Persistent Dog Skin Problems

Visitor Questions About Persistent Dog Skin Problems

Min Pin has Skin Problems

Dear Kelly,

I have an eight-month-old Miniature Pinscher puppy who has recurring skin problems. The symptoms are small scabs on his trunk, neck, head and legs. He is beginning to shed a lot of hair and has some areas that are looking more bare although not completely bald. I have taken him to my vet in Nicaragua, and she has prescribed the following:

• Flu-Hiotex gel anti-micotico to be administered once a week orally
• Clotrimazol cream to be applied on affected areas
• Micodex Shampoo every four days for a month

We have been on this treatment for a month in which time his skin had completely dried out and there is no improvement. What do you recommend?

Thank you so much for your help~~ Rita

Expert Reply

Hi Rita,

Sounds like it's time for a follow up with your vet since some of your prescriptions were only for one month. I'm curious to know what your dog's actual diagnosis was.

In the meantime, it probably wouldn't hurt to add some fresh cod liver oil to your pet's dog food. This will help boost your pet's natural skin oils and relieve some of the dryness. I'd also ask your vet if it's still necessary to bathe your dog every four days. Seems excessive to me no matter what the diagnosis was.

Irish Setter Hair Loss

I have an Irish Setter that is thirteen years old. He's always been healthy, but over the last six months he has been losing hair on his back and on the top of his tail. He doesn't bite at it and it doesn't look red. It doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Is this just age?

Thank you~~ Courtney

Expert Reply

Hi Courtney,

Sudden onset hair loss is usually symptomatic of a health problem, so I really don't think it has anything directly to do with old age.

I think a checkup with your vet is in order. Sometimes thyroid problems cause hair loss, and can also make your pet seem more lethargic. I think it's worth checking out. This type of problem can be helped with medication.

Could Dog Have Chicken Pox?

Could a dog possibly get chicken pox? My dog has sores on her body that really look like chicken pox. They are scabbed over and her symptoms include loss of appetite.

Thanks~~ Anna

Expert Reply

Hi Anna,

No, to the best of my knowledge, dogs do not get chicken pox. I'm not a vet, but there are a couple of different things that might be going on.

• Your dog might have some sort of skin infection, either caused by parasites or a fungus.
• Your dog may also be having an allergic reaction to something. Have you changed her diet recently? Food allergies frequently cause skin eruptions. Has anything else changed in her environment?

Her appetite loss means this could be serious. Is she still drinking water? If she isn't, she's going to become dehydrated. My advice is to go ahead and book an appointment for her with your vet. He/She will diagnose the cause of the sores, and likely prescribe medication to alleviate her discomfort.

My best wishes for her speedy recovery.

Help My Itchy Dog

My dog Arty is five years old. He constantly gnaws, licks, bites, almost swallows his paws when lying down "cleaning". Do you know what this is a sign of?

At times he has made himself bleed. The vet said it was allergies, but the regular allergy medication she told us to give him doesn't seem to work, and his ears are so very itchy! We do clean them out regularly, and the vet said they looked very good. Any help?

~~ Tonyalee

Expert Reply

Hi Tonyalee,

Did your vet recommend the possibility of a food allergy? Some dogs are actually allergic to a specific food source, and your vet can help you through the process of isolating the food(s) that trigger an allergic reaction in your dog.

As for the foot licking, it can lead to an itchy yeast infection. If your vet hasn't seen your dog lately, I recommend you take him in and have his feet checked out. This will also give you the chance to talk about food allergies and see if your vet wants to try your dog on a special diet.

I hope you find some relief for your pet.

Itchy Dog Bites Paws

My dogs bites his paws and causes sores and hair loss. He also scratches constantly, but he doesn't have fleas. He also has small lumps underneath his skin so do you know what could be wrong?

~~ Tone

Expert Reply

Hi Tone,

There are numerous things that could be going on here because skin conditions are so difficult to diagnose. The two things that come immediately to my mind are that your dog's problem could be related to a food allergy, and that the scratching has opened him up for a secondary yeast infection.

The best way to tackle this problem and bring your dog some much needed relief is to let your vet take a look at your dog up close and in person. If the vet agrees that your dog might be allergic to one of his food sources, he/she can conduct some tests to help isolate the exact food causing the problem. The vet can also prescribe medication to clear up the itchy bumps. Once this happens, the hair loss will likely resolve itself.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog will be feeling more like his normal self very soon.

~~ Kelly.