[JulieA.]

Hello,

My Doberman, Rose, whose 1 year and a half, has some issues with her skin. She has always been flaky and I started using an anti-yeast dandruff control shampoo. This seemed to really help her when no others would. Now, since it's gotten really hot out, she's got these little spots on her and they look like a little warty area that she'll pick at and the hair starts coming off.

She eats a corn free dry food and drinks a lot of water. She's very active and happy.

Since I got her as a puppy, she always seemed to have itchy, irritated skin. She is on Advantage on a regular basis as well.

Does anyone have an idea of what this might be? I've attached photos..

Thanks.

 

[Okie-dobie]

What does your vet say?? Have you had any tests done?? Welcome to the forum.

 

[JulieA.]

I haven't taken her to the vet about it yet. That's why I'm asking here. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[dobebug]

Hello,

My Doberman, Rose, whose 1 year and a half, has some issues with her skin. She has always been flaky and I started using an anti-yeast dandruff control shampoo. This seemed to really help her when no others would. Now, since it's gotten really hot out, she's got these little spots on her and they look like a little warty area that she'll pick at and the hair starts coming off.

She eats a corn free dry food and drinks a lot of water. She's very active and happy.

Since I got her as a puppy, she always seemed to have itchy, irritated skin. She is on Advantage on a regular basis as well.

Does anyone have an idea of what this might be? I've attached photos..

Thanks.

Hi Julie A,

Actually it looks suspiciously like a case of staph to me but it's bad enough that I'd take her in to her vet. I don't know where you and Rose live but if it's anywhere that tends to be both hot and humid that will trigger bouts of staph like you wouldn't believe.

But there are certainly some other things that it also might be--and the vet can check for those too. I'd also have them do scrapings to rule out either type of mange (demodex or sarcoptic).

Just as a cautionary note--those anti-dandruff shampoos can help some skin conditions but are fairly harsh and will also sometimes backfire and cause an irritation. A good case of folliculitis with a additional bacterial infection (sometimes staph) will also look a lot like that.

I've got a set of instructions for bathing dogs and will see if I can repost it here. Basically people tend to use water too hot--it should be almost cold--tepid--just barely off cold. You should never use your finger nails to scrape back and forth in a dogs coat (particularly a short haired dogs coat) to lather them up--it can cause folliculitis. You should always dilute the shampoo that you are using and apply in the direct the hair lies with a wash cloth and take longer to rinse than you did to wash as any residual shampoo can in itself cause irritation.

It's possible that she has food allergies that trigger the itching--it's as likely that improper bathing is causing the dandruff as not. But corn, even though it can be an allergin seems to get most of the bad raps on grain--another common one is either wheat or glutin which can be contained in things other than wheat.

But that coat and skin looks bad enough to warrent a trip to the vet.

 

[dobieman]

Skin allergies are common and most point to diet IMO.
Try a change to a premium food or even better go natural
Its an easy thing to try (diet change) and very effective. No disrepect to any vets on this board but most vets I have seen just throw antbiotics at it and the cause isnt delt with and the problems return. With these type skin issues a food with minimum amount of ingredients is a better choice - less potential allergens.
I wash about two or three times a year so dont wash too frequently either.
Sometimes a blown or poor coat is a symptom of other issues also. I am assumimg your baby is healthy otherwise?

 

[Luvbirds]

Do you give Fish Oil and Vit E? I'll tell you...Petey is Raw or cooked fed and his coat is amazing. Before he was on Raw...he had tons of dandruff....all of it went away.

I'd go to the vet to start and make sure it isn't medical....and then if it isn't, definitely change her food to a premium kibble, cooked or raw.

Carol

 

[robinb]

It looks to me like Staph. I would take her to the vet and get her on a round of antibiotics. At the same time go with a high end kibble or raw, plus vitamins. Also I would use Salmon oil daily.

I went though a couple of rounds of staph this spring and summer with Rex. The first two times the anitbiotics worked but the staph came back after dog shows (stress at the shows) so I finally went to Colostrum from the health food store, four 500 mg pills for 4 days and that cured it, along with limited use of Sebolux shampoo from my vet. However the staph that Rex had was not as far along as on yours. I agree with the post above re using cooler water for the bath.

Also taking her to the vet can rule out anything else. Staph is pretty common in young dobes, especially in the summer.

Best of luck

Robin and Rex

 

[alwayshadpets]

I agree with everyone else--a trip to the vet is needed. If it is staph which it could be. A 30 day supply usually does the trick along with a shampoo made for folliculitis. When it clears up ask your vet what you can do to help prevent flare ups. This will probably occur again.

