend changing your dog's diet to a low or no grain (Taste of the Wild is a good one) ---saw a big difference in his other symtoms. This skin regimen cost me a total of $50-----sorry for such a long post but I am very passionate about this---good luck to all of you and if you need to pm me with any questions that is fine--Thanks, Carrie |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|