Question by truely_blonde_2003: Anyone know much about Bichons and hot spots?
My Bichon keeps getting hot spots and scratching. I’ve tried mild shampoos and ointments. Someone suggested steroid injections, but I don’t want to try that route. Some one else said it’s food allergies Any one else have this problem and a solution ?He’s a rescued dog so I don’t know his history, but the way he runs when he sees a can or spray, or tube of ointment indicates he’s had this problem in the past..

Best answer:

Answer by relswete
well his vet should know if it is hot spots, mange, or a form of allergy. If he doesn’t have suggestions for you I would try another vet because the poor thing is probably miserable! His vet should have also tried an anti-itch pill temporarily to get this under control!

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Question by new_mama2010: What can I do about my American Bulldog’s severe skin allergy?
Hi everyone- my 2 year old American Bulldog only gets this problem in the spring/summer time here in Houston, TX:

it starts as large raised skin bumps/whelps that slowly begin to ooze, then become dry scabs for about a week or two, until finally the scabs fall off and he is left with big bald patches all over his body. The skin looks scaly in the bald areas. Sometimes he gets itchy so he scratches himself so hard he breaks the scabs open and they become bloody and it prolongs the healing process. He acquires a new “booboo” maybe once a week or so…it’s a gradual thing but towards the end of the season he looks like a dog in the ASPCA commercial!

Took him to the vet and they had him on high dose Prednisone pills (but after several months we weaned him off cuz they’re really hard on the body) but as soon as we do the symptoms come back. Vet said we should give him Benadryl daily, which we do, and also to try him on 24-hour non-drowsy Claritin pills (Equate brand Loratadine 10 mg antihistamine). Neither of these seem to be helping at all since he still gets these skin problems. So we put topical Hydrocortisone 1% cream on the bald patches and we have Benadryl gel and spray that we use on the spots where he scratches himself…not sure if he really gets any relief from these either.

The vet suggested allergy testing but it’s several THOUSAND dolllars and the treatment would still be 6+ months and is not guaranteed to work either

PLEASE, if you think you might know what this is, I would love to do some research on it! He is like my child and so I would like to find some relief for him!! Also, if you have any treatment suggestions or references I can look into it would be much appreciated!

Thanks for your help guys I tried my best to describe the booboos to you, but if you would like to see pictures to get a better idea of what I’m talking about, please feel free to email me at jrohrick@yahoo.com and I will be happy to talk with you some more Thanks again, all answers are greatly appreciated!

Best answer:

Answer by Autumn
Ask your vet to refer you to a canine dermatology specialist.

This must be very frustrating for you and your poor dog. Seasonal and environmental allergies are a right pain to try to discover the cause.

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Question by Poodles4ever: How can people be so ignorant about dogs and dog health and nutrition?
Okay so my parents stop by the other night and we tell them about our dogs new food….California naturals…

And they looked at us and asked “Oh your not feeding beneful…we told you to try beneful”

And I replied beneful is not a good food, especially for one that has had the problems that one of ours has

And we explained by getting the better quality food that you pay more upfront but in the long run it costs less because they eat less of it because its more filling

And they were like your dogs are getting the amount of food they need and were like no they are its healthy more filling food.

And we weren’t trying to sell them on it or anything but they are like well our dog is very picky and will only eat beneful she even picks out the colors she doesn’t like….

I’m like thats great but this is what we do

Now my parents think they are well to do and maybe they have a huge house and a status symbol dog…as in a bred down designer poodle….Tiny toy poodle and this dog has had problems..

And they were telling us that she was at the vet for some reason or another and the vet told them her liver levels were high and that she recommends running some tests on her and they told us that since they weren’t that high they were just going to put it off for awhile and they think she will get better….

How naieve can you be?

Ofcourse these are also the people who think my one dog is sickly because he has allergies and doesn’t want anything to do with our other dog because she is “A Big Dog” (yeah a 20 pound big scary dog) and a mutt

I love that dog and I want to tell them to wake up and and realize that what they are doing isn’t best for this dog…after all she was mine at one point when I lived at home…and tell them how to take care of her (I was the primary care giver of the dogs growing up..they just paid for everything) They don’t know what they are doing and I hesitate to say it but maybe they do just consider her an accesory or status symbol but I just wish they would listen

Anybody know where I’m coming from…I just feel for the dog and get so upset trying to explain why we do what we do…

Sometimes they ask for advice but when we give it they shoot it down…

Can I get some support and advice on this…I guess I just need to step back and realize she isn’t my dog anymore
I didn’t take her with me when I moved because she was a family dog and apparently they paid too much for her for me to just get to take her
Just incase anyone asked that
the dog isn’t neglected she has food, water, shelter, I guess love but I wish they would do the test and find a better food
Oh my dog has seasonal respiratory allergies but they are under control…have been for awhile but the change in food helped…my dog is allergic to corn

I can’t even list all the problems there dog has but she is badly bred (designer dog)

Best answer:

Answer by Ty B
The ‘how’ is great marketing. Think about it, the majority of vets (who are generally considered well versed on dog health) typically recommend the WORST food for dogs. Why? Are they stupid or naive? Not really. They just have succumbed to great marketing and salespeople.

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Question by Jason J: 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.

Best answer:

Answer by aok0423
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.

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Question by jimmy dean’s uncle: Can someone please help me on info about allergies/reactions?
over the last 2 weeks i have been having reactions, its happened at home, at work, even 100 miles away in an apartment and in an amusement park

I’ve tried to isolate it but i cant figure it out

i tried switching soaps, detergents, no fabric softeners thinking it was my clothes, even went as far as just using water to shower with

basically i’ve thought it was the following things

food
water
rubber
fabric softener
detergent
soap
dyes
perfumes
animal hair
wool

i have no clue

its happened at work (produce dept, vinyl gloves powdered, food , water, clothes)

home (dog, food, water, clothes)

100 miles away (clothes, food, water, )

i basically have no idea

i am allergic to medical adhesve tape
it appears I’m breaking out on my back as i type this, and i ant wearing a shirt (I’m a guy)
symptoms are

hives/redness on hands, arