Sadies_dad

Hello all -- I am new to this site and hoping for help with a recurring skin problem.

Sadie is a 2 y.o. black dobe; we got her spring 2008. Last summer she had skin problems with small bumps, some pustular, more around her neck and shoulders but also on her back. Took her to the vet where she had a scraping and has been treated variously with antibiotics for staph, anti-histamines, and short courses of prednisone. We never clearly identified the problem but as summer passed so did her skin trouble.

About 4-6 weeks ago she had another flare-up. In addition to small lumps she has scaling and some areas where her hair is thinning. We've given her a short course of prednisone and she's been on anti-histamines (Loratidine). She gets rare baths; we did bathe her with a shampoo from the vet recently, Benzoyl-Plus. Two days ago she was at our "dog park" and did some wading in the intracoastal waterway and in the last 2 days has had a terrible flare-up, covered with small bumps, no real pustules and no odor.

She has been on the same diet for about a year without any change: "Hundenflocken Gold". We have been giving her some Flax seed with her meals and for a couple of weeks also added fish oil capsules.

A KEY OBSERVATION: she does NOT seem to itch significantly. I don't know if this is a helpful differential point.

She has NOT had thyroid testing -- we plan to do this.

We're heading for the vet tomorrow but based on last year's visits not optimistic that we'll get a clear answer.

Thanks in advance for any help and ideas!

Darkevs

Hard to say for sure, any stressful events happen lately, could be thyroid, an allergy, hives or a staph infection, possibly a food intolerance. Maybe try a change of food and see if it helps. I know the Solid Gold foods are a quality brand but does the one you feed have any wheat products in it?

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sam&macksmom

I would consider seeing a veterinary dermatologist. I am by no means a vet but I've heard of dobe's with Crushings- high levels of cortisol causing hair loss and skin irritation. Ask the vet about this...

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Chatty

Niko has skin allergies. I was wondering about wheat as well. He has been off all poultry. I should research wheat more!

Sorry, back to your baby- I have luck with antibiotic when he has a flare up. It is not at all a permanent solution but it helps the itching and redness.

Do the thyroid test. Good luck to you skin issues are a pain.

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melbrod

Kip's dermatologist said August and September are generally the worst months as far as allergies go--that even a dog without too much problem can really flare up. Is this flare-up at about the same time as last year's??

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Sadies_dad

Thanks all for your comments. No recent stress. Her skin looks the same as last year but over the last 2-3 days she has had a rapid flare and is covered with bumps. Odd thing is it really doesn't seem to bother her.

I don't think it is her diet since she's been on the same food for months. I believe the Hundenflocken gold is based on lamb.

It did occur to me that for her birthday (8/30) she got a frozen treat, a doggie ice cup which turns out to be chicken broth. Maybe that contributed to her flare??

feverone

Peace and kindness spray.....it works amazing! thats all i use and anything is gone within a couple of days ;-)
Try it , it will shock you.
jmho

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Deb

Kaiserboy

Hello and welcome to the forum.
My Kaiser has kinda the same symptoms, his problem is allergies. Has your vet suggested running any blood work to see maybe if you could find out if yours has allergies and if so to what.?
We have just done this along with Thyroid tests. It has come back he has household allergies.

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Apollo

go check this side out,there you get alot of info's what you can do and what you should feed. if i would you i would change her food, to something better, like Taste od the Wild and please read the side.

Storm's Regimen

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mo_miami

Hi, I cannot believe how i did not see your post before. I live in Miami, i had exactly the same issue. I have her under treatment under a dermatologist. I hardly ever log in in here. she has been treated for bartonella (cat scracht disease). Im just extremely curious, since you live in Florida, where did you get Sadie? iam very interested to know all these, since I never really believed she had bartonella but something transmmited from her mom. I hope Sadie is ok. Mine has a special suit that has help a lot (k9 topcoat) i would really appreciate if you could email me , since i hardly ever use this mo.vg@hotmail.com would be faster. i would really like to know if you got her from the same place as me
thanks so much

LindaH

Check the dates on this thread. It is over 3 yes old. The OP hasn't been back since 11/09. Sorry ...

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JennZilla

whoops. old thread.

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