LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Mary,

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure this is all related to the shampoo. Try rinsing that spot well with luke warm water. That may help you see the skin beneath the hair a little easier so you can get a better idea of what's going on. You may actually want to ask your vet to take a look since your Yorkie seems to be in so much distress over it because it may require some ointment or medication to relieve the irritation long enough for it to heal.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog will soon be back to normal. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Bichon Frise has been licking his paws and scratching/chewing at a spot on his hind leg. We washed him just before all this started and think that due to his fussiness in the bath, did not rince all the shampoo away, which caused him to have itchy skin. The fur around the spot on his hind leg has become stiff,I don't see any oozing of pus, but when I touch the are it does feel sticky and causes him to jump. For the past day he has also been shaking, he eventually calms down but usually begins to shake again if he goes outside or if we try to inspect the spot on his leg.

-- Contributed by: Mary

Hi Angie,

Does the coloring seem to be confined to certain areas? Fur often takes on this discoloration when a dog licks a lot due to various skin problems. Have you noticed your dog scratching or licking more than normal? If so, it might be a good idea to visit your vet and let him/her take a closer look.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this info is helpful in some way.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Golden Retriever has a reddish, brownish discolouration to his skin and fur. Was wondering if you could give your opinion on what may be causeing this

-- Contributed by: M

Hi David,

I'm so sorry to hear about what's happening to your dog. It sounds like he might have been repeatedly stung by something. The best thing you can do is take him to your vet right away for an exam because allergic reactions can become quite dangerous. Please let us know what this turns out to be. Best wishes for your dog's quick recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Mix Shar Pei was hot yesterday, gave water relieved hottness. He woke me this morning with a swollen snout and puffy eyes. He also has quarter-size bumps on hauches and legs and torso.

-- Contributed by: David

Hi Susie,

That's very difficult to determine. Sometimes a skin tag is just that - a skin tag. It may reassure you to know that malignant growths usually grow quite rapidly, so there's a good chance this isn't anything serious. For know, follow your vet's instructions and keep an eye on the growth. Be sure to report any changes to your vet, and do have your vet look at it again as it grows larger.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet will be able to give you a proper diagnosis at the next check up. Best wishes that all will turn out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 10 year old Minature Pincher has a white skin tag on his left side. When I bathe him most of it fell off. Vet said it's too small right now to tell even if she took it off, but to watch it for now. It's growing slowly. What do you think it could be?

-- Contributed by: Susie

Hi Ccahoon,

I'm so sorry to hear about this problem. Those poor puppies!

This sounds like a very serious skin problem, but it's difficult to say what might be causing it. Some dogs do have an especially bad reaction to flea bites, and this can cause a lot of scratching and biting that breaks the skin. Once the skin is broken, bacterial infections can set in. Maybe this is what you're seeing. However, the very best thing you can do is take the puppies to your vet for an examination. Skin problems can be difficult to diagnose, but your vet is well trained to figure out the exact cause and best treatment plan.

In the meantime, it may help to gently wash the affected areas with a mild shampoo and be sure to rinse the pups well. This should help stave off an infection or help one from growing worse.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know what you find out. Best wishes that the pups recover quickly.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

pit bull puppies having problem with hair and skin peeling back to flesh. Could fleas have caused this problem and what would you recommend. Only the brown puppies have this problem.

-- Contributed by: ccahoon

Hi Ricci,

I have a couple of questions for you. Is the exposed area simply pink, or is it wet and oozing? If it's wet and oozing, it's probably a hot spot (an area of moist dermatitis). There's a product called Sulfadene that is usually good for treating hot spots.

Now, if the area is bare and pink, there could be another problem going on. Is the patch of hairloss fairly circular? If so, this could be a fungal infection known as ringworm. If that is the case, you'll want to ask your vet to treat it because ringworm is contagious to people.

It really would be best to let your vet take a look at the area anyway to get a proper diagnosis. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog heals soon. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Ive read the posts here.. none of them is like the one of my dog's she has part of her bod a patch of exposed skin due to her nibbling on it.. i assume its the same problem as her paw problem before..but i havent been putting any medication now.. and its getting big.. there is no more hair on that part of the infected area.. and its very pink.. im worried it might get bigger. I forgot the name of the medication i used to give her which used to work on her paws... Is there any home remedy i can use?

-- Contributed by: my dog has some problem

Hi Alex,

I don't think this quite sounds like mange because there is usually a darkening of the skin with that condition. What I would recommend is letting your vet take a look at her. If the bites you're seeing look like hot pink pinpoints, this could be a case of flea dermatitis. However, it's best to leave the diagnosis to the professional. Your vet will examine the skin and perhaps even draw blood and take a skin scraping to help with the diagnosis. Your dog will probably receive medication to relieve the irritation and promote healing.

Skin conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose so I really can't be more specific, but I do hope this information helps in some way. Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi kelly, i have a a golden retriever and she just turned a year old in may. Recently i have noticed that she is losing hair on her back, and her skin is very dry. Also, she has scabbing and bite marks on her back. Makes me sad to see her that way.. could it be mange? What can i do to help her?

-- Contributed by: Alex Noriega

Hi Betty,

It sounds like your puppy might have had a clump of poop stuck in the hair around her anus. This happens with longer haired breeds, and if you don't notice it right away, it causes something akin to diaper rash. Does it look like the hair was trimmed around the anus? If so, the breeder probably removed the clump by cutting it away. If the brown residue isn't fecal matter, it could be dried blood. You can gently wash your pup's behind with baby shampoo, and then apply a litte baby powder to the area once it's dry. This should reduce the irritation and speed up healing.

Now, it's always a good idea to take a new pup to the vet right away for a health exam. I recommend you make an appointment asap, and take a stool sample along with you for the vet to check. In the meantime, try adding a teaspoonful of plain canned pumpkin to your puppy's food. The pumpkin is high in insoluable fiber, and it can help relieve constipation.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your puppy feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We brought home an 8 week shih tzu yesterday, and of course we already love her. My husband noticed that she has a pretty raw bottom, with brown-crusty-something (it is not feces)above and below her anus. She also has been very constipated, but she isn't scooting or anything. We're pretty worried, so if anyone has any information that would be lovely! Thanks!

-- Contributed by: 8 week shih tzu has sore around bottom

Hi Anita,

Overall, it seems the new vet's treatments are improving your dog's condition, so that's a positive thing. I can't be sure of what your dog actually had, but flea bite irritation often leads to a case of moist dermatitis that produces infected sores. They dry over on the top, but scratching and biting tends to keep the problem going. Tea tree oil is a wonderful, natural antibacterial agent, as I'm sure you're already finding.

As for that sore on your dog's tail, have you seen her biting at it lately? If it's larger than the other sores, it's probably a larger area of moist dermatitis that people generally refer to as a "hot spot". However, if it's fairly close to the base near her anus, she may have some anal gland irritation, and that could cause her to chew at the area. It may be worth asking your vet to examine and empty her anal glands. This is a fairly routine procedure.

For now, keep applying the tea tree oil to continue the healing, but don't hesitate to keep in contact with your vet about your dog's condition. Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I have a west highland terrier. Recently she seemed very restless and hardly slept the whole day - at closer inspection we found that she had these reddish brown patches on her tail (the inner side), her inner thigh and abdomen. The appearance of the sores is like a semi dried-up wound. We took her to the vet immediately who told us that it was some kinda infection caused from fleas (normally infecting cats) and he gave her a few injections and has asked us to apply teatree ointment on the sore parts. Our dog seems much more relaxed but I am still a bit worried as the tail sore had been thr for a while now and our earlier vet (who has shifted far away) had claimed that the sore was due to my dog biting her tail; as now the spots had appeared in other parts and ofcourse her restless made us take her to a vet asap. I am very confused and worried.Pls help.

-- Contributed by: Anita

Hi Stephanie,

It kind of sounds like a cyst. Whenever you drain one of these, you want to follow up by filling it with Panalog to kill the remaining bacteria. Otherwise it can heal over, seal the bacteria in and build up all over again. Just keep an eye on the area and watch how it heals. If it begins to look worse than it did, you should have your vet take a look at it.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hey, my dog had a bump on his back i began trying to pop it and when i finally did grey pus came out of it. i was wondering if someone could tell my wat it is. When i was popping it my dog didnt cry or even move??!!

-- Contributed by: Stephanie

Hi Suzanne,

I've found Gold Bond powder useful on hot spots in their earliest stages. It's medicated and helps soothe the irritation. I'm not sure how useful it would be on a big messy hot spot, but it keeps the small ones from getting serious.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is there a home remedy for hot spots on dogs

-- Contributed by: Suzannne

Hi Thuy,

It would be far better to let a vet take a look at your pet. Fur loss and blackened skin are sometimes signs of a mange infection. A vet could either confirm or rule this out by taking a skin scraping to view under a microscope and look for tiny mites that live beneath the skin. If you truly can't afford a vet, look for a mite dip made to treat mange. Hopefully this will eliminate the problem.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your pet will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a chihuahua that's about 5 months now, and she has a skin problem. It's on the back of her right thigh leg, it turned kinda black.At first is was just dots that turned into i guess a rash. Now the dots are on the lower part of her tummy and she losing hair on her paws. We tried giving her baths with very sensitive shampoo, and we can't take her to the vet because we can really pay for the costs. Is there any way for a low price but very effective medicine? Please help, thank you.

-- Contributed by: thuy

Hi Rick,

What you're secribing sounds like infected sores, perhaps even abscesses. It would be a good idea to let your vet take a look and possibly drain them. Filling them with some Panalog after draining should also help them from becoming reinfected before they heal. Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this advice helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My golden retriver has two greenish, bumpy areas about 2 inches around. They smell and if he scratchs he pulls off skin and hair. The spots are on his back near his tail and on the back of his neck, he has been checked and has no fleas. fleas

-- Contributed by: Rick

Hi Kady,

Let's talk about the skin problem first. Irritated patches of skin with hair loss and darkening skin could be a sign of a mite infestation, most likely mange mites. Your vet would need to take a skin scraping and view it under a microscope to make an accurate diagnosis, but mites are a strong candidate right now given the skin discoloration.

