Hum. Itchy? Also nub question - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Jazi · 12-22-2012, 10:19 AM

Well I know why Skoll is itchy; the Science Diet and lack of a bath and living in a kennel for two months will do that. But uh. Whenever I touch him, I get itchy too! The area that touched him becomes sensitive to touch and feels like pins and needles, only lasts for a few seconds. Is it possible he rolled in some sort of poison ivy/oak prior to being adopted? Would that still make both of us itchy? I am allergic to dogs, but that affects my nose, not my skin. I can touch every other dog and not have this problem. He's due for a bath once he settles in, perhaps that will fix it.

Also, regarding his nub. I've never had a docked dog before so forgive the n00b question, but is his scar supposed to look nasty? There's a lumpy 1/2 inch thick bump of black scar tissue where he was docked and it seems as though it bothers him. He's constantly licking/chewing at it when he's bored. His fur on his tail grows in a little downward swirl so it covers it for the most part but it just doesn't look normal to me. My grandfather's JRTs are/were docked, one you couldn't even see the scar and one has a small black scar and neither of them are/were bothered by their tails.

**MeadowCat** · 12-22-2012, 10:37 AM

I would maybe do the bath soon, or try some wipes to see if it helps.

As far as the tail, could be a tail dock neuroma. Painful for the dog. There are some threads on it if you do a search.

Hilary · 12-22-2012, 10:40 AM

I am allergic to my girl. When I love on her or play with her it feels like needles in my skin and I get tiny welts all over my arms, neck and face. Real attractive! And these bumps are terribly itchy, I have to do a jedi mind trick on myself not to touch them or else they'll spread and I'll be miserable.

Bathing her helps - A LOT. I find a bath every week or every other week cuts down tremendously on my reaction to her. I use a very mild shampoo so it's gentle on her.

As for the nub, that doesn't sound right. Especially if it's bothering him. I'd have your vet check him out.

Jazi · 12-22-2012, 01:04 PM

Sorry for crappy pic. He doesn't particularly want me messing with it. Doesn't yelp/growl/cry/snap/etc but he moves his butt away when I start touching it. I can touch everywhere else on his nub but that spot. As you can see I have to move the fur out of the way to see it, both the top black and the bottom rust fur swirl over it and hide it from view.

I have anti-dander stuff from long ago when we had GSDs (heavy shedders + dog allergy = fun times), I'll give him a bath in that. I'm wondering though if thyroid trouble would cause at least HIM to be itchy? In a few weeks or so I'm planning on a return visit to the vet for a thyroid panel, hip/elbow xrays, and to inquire about the vetgen test for his vwd status since all of those are unknowns right now.

@Hilary, I thought at first it might be allergies. I don't usually have skin reactions to touching things I'm allergic to, it's mainly digestive and respiratory, and I can literally bury my face in every other dog's skin or coat with no skin rash whatsoever (though I might sneeze!). It's JUST him. No welts, no spreading, just a small red area whereever I touched him and it itches and feels like needles poking me.

Jazi · 12-22-2012, 01:13 PM

Forgot to add, my main concern about his vwd status is less for emergencies and more for a recent scare. This first week has been rough due to some loose stool caused by several factors, some I could control some I could not. Day 2 of loose stool he had blood in it, day 3 it was mostly blood and there was a LOT of it, which prompted me to take him to the vet (I'd called on day 2, called back day 3). They said blood in dogs straining to pass loose stool is normal but mentioned worry over how MUCH blood was coming out. With vwd in the breed I figure it's better safe than sorry.

The situation has cleared up with a strict bland diet and some medications from the vet, no worries, he's 100% back to normal and now we move on to things that are slightly less of a potential emergency. Gave me a good fright though

Dobes&Hounds · 12-22-2012, 07:23 PM

That is NOT right. The black bumps could be ingrown/infected hairs. The scar should never be that big and lumpy.
It could also be as before mentioned a tail dock neuroma.

LindaH · 12-22-2012, 10:36 PM

Get the thyroid test done thru Hemopet, a Dr Jean Dodds lab. Her test can be ordered, have your vet do the blood draw and send it back to Hemopet. Read her site and do the 5 panel for the most thorough results and it's less expensive.

My4BadDogs · 12-22-2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaH

Get the thyroid test done thru Hemopet, a Dr Jean Dodds lab. Her test can be ordered, have your vet do the blood draw and send it back to Hemopet. Read her site and do the 5 panel for the most thorough results and it's less expensive.

I used Dr Jean Dodds thru my vet for Gem's full panel thyroid. Highly recommended.