natdobe

Skyler has been battling staff off and on for awhile. Well, first I'm not asking for a diagnosis, just thoughts, experience, etc. She is also on thyroid supplement, and as of right now, her levels are back to normal. I'm just wondering if her low thyroid could have been the cause of recurring staff infections, and maybe it's just going to take a few months for her skin to recover? I am going to call her vet, BUT I'm not sure when I can get her in. I think her vet is in surgery today anyway. Skyler will be three next month, so it's not typical puppy staff. She only has a few bumps, but one day she will be fine, then the next her skin will be very flakey around the bumps. She does have some old bumps that are dried out. She has been on antibiotics off and on for a few months, and I don't know if she just wasn't on them long enough or what? The longest dosage she had was two weeks, but after a couple of weeks two new bumps came up. Could it be that she's allergic to something, and if so, could it be food related, etc.? If anyone can offer any assistance, it would be greatly appreciated. It's just so frustrating! She is acting fine, it's just bugging the $h** out of me! Thank you for your time.

chaos

I can't answer the thyroid question, but Arthur had staph..He is on antibiotics and the vet put him on 3V tabs and a medicated shampoo (can't remember the name) that I have to bath him twice a week in. I leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. It also makes him smell wonderful. The treatment cleared the bumps up and his coat is amazing now. The 3V have fish oil, EPA and DHA in them. I give him two a day and will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

ellenm

Each of my dogs have had a bout of staph....and they were on 3x day antibiotics for 4 weeks, or more....could have been 6 weeks...but I think it was 4 weeks.

I remember my vet saying they needed to be on the medication for quite a while to kill off everything as it is tough to get rid of and can come back if they were taken off too early.

Maybe one of the vets on here will chime in, but I'd talk to your vet about type of antibiotic and length of treatment? Taking them off it and then the staph coming back is just creating antibiotic resistant staph- not good! If it is really allergies and your dog keeps getting reexposed, then the situation changes. Have you kept track of when the bumps show up...after a certain protein is fed? After a run at a certain park/area? Is it food allergies or environmental? Lots of possibilities. You may want a consult with a dermatologist to rule out things.

natdobe

The antibiotics she was on was simplicef. I may see what my vet thinks about changing antibiotics and keeping her on them longer, AND maybe allergy testing. I haven't used any new protein. Treats are the same too. We always take her to the same school to run at. So, I have no idea, it's just bugging me. It is has been very dry here in west Texas and very windy lately. I am hoping one of the vets on here may have an idea. I know I will try to get in to see her vet tomorrow or Friday. She is a good, honest vet. She told me that she sees a lot of dobies and schnauzers that battle staph. Anway thanks to you and to Chaos for the help.

Linda H

I have some allergies with Parker and my vet also prescribed the simplicef for his staph. I think it is the standard treatment. He had three bouts with it. I am having a hard time remembering details but I was dealing with either enviormental or food allergies or both. I have decided both now. I tried various brands of foods and he seemed to show a pretty quick reaction to foods with chicken. He would scratch some but mainly chew his feet, also a quick body shake. I used the winter to check out foods feeling I would have a better opportunity to figure out a food allergy when there wasn't a bunch of pollen flying around. For the enviormental allergies I use benedryl. One per 25# body weight. It has helped tremendously for him. Dollar General Store has a bottle of 100 for 3.50. Some people have mentioned cheaper places but I didn't have them here so don't remember them. I think Wal Mart was one. Got a WMart but I would burn more gas than I saved in money going there.
I feed the California Natural Lamb Meal and Rice as it is a food for allergy dogs with simple ingredients.
Staph and allergies go hand in hand.

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DreamDoby

Is this the blue one that you have? I had a period of recurrent staph that I went through with Asher. I use now a leave-in conditioner with tea tree oil on him to continue to try to keep him good. *knock on wood* we have been good for a few years.

When he had his recurrent staph, we did the usual simplicef for some weeks and I used the tea tree oil or listerine mixture especially on the area affected.

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natdobe

No, it's my red girl. So far my blue who just turned 2 is doing great! He is the sweetest boy, a total mommy's boy. We just got back from the vet, and she gave her another round of antibiotics, medicated shampoo, and 3V capsules. She also wants me to try her on Pro Plan for sensitive skin and stomach for a couple of months or so. I'm hoping all this will work. We will see. Thanks to all who replied to my post!