As for your dog's water consumption, your vet will want to know about that too. Excessive thirst might be an indication of diabetes. Your vet can check for this with a blood sample.

As you can see, it would be a very good idea to call the vet and make an appointment right away. Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your sister's dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi! I think my sisters dog has a severe skin problem. She is a white, AKC certified lab who will be a year old on January 19. She's your typical puppy who loves to play and her favorite thing to do is roll around in dirt and as much as we'd like her to stop, we really can't stop her. She scratches a lot but we can tell that most the time it is for her own enjoyment considering almost her entire body is a tickle spot for her. But sometimes she will scratch or bite herself almost raw. On her back, on the upper part on either side of her shoulder blades, she seems to have kind of raw and scratchy skin. Also, her hair there is thinning and getting course and what hair is left is stained black from the dirt I suppose. When we got her, I was told that white dogs have a more common tendancy to have skin problems than most other dogs, is that true? One more thing, she is literally addicted to water. We give her water very often but it's like she's never satisfied with that. It's gotten to the point where when we turn on the kitchen faucet, she will whine for water, like she is severely dehydrated and we gave her water 5 minutes before. You think you can help me???

~~~Kady ^_^

-- Contributed by: Kady

Hi Dom,

It sounds like your vet really didn't do much work to reach the correct diagnosis. There are a lot of possibilities for what is going on here. Your dog could have a staph infection that presents similar symptoms. This kind of scabbing and hair loss might also be attributed to a thyroid condition. Your dog could even have some sort of an allergy. The bottom line is that the vet needs to run tests to actually figure out the source of the symptoms. These include a blood panel and a skin scraping at the very least. You might want to consider taking your dog to another vet for a fresh start and hopefully a more thorough exam.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your dog's full recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a 9 yr. old miniature pincher. in the past couple of months he has developed these scabs all over his body and chunks of hair are coming off all over him. i have broght him to the vet for this when it started but the vet just told me she thought it was just an irritation and gave me meds to clear it up but it only got worse. if you have heard anything like this before please contact me and explain what you know about it please.

-- Contributed by: scabby skin and hair loss

Hi Dawn,

Has your vet tested your Poodle for sebaceous adenitis (SA). This is a hereditary skin disease that affects Poodles and a number of other breeds. Crustly lesions/scales are one of the symptoms. Sometimes these dogs have a musty odor and experience some hair loss. Recurrent ear infections can be another symptom of the disease.

I'm not a vet, so please don't consider this a diagnosis. It's just a suggestion for your vet to persue. You might also ask the vet to test for specific food and/or environmental allergies. This may require a specialist, but your vet should be able to recommend one for you.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope you're able to find some lasting relief for your dog. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My small, inside (white) poodle mix has the same red lessions that develope time and time again. I have changed his food, the vet has put him on antibiotics, which clear it up for a couple of weeks but then they always come back. These spots come back in the same spot every time and they look about the same every time, red, then crusty and then they heal and then the process starts over again. He remains on flea control because he is inside and that is what my vet attributes his allergies to. Hard for me to believe that these places keep coming back when I keep him flea free, worm free and bathe him every two weeks. Are white coated dogs just prone to skin allergies? Does this sound like flea allergies? The dog is only 4 and has been battling this most all his life.

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi Lena,

Little red spots are often due to flea bites. Did your dog have any problems with fleas this year, and could she have been exposed recently to another dog that might have? If the spots aren't flea bites, it's possible they are due to a rash. Rashes have various causes, including abrasions, viruses and even allergies. I'm glad that for now the spots don't seem to be irritating your pet, but if they don't disappear within a couple of days or your dogs begins to lick or bite at them, you'll want to let your vet take a look and try to diagnose the problem.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things clear up quickly on their own.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have just noticed that my ...zu has broken out with red spots on her left abdomen towards her groan. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. The spots look like a rash or something. Can you help?

-- Contributed by: Lena

my boxer has red bumps around his mouth and under his chin they look a lot like herpes any ideas?

-- Contributed by: Amy

Hi Mickey,

I'm sorry to hear your Pom is having some skin problems. Unfortunately, a trained vet usually has to see the problem first hand and do a little testing to find out the exact cause in order to know which treatment will be the most affective. This could be a fungal infection, but skin diseases can be quite difficult to diagnose, so better to let a true professional have a look.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet can provide some quick relief.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 13 year old pomeranian is loosing hair in the area she has black spots like freckles. In another spot is round and red around the outer part. Can you help? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Mickey

Hi Versace,

