Question about my dog’s skin conditions.?
My dog has been having a skin problem or a while now. She is an aging Shepard/Collie mix with thick hair.
She has two parts to this condition. The first is scaly, itchy skin on her stomach and back. She often chews at this, as it itches. We’ve taken her to the vet and they give her cortisone shots and that seems to help.
Secondly, she has lots of bumps that form all over her skin. These are in all different sizes and locations.These itch as well and she often chews at the ones she can reach. Once punctured these bumps produce a think, off white looking material as well as blood. The vet says these are subacious cysts filled with oils and residue from blocked hair folicles and goes so far as to encourage us to pop these cysts and drain the wax. This often hurts her though, and I don’t like doing that.
Does anyone know of a reason or condition that would causes symptoms like these? Is it possibly and infection, allergy to something? We’ve tried changing foods, constantly brushing her thick fur, bathing her with mild dog shampoos, and are at an end of things to try.
Tagged with: About • conditions. • Dogs • Question. • Skin
Filed under: Skin Allergies in Dogs
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
It sounds like your dog has an allergy to something. The most common allergy is food. Without taking her to a veterinary dermatologist for skin testing its impossible to be totally sure. The problem with changing foods is that the main ingredients in most commercially available food are the same. Speak to your veterinarian about an approved allergy diet. These special foods are formulated with ingredients that aren’t commonly in regular dog food (Venison and potato, Rabbit and potato) I think that Hill’s also makes a low allergen formula available commercially. Allergies will often cause other skin problems like the sebaceous cysts that you are talking about. You definitely what to drain these cysts even though it hurts her a little they are clogged and will continue to get bigger and more “infected” if you don’t. Shampoos and conditioners that have an oatmeal base are great for dogs with skin problems.
If I am you, I will change my vet. To pop the cysts will only open it to bacterial infection causing your dog more suffering and pain. The white discharge is pus. Has your vet done any skin scrapes to test for the irritants be they bacterial, parasites, mites, etc? Has he given your dog a through medical checkup to rule out other illnesses esp chronic illnesses eg diabetes? At your dog’s age, has your vet tested his liver and kidney function through blood test to see if they’re function well or failing thus affecting his skin condition? Has he taken your dog’s blood to test for allergens in case of environmental allergy? Has he suggested food elimination to find out which foods your dog may be allergic to? Food elimination is a long process which needs adherence and patience on your part.
Due to my dog’s skin allergy, we have tried all the above and it was through blood test that we found out he is allergic to dust mites (actually dust mites’ droppings). I have resorted to cook his meals for him, to eliminate all the poor quality fillings in processed dog food. Also dog food uses non-human quality meats and ingredients.
For skin problem, do give your dog fish oil with omega-3 fatty acid and use a good oatmeal shampoo to sooth his skin irritation. Please take your dog to a good vet for a second opinion as his condition does sound pretty severe.
Your vet should give you something like Sebocalm shampoo for the itchy skin, and antibiotic plus maybe anti fungal to clear up the ‘sebaceous cysts’, and you should change her diet to Senior hypoallergenic lamb and rice kibble.
If there might be fleas or mites then treat the areas of the house where the dog goes with the appropriate chemicals from the vet. Wash all bedding on the hottest possible wash cycle.
My GSD is 14 and he has exactly the same problems.I have a antibiotic shampoo from vets which helps skin to stop itching so much .A little sunflower oil or evening primrose oil in food each day gets rid of the flaky skin.Hope this helps.
Bless her, cysts are often a common problem for aging dogs. I would try the Petnat Dermacton range to give her some comfort and relief. It is all natural and steroid free – antibacterial and antifungal.
Plus if it does not help her you get a money back guarantee. Check out the testimonials here:
http://www.equinat-usa.com/pages/testimonials.htm
The shampoo is wonderful I bath all my dogs with it as preventative maintenance.