 

[MaryAndDobes]

I will agree with the others that it is likely is a staph infection and probably does require a round of cephalexin. When it's bad, it sometimes takes an extended period, sometimes as long as 6 weeks.

I will disagree with the others about adding supplements such as vitamin e, salmon oil, etc. I have nothing against them, mind you, and I use them on some of my dogs but in my experience, some red Dobermans do NOT respond well to supplementation and less is more in their cases.

Case in point, I have an 8 year old female, Rory. Rory grew up with the owner of her sire and came back to me to be shown when she was 2 (and never went back, but that's another story). When she came back, her coat was lovely. She ate Pro Plan Turkey and Barley. Before long, I was throwing the same supplements into her dish that I gave the others - vitamins C & E. She was getting some extra baths because we were showing her. Before long, she looked like crap. Not a lot different than your girl. My reaction was to do even more. Better food, more supplements, better shampoos, etc. And she needed antibiotics too. After struggling along for some time, it dawned on me. What was Rory getting when she arrived and she looked fine? Pro Plan Turkey and Barley and nothing else. I dropped the supplements, returned to her food, stopped bathing her and just let her be. She is one of those "less is more" dogs.

Periodically, I've started her on vitamin C and E, and salmon oil and switched her to Canidae (for incontinence purposes) and each time, her coat takes a dive. She's back to no supplements and good old Pro Plan Turkey and Barley (for some reason, my reds tend to respond very well to it). I use Nova Pearls shampoo, which is rich and moisturizing, and I only bathe her a couple of times a year.

 

[natdobe]

My rat terrier had something similar to that when we lived in North Carolina, but it was mild. She did have a few more spots than your dobe, but her vet didn't put her on anything. She told me if it got worse to bring her back and she would try antibiotics. Since we've moved back to west Texas, it hasn't bothered her again. Please give us an update if you take her to the vet.

 

[les strat]

Maggie's little pimple spot on her chin has responded well to Neosporin if that is any help. I figure it's probaly staph. If it is recurring, I'd then try some antibiotics.

Good luck!

 

[charlesmdodson]

What exactly is the main food source?

I would second the notion of switching to something ultra-premium or raw.

 

[tjmom]

Maggie's little pimple spot on her chin has responded well to Neosporin if that is any help. I figure it's probaly staph. If it is recurring, I'd then try some antibiotics.

Good luck!

Both of our previous dobies had problems with chin pimples. You can also use peroxide on the chin to help clear it up if it gets too bad. Usually they get them in their "teenage" years.

 

[BackInBlack]

Ziris had something very similar to this when she was little. The vet put her on antibiotics for two weeks and cleared up for the most part, about a week later it was back. They gave me a special medicated shampoo to wash her with, once every 3 days for 2 weeks, then once a week for 2 weeks. I also requested 30 days of antibiotics that time. It fully cleared up, and has never come back.

Good Luck.

 

[BackInBlack]

You might also have her thyroid tested.

 

[Riagogogo]

Yep......Rudi has developed at patch on his flank that is a little lighter in color and his hair along his back is not as thick as it once was.....since I switched him to Innova EVO, his stinkiness has gone away and his coat is much shinier, but I am also going to have his thyroid tested at our vet visit in a month or so, just to be sure he isn't hypo. Most dobes should be tested every so often for thyroid....so I hear.

 

[les strat]

You might also have her thyroid tested.

I have dealt with hyo-thyroidism, and this really doesn't fit those symptoms at all. it's more just like pimples, which in dobes, is usually staph.

I will still have her thyroid checked at 2 years.

 

[ReDobie4Kev]

If I remember correctly, Lukas also had a couple of bald spots. We did Benadryl, Antibiotics, nothing helped, Doc finally said let's just leave him alone and see if it clears. We left it alone. Switched to Canidae at 6 months and he hasn't had those spots since. I think it may have just been skin irritation that cleared on its own. Though we do add a tsp of olive oil to his food from time to time to keep his skin dandruff free and coat shiny!

So in conclusion, it was probably the diet change that helped Lukas the most.

 

[les strat]

Maggie has been on Chicken Soup and/or Natural Balance, and I haven't had that typical food allergy skin problem (itchy skin, bad coat, hot spots, etc.). These are just pimples in a little 1" patch on her mandible right in the front.

 

[JulieA.]

Thank's guys. I did take Rose to the vet and she does have a staph infection. They gave me Cephalexin 500 mg capsules and Seba-Moist, a prescription shampoo. I have changed her diet to Nature's Recipe/Large Breed about 2 weeks ago and her coat is SOOO shiny!

The vet told me to try Pro Plan sensitive skin diet or something. Anyone heard of this and like it?

I will post photos of her to compare in the next few days.