Your vet should take a look at this because it sounds like an abscess that possibly burst. It could even be a burst anal sac abscess given it's proximity to the anal opening, so your vet may want to clean it out and prescribe an antibiotic to clear away any remaining infection. Otherwise, the wound could heal over and begin the process again. It's really worth having checked out.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this info helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 4 year old pekinese has a red lump with pus right next to his anal canal; underhis tail, it also appears as it has 2 deep holes. What do I do? What do you think it is?

-- Contributed by: Versace

Hi Sherilyn,

Sorry to hear about the problem with mom and pups. It will take a vet to figure this one out. My advice is to ask your vet to refer you to another vet who specializes in skin disorders. The fact that your own vet simply recommended a shampoo without testing for the cause of the problem probably means he/she isn't very experienced in how to handle skin infections. Using a specialist will likely provide a more direct route to an effective treatment.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your pack's health. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a dog which is a scottish cross silky terror who just recently had pups about 9 weeks ago. She has a skin condition mainly on her back and around her bottom where there is no longer any fur but just skin. It looks all dry and flakey and she does tend to scratch it alot until it bleeds. We've taken her to the vet and they suggested to buy a special shampoo. It has helped abit since. Anyway just abut 2 weeks ago i have noticed the pups having the same similar skin infections and its manily on their heads. There is skin pileing up on their heads and its become like dandroff almost and scabby- their fur is also falling off around the top of their heads too. I have not seen them scratch it yet either. My question is what do you think this skin problem might be and do you think its in their blood from their mother- because i have 2 other dogs who are always around the mother and they have not been affected by it so i think they may have been born like that.

Please help!

-- Contributed by: Sherilyn

Hi Penny,

Is there any unusual smell coming from the ear? There's still a possibility of an infection. It would be best to let your vet examine your dog and take a deeper look. However, you can use a basic canine ear wash product to swab out the outer canal and ear flap. Don't scrub or you might cause irritation. Just try to wipe out any debris that is loose enough to come out on its own. If you wash the other ear, be sure to wash your hands first and then use a fresh swab so you don't transfer a possible infection to the other ear.

If your dog's condition isn't due to some type of infection, there is a possibility that he is developing a food allergy. Food allergies usually show up first as reactions on the face, ears and neck, and then progress as the allergen builds up in the dog's system. I can't be sure this is what's happening with your dog, but it would still be best to consult your vet if your dog's symptoms intensify.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog's ear returns to normal very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My cairn terrier has dry skin in one ear only, there is no redness in the canal or fluid but lots of dry skin which looks like dandruff, could you suggest a treatment thanks

-- Contributed by: penny

Hi Melissa,

Skin problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Has your vet ever done specific allergy testing on you dog? If not, this is something to talk about with him. This testing can reveal every allergen your dog's system responds to, and it might just hold the answer to your dog's chronic skin problem. Ask your vet if it's worth a try in your situation.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this suggestion turns out to be helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Tracey,

I answered this question at the Dog Expert column, but unfortunately, I accidentally hit delete so I'm glad to find it here again.

Ear problems can be caused by a variety of things, including mites, bacteria and fungi like yeast. The best thing you can do is take your dog to your vet for an exam. The vet can take samples of the wax and flaky skin, smear them on a slide and view it under a microscope to see exactly what is going on. Depending on the results, your vet may prescribe a miticide, an antibiotic, a fungicide or a combination of these medications to relieve the problem.

Since your dog's feet are also quite itchy, this could be a yeast infection. However, food allergies can cause similar reactions in the ears and feet, so an overall exam is your best bet for pinpointing the problem.

Best wishes for your dog's speedy recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Rachel, I have a three year old Jack Russell who developed a chronic skin problem about a year ago. He constantly itches his feet to the point where he has bald patches. He is now starting in on the rest of his body, such as his belly, and around his armpits. I have taken him to three different vets. The first had me wash him in an oatmeal-based shampoo, which seemed to almost make the problem worse. The second gave me a yellow pill that was similar to a benadryl, but that didn't seem to help much at all. The third vet told me that the yellow pill that was prescribed, that I have since thrown away, was actually more affective in cats. He recommended that I give him benadryl daily, and keep him bathed. I am at a loss on what else to do for him. I changed his diet from any beef based products, to nothing but lamb and rice after reading about beef allergies, and it seemed to help with my labs ear infections oddly enough, but nothing for him. If you have any suggestions for me, or some helpful hints at the doctor, I would be forever grateful.

--Melissa

-- Contributed by: Melissa Kuhn

Hi! I have a 5 year old dachshund that has recently developed flaky ears. It looks like "cradle cap" on a new born. Also, he has been "eating" his feet. He chews on them what seems like all the time. I have not noticed any sores or fleas on him. He is inside most of the time and stays on our back porch when we are away. Someone told me to wash him in baby shampoo to prolong the life of his flea treatment but I usually wash him in an oatmeal based soap. Any suggestions? Thanks, Tracey

