Romeo has a little skin problem

RomeoTheDawg · 05-21-2008, 08:12 PM

Romeo has this weird pimples on his head right after he got his hat off from the cropping, He had it since that time. It has been about 2 weeks the vet said if it doesnt go away then we should do tests. They are a crop of pimples if I touch them it feels like little bumps on his head. Pictures are attached. Also he had some bald spots on the top right paw. It doesnt seem to get bigger or anything. I will be going to the vet tom. I just wanted to maybe see if you guys had experienced this before.

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**BlackandTans** · 05-21-2008, 08:22 PM

My girl has had MANY skin issues similar... What is he eating again? Her's were usually do to skin / food allergies... We had to change her food about 6 times to finally find one that worked for her. She has had 2 MAJOR breakouts and then she will just get little ones now and then. Are they spreading or anything over his head since you first took the cone off? Do you notice it anywhere else at all?

**berkshire** · 05-21-2008, 09:05 PM

Tucker had them too. I would guess that they're irritated skin follicles (folliculitis). If they're what Tucker had, they'll go away eventually.

RomeoTheDawg · 05-21-2008, 09:59 PM

They do not spread, Just stay in the same place, i'm actually happy its on his head. He cant scratch it.

chrislovessushi · 05-21-2008, 10:43 PM

Interesting...I came to the forum seeking advice on this exact same issue..only mine is a bit more severe.

The dog is only 7 weeks old, when we got him, about 5 days ago, his skin was very dry, almost scaly. Lots of little "pimples" and bumps. Also a lot of hair loss and peeling. His head is the bumpiest, but his back and above his tail is the baldest.

The little guy was being fed Old Roy (ugh) mixed with either water or goats milk, depending on what they felt like giving them that day...It's sad, I know. We (me and my girlfriend) saw him and HAD to take him in.

We took him to our vet (which is awesome) on monday and she did a few tests on the little guy. He tested negative for any parasites in his fecies, negative for demodex/red mange, and also negative for a yeast infection. Our vet told us that more than likely the hair loss was due to a bacterial infection caused by stress and malnutrition. This little guy and his littermates had it pretty rough. So she gave us an anti-biotic (Clavomax) and a anti-fungal/bacterial shampoo (Malaseb) which we have washed him in once and will do every other day until his next check up (Tuesday).

As an update, his skin has cleared up a LOT since his first washing with the Malaseb. The bumps are down if not all gone and he doesnt look nearly as dry and scaly...he still looks pretty rough though. There was also a very loud smell coming from him. I recognized the smell from a bacterial infection my first dog contracted during a pretty stressful time. That smell is now completely gone. As for his fur, if I pinch any spot that's still left on him and pull it then it will come out in clumps...not actually "clumps"...but you know...atleast 4 or 5 strands. We also switched his food from that god awful old roy to a mixture of science diet and mighty dog lamb and rice. Our last vet weigh-in was 7lbs which as far as I've read is normal for his age.

Any input would be AWESOME as we're really new to dobermans. I've been wanting a larger dog and he sort of fell into our lap. If you guys would like to hear his sad story I'll be posting it in the new members section. Thanks for reading.

RomeoTheDawg · 05-21-2008, 10:50 PM

Welcome aboard Sushi, congrads on your doggie. I wish you luck and thanks for your posting. Use this forum as a dobi bible and you will succeed in having a great dog. It sure has helped me since I got Romeo now he is almost 4 months old.

chrislovessushi · 05-21-2008, 11:19 PM

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to owning a Doberman

chrislovessushi · 05-22-2008, 12:06 AM

I hate to hijack your thread, Romeo, I'm going to start a new one but I'll keep checking back here so we can swap info and possible causes, and cures.

**reisende** · 05-22-2008, 12:48 AM

romeo:

moonshine has the EXACT same problem. your photos of the bumps might are really helpful - I identify them as the same problem moonshine has.

moonshine used to have more of those bumps, ranging from his sides of his face, his hips, and sometimes his shoulders. after two or three days, the bumps flatten out and becoming a scab, which if you peel off gently, three or so hair will come out with it. the area (very small) will be bald (not noticable unless you look at his fur from an angle) but after a while the hair will grow back.

breeder says it is 'sensitive skin' which will go away when he hits over one years old. I'm not so sure about that, but meanwhile I've been giving him oily fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines) and you could try giving him omega3 supplements (go easy on it initially). what are you feeding him?

when I first got moony, the bumps on the side of his face and neck were horrendous. too many of them. but since he came home (from quarantine) he got better, and now there are only about 4 to 5 bumps on him at any one time, and usually limited to his thighs or shoulders - usually areas where there is a lot of contact with the ground when he lies down. I suspect it could truly just be sensitive skin which doesn't take well to rubbing against dirt on the floor. it doesn't bother him at all - not itchy.

as for bits of hair loss, moony also has that too, but very small areas (like 1/5 of an inch).

he has also got 'elephant skin' on elbows and bum/hips - probably he has got a thin coat and it rubs against the floor.

just monitor it for a while more. if it becomes itchy, or seem to bother him, bleeds, etc, then a vet trip might be good. good luck!

**velmadobe** · 05-22-2008, 07:19 AM

someone else with a lot more knowledge could help you more than I could, but I would suspect a case of puppy staph - the antibiotic should help.

Good quality food helps - I would also consider starting some vit C ... start small and work up to 500mg two times a day for a total of 1000 mgs.