-- Contributed by: Tracey

Hi Rachel,

Sorry to hear about your dog's rash. The best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet and have her skin problem properly diagnosed. This is the quickest way to figure out which treatment will alleviate the problem and help your dog feel better again.

Best wishes for a quick solution. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a year old pit bull terrier and a couple months ago we let a friend watch her and they had another pit bull that had some hair loss and redness around her rump and after we got our dog back a couple days later she got the same thing only worse it looks like she has acne and her hair is falling out on her side by her back leg and her rump, i have tried changing her food giving her vitamins for her coat and nothing seems to be working what do you think i should do?

-- Contributed by: Rachel

Hi Tony,

It's difficult to speculate on the cause of your dog's skin rash. These could be flea bites or some other type of parasite, or they might be related to a food allergy. My best advice is to schedule an appointment with your vet to find out exactly what is going on. The vet may want to put your dog on prednisone for a while to reduce the inflammation.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet can bring your dog some relief.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a 3mnth pitbull terrior. she has pulsing bumps all over top part of the head , she also is losing alot of the hair from under her neck and on the chess area, she has red bumps under her leg. ive been using hydrocortisone spray for 3 days its not working fast so what can i do

-- Contributed by: t-gray

Hi Tina,

It's very possible that this is a case of ear mites. The mites usually leave behind some brown gunk. This is fairly common, and your vet can easily treat it by cleaning out your dog's ears and filling them with mitacide medication. This will quickly end the itching that is causing the head rubbing. You'll also want to wash out your dog's bedding.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My part pom part maletese male 1 1/2yr. old has recently developed light brown raised crusty spots just to the inside of the tips of his ears. He has been rubbing hid head on the floors for the past few days. I am a first time dog owner and don't have a clue what it could be.

-- Contributed by: Tina

Hi Vang,

This is a bit of a puzzler. It's very difficult to diagnose most skin problems, and it would be best to ask your vet to examine your dog to determine the best treatment. In the meantime, you might want to gently wash the area with warm water and antibacterial soap. The problem with applying any kind of over-the-counter medication is that your dog could lick it off. This means you'd have to be very careful with the product you select. I think it's far safer to let the vet prescribe a safe medication.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet can bring your dog quick relief.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Simone,

There's a possibility that this is either a growth or an abscess, but either way it would be a good idea to ask your vet to examine the area to see what kind of treatment it may need. I hope this doesn't turn out to be anything serious.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My German Sheppard has alot of crusty lumps in his inner rear thighs. I am not sure how he got it.I have not seen him scratch or whine because of it. He barely goes anywhere except to relieve himself. Please let me know if there is any thing I can put on it?

-- Contributed by: yang her

My dog has this welt in between his shoulder and neck. Its pink and red and bleeds. He doesnt seem to be in any pain.

-- Contributed by: Simone

Hi Tim,

This is just a shot in the dark, but has your vet tested your dog for pyoderma? The condition produces the kind of pustules you've described. I'm not a vet, so perhaps this condition falls under the realm of things your vet has already tested for. If not, it's definitely worth exploring.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope your vet can come up with a diagnosis.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Kelly,

My dog (American Pitbull Terrier) has skin problems that have been unable to be diagnosed. He has bumps that then turn into bleeding scabs. The bumps when squeezed have a liquid which looks similar to a human pimple (bacteria).

Otherwise he is a completely healthy dog with all updated shots/vaccines. I have taken him to the vet. They tested the bumps for yeast and bacteria infections. Results were not positive for either. He was put on an antibiotic and no results.

When that didn't work I thought allergies. I changed everything I could think of. He is now on completely organic dog food. I have also tried flower essence. Thinking by process of elimination it may be separation anxiety. However, I work 9 to 5 and come home for lunch. Higgins is walked at the least four times a day.

Can you reccomend any possible treatments I may have not conisidered.

Thank you in advance for you assistance.

Tim

Other than the bumps he is

-- Contributed by: Tim

Hi Eric,

This definitely sounds like some sort of skin disease, but it will take your vet's assistance to get an accurate diagnosis. The main problem you face at the moment is that the pustules may become infected from the scratching, and this will make your dog feel even worse. It would be a good idea to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's condition.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has hard bumps on his sides and when he scratches at them the pus.

-- Contributed by: Eric

Hi Peggy,

I suspect your Chihuahua may have picked up fleas or ear mites. What you're seeing could be flea bites or perhaps nicks from your dog's scratching. I recommend going through her coat thoroughly to see if you find any fleas or specks of flea dirt. If you do, a good flea bath should do the trick. If this is an ear mite infestation, you'll have to use a good miticide in her ears to kill them off. If you have any hesitation about doing this yourself, just call you vet and schedule an exam.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, i have a 12 yr old chihauhau. last couple of days i noticed little tiny red welts in her ears there the size of a grain of rice. she is scratching more and i think they are a little painful for her. does anyone know whats going on.

-- Contributed by: peggy

Hi Andrew,

There are a number of skin conditions that could cause this type of peeling, but they are difficult to diagnose without seeing them. My best advice is to let your vet take a look at it in person. Hopefully it's something simple that can easily be treated. It's good that you caught the lesion so early. Skin problems are always easier to treat before secondary infections set in.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We own a Shitzu. The other day we noticed on his back near his rump....his skin is coming off like a peel would come off an orange. This is apparently not painful to him and I was wondering if anyone here had a clue as to what he has?

-- Contributed by: Andrew

Hi, I have a Bichon who is alsmost a year old. Yesterday I notice he was licking the top of his foot and I found a red raised bump. Later he was licking another foot and I found another red bump. I looked and found another on a third foot and also two close together on his lower abdomen. We took him with us on a picnik last weekend at a California state park/campground area and he waded in the river and walked in the grass. I'm wondering if mites or a tick is the problem though I haven't seen anything on him. Any ideas? Thanks

Hi Terry,

This is just a guess, but it sounds like your dog may have picked up some chiggers. I'd take him to the vet right away, because if these are chiggers, they are very irritating.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Terry

My dog is licking and biting till her leg it raw. she licks right where the thigh and rest of the leg meet. it is the only place she licks though. Any ideas on what to do?

Hi Rachel,

Whatever the original cause of the itch was, it's gotten totally out of hand. You may be looking at a case of moist dermatitis. My advice is to have your vet take a look at it. The vet can provide medication to promote healing and lessen the itching, and may even fit your dog with an Elizabethan collar to keep her from causing further trauma to the area so it can begin to heal.

Thanks for your question and I hope your dog is soon on the road to recovery.

-- Contributed by: Rachel

MY YELLOW LAB HAS WELTS ALL OVER HER BODY AND FACE. THEY HAVE NO COLOR AND SEEM TO ITCH. SHE DOES NOT SEEM TO FEEL WELL EITHER.PLEASE HELP.....

Hi Anneke,

What you're describing sounds like welts, and they would definitely be itchy. It sounds as though your dog is having an allergic reaction to something, but it's hard to say what's the cause. It could be food, a new shampoo or maybe something in the environment that has recently changed.

I think your first action should be to call your vet. The vet may want to see your dog, or he/she might advise you on the correct dosage of Benydryl to try at home.

As a second step to provide some itching relief, I recommend giving your dog an oatmeal bath. You can do this by purchasing an oatmeal shampoo at your nearest pet supply store, or you can load an old nylon stocking with raw oatmeal and let the warm water run over it in your tub. Let your dog soak in the water, and use the nylon as a compress against the itchy areas. Gently pat your dog to remove the excess water when you've finished, and blow dry without brushing so you don't reactivate the itching.

Best wishes that your dog is feeling better soon. :)

-- Contributed by: ANNEKE

hi my name is suzy and my dog is a maltese/yorkie and last tuesday de dad surgery for abscess on his left lymph node. The doctor said it was from an infected scratch or bit. They took him in for surgery placed a drain for the abscess. A few days later it was taken out. One o clock in the morning I panic and took him in to the emergency room. They said they were 99% sure it was "strangles", and she put on prednisone, antibiotics and pain meds. He is also taking eye drops due to the symptoms of what he has. TOday as I applied a warm cloth on his wound I noticed the oher side is swollen. I don t know whats going on. And I m confused on what steps I should take. One vet said its an infected wound and the other says strangles. I'm so sad, I m a new doggy owner too so.. Please reply back to me.

Hi Suzie, I'm so sorry to hear about what you and your dog are going through. I suggest you introduce these two vets to each other and ask them to compare their diagnoses and confer with each other. If they work together, they can probably help your dog more efficiently.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: suzy

Hello. i have a little girl pug mix with pomeranian and she just wont stop scratching her ear. Yesterday she started bleeding for scrating it too much and i don't know what to do, should a bathe her or clean her ear with a q-tip? thank you

Hi Kristy, sorry to hear about your dog's ear. I suspect she might have an ear mite infestation. This can be terribly itchy and drive your dog to scratch until she bleeds.

Yes, you can clean out your dogs ears with a miticide/cleanser found at most pet supply stores. Follow the directions carefully, and be sure not to reuse the cotton swabs on the opposite ear, or you could transfer the problem.

There's also a chance that this could be an actual ear infection, although I still lean toward mites as the culprit. If the cleansing miticide doesn't take care of the situation, I'd advise letting your vet take a look.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find these suggestions helpful.

-- Contributed by: KRISTY

our 4 yr old basset hound has started shaking and drooling, heart racing, when he rides in the car or RV. He loves to go, and is always ready to go jump in. When the vehicle moves, it starts, and stops instantly when the vehicle stops. Our vet has done so many tests, has no explanation. Please help us.

Hi Alice,

Honestly, this sounds like an anxiety behavior. There could be any number of causes behind it, but here's what I recommend you try. When it's time to travel, put your dog in a carrier and cover it with a blanket, then put the carrier in the RV. This will keep your dog from seeing the scenery go by, which may actually make him feel car sick. See if this helps relieve some of his anxiety.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: alice driggers

I have a 1.5 year old wheaton terrier who has developed numerous small growths around his eyes. At first he has a couple of small wrt-like growth on his eyelid, and then on his other eyelid. Now he has developed a number of bleeding scabs around his eyebrows and spreading back onto his head. I also noticed one on his chin. He doesn't seem to sratch at them very much, but they must be bothering him, as the area around the scabs looks red, and there is some mild bleeding. He's been to the vet twice, and she has no idea what it could be. he had antibiotics that did nothing, and a test for parasites also came back clean. What could it be?

Hi Brian,

You may need to see a veterinary dermatologist about this problem. If your current vet can't refer you to one, I suggest you check out the nearest major university in your area. The problem may actually be viral in nature.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Brian

I have a white female boxer who has developed numerous quarter size bald spots all over her they are not crusty, like mange, but more like her hair just fell out in those spots I haven't noticed her itching them. THey just look awful

Hi Crystal,

I'm not a vet, but this really sounds like a case of ringworm. You need to take your dog to the vet right away to clear up this fungal condition and help your dog regrow her fur.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Crystal

hi there. i have a german shepherd, he has a spot on his back that he kept stratching then noticed a small sore about 1cm in size. it has now dried up and looks slightly red and is covering an area about 6cm and all the hair in the area has fallen out and he still scratches. he has no other sores on him. thanks.

Hi Brad,

That sounds a lot like a hot spot. You can try treating it at home with some Sulfadene solution that you can find at most pet supply stores. If this does't clear it up, you should probably let your vet take a look.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: brad

Hi My 7 yr black lab has started chewing the fur off her tail and has started chewing on her haunches now too. I have checked her for fleas and not found any, given her a bath and not seen any fleas either. I've been spraying her with a and anti-itch spray and that seems to work for a little while. Any suggestions on what this is? I also noticed a friends dog doing the same thing. My lab is not really scratching anywhere else. Thanks for your help. Pam

Hi Pam,

Fleas are easy to spot, but mites live under the skin and cause a dog to itch when they move around. I think it would be beneficial to let your vet have a look and possibly take a skin scraping to help form a diagnosis.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Pam

What is a hot spot and what causes this condition? I have a year old long hair female chihuahua who has nickel sized areas that have some crust and come up very suddenly. Last time this happened vet gave her cortisone shot and antibiotics to clear up secondary infection. Things cleared up and 2 mths later it is happening again. HELP!!

Hi Janelle,

What you're describing sounds just like a hot spot. They typicially develop when a parasite causes irritation to the skin. In response to the itching/burning, your dog begins to scratch/ lick/chew at the spot until the skin is broken. After that, bacteria can get in to cause an infection. That's why your vet's treatment works, but your dog gets a new hot spot the next time she has an irritation.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Janelle

hi i got my dog from paws for shelter match or somethin like that at petsmart and when i give her a bath w/ flea and tick shampo and get her out of the tub and dry her she can't go more then about 5-8 mins without itching and i only see a very small amount of fleas and i was her bed like every 2 days and spray flea and tick stuff on her beding. And i give her a bath once a wk. And she is still itchy. And i don't know what to do. I have also tried flea and tick collar. It doesn't work either. What do you think i can do to help her stop itching???

Expert Reply

Hi Tori,

It sounds as though you are doing everything you can at home to provide your dog with relief and work on the infestation. I think your dog may actually have a flea allergy. While a flea bite will make nearly any dog itch, some dogs are hypersensitive to the flea's saliva. This makes them scratch even more than usual.

Under the circumstances, I think it would be a good idea to consult your veterinarian. The vet could prescribe medication to lessen the itching if he/she feels it would be beneficial.

Thank you for your question, and I hope this suggestion helps.

-- Contributed by: Tori

Hi my dog has a very shiny coat and seems to be in good health. The issue is sometimes he will get zit like bumps on his belly. Another issue is he has a red bump growing on his "wrist" and it has gotten bigger. It is red, and doesn't seem to have any pus or liquid in it and it doesn't bother him at all. I am taking him to the vet this Friday, but I just want to know what it could be. I don't have a lot of money right now and I'm concerned it could be something serious. He is very energetic, eats, sleeps, and uses the bathroom as normal.

Expert Reply

Hi Candra,

The zits on your dog's belly sound similar to puppy pyoderma, and no, your dog doesn't have to be a puppy to get it. Your vet can give you medication to clear up the skin infection.

The growth on your dog's leg may just be a simple cyst or benign tumor. Neither one is anything you particularly need to worry about, although your vet may want to remove it or take a biopsy. Some malignant tumors are easy to diagnose by looking at them, so your vet may be able to put your mind at ease very quickly.

Thank you for your question, and hope your dog will be fine.

-- Contributed by: Candra

Hi Brittany,

Honestly, I'm not a vet, so I think you should ask your vet to take a look at the blisters. There's an autoimmune condition called Pemphigus that presents as itchy blisters that scab over. This could be a possible cause of your dog's skin rash, but it's not the only possible answer.

I'm glad to hear that none of your other dogs have the condition. Hopefully this means that it isn't something contagious.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet can figure out the problem.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hey. my 11 month old pit bull has blister like scabs on her legs lips stomach and etc. funny thing is i have 5 other dogs and none of them seem to be itching at all but she is itching all the time. what could be the problem?

-- Contributed by: Brittney

Hi,

I have a Miniature Pinscher with a skin problem. Her skin is very dry and it looks like she has dandruff. At first, it looks like she has acne on her face and back. Later on the spots dry out and begin to look like dandruff.

I took her to the vet, but the problem isn't solved. He gave her an injection, some medication and some kind of lotion to apply to her skin. For the first two weeks the problem seemed under control, but then it started up again. I think the vet is giving up.

I feed my dog Royal Canin dog food and bathe her with 3M Antibacterial dog shampoo. I also give her Zinpro for sensitive skin and yet we're still getting no where. She's rarely out of the apartment except for our twice monthly trips to the park.

I really need your help. Many thanks~~ Shin

Expert Reply

Hi Shin,

I'm not an actual vet, so I can't diagnose what your dog's skin condition might be. It does sound as though you have certainly tried to treat the problem.

That said, a vet should never give up trying to figuring out what's wrong when a dog is obviously having a problem. I think it would be beneficial to take your dog to a different vet and get a fresh set of eyes on the problem. Vets are human too, and some vets are better diagnosticians than others. I do believe that you should be able to get a diagnosis on your pet's skin condition.

Thanks for your question, and I truly hope you can find out how to help your dog.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Melanie,

Why don't you ask your vet about trying an elimination diet to find out if your dog has a food allergy? It certainly wouldn't hurt him, and you may find that his skin begins to get better within a couple of weeks. Your vet can recommend a hypo-allergenic diet and walk you through the program.

In the meantime, you can use some baby powder on those sore spots around your dog's thighs.

I hope you find this suggestion helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have an Aussie mix that's about 1 year old. He has red bumps, sometimes pustules on his exposed skin mostly. He has been on Temaril-P and antibiotics and that cleared it up quickly but it came back within a week. We can't think of anything new or different, he's on IAMS puppy food and we wash his stuff in Free All with no dyes, etc. He lays on all cotton rugs. We boarded him for a week while on vacation and that didn't make a difference, he still had a rash. He's now on Temaril P again but every other day and is slowly getting worse. I'm concerned about the steroids but don't know what to do. He's itchy and licks until he gets red lines or areas just inside the folds of his back legs. The rest of his skin is great, just the exposed area around his genitals. I like the doctor he sees but what we are doing doesn't seem to help. What to do?

-- Contributed by: Melanie

Hi Rick,

Unless he's been in a fight with another dog and been bitten, this is probably what we call a hot spot. Hot spots are formed when a dog digs and chews at an itchy spot. It can start with something as simple as a flea bite, but the more the dog works at the spot the more irritated the skin becomes. Once the surface of the skin becomes broken, bacteria have an opportunity to infect the wound. The spot looses fur and the area becomes quite inflamed.

I would really recommend that you let your vet take a look at it to be sure that this is what it is. If so, the vet can provide you with an antibiotic cream to treat the spot, and perhaps also prescribe medication to help calm the itching.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a rottweiler pup and he has what look like a open sore on his right thigh, and his hair is very hard in spots on his back it look like he is developing a womb in that location. What might be the cause? Can I do anything short of take him to the Vet.

-- Contributed by: Rick

Hi Myda,

This could be a case of puppy pyoderma, a skin infection that your vet can help you clear up. I wouldn't try to pop any more of the pustules because then you're leaving the skin open to secondary infections.

Many pups get an infection like this, and treatment is fairly routine. Just take your pup in, and I'm sure she'll be good as new.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a lab puppy that is 4 months and she has some skin problem. on her inner side of her legs and stomic she has these bumps that i tryd to squeez and it felt hard but they have a green looking head to them and she has been feeling very tierd not wanting to do anything. i am scard tha t it may be lots of spiter bits i really don't know. what do you think it could be?

-- Contributed by: myda garcia

Hi Jessica,

This could be a case of puppy pyoderma. It's characterized by small pustules. I think you ought to show it to your vet.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have 2 mini dachshunds, both females. One is 6 years old and the other is 10 months old. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a dark patch on the young one's belly. I thought that it was an irritation form the doggie pads I had her wearing while she was in heat, so I just let it be. Now that she's over her heat, the spots have spread. I noticed on small pimple like bump, squeezed it and puss came out. That has since scabbed over. The spots have spread to the insides of her legs. Does this sound like it could be a fungal infection?? I hate to go to the vet and spend more $$ for something that could be cured with a home remedy. Please advise. Thanks.

-Jessica

-- Contributed by: Jessica Stamm

Yes, it's a possibility she's allergic to something in the materials. Flea bites also look like little pink bumps. I'd remove the bed and give her a flea bath, then give it a few days to see if the bumps go away.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a sheltland sheepdog and she is appering to have pink bumps on around her stomach (doesnt have much hair there)we just bought her a new bed about 1 1/2 weeks ago! could it be she is allergic to it? the bumps dont seem to be ichy though. please help me

-- Contributed by: stacie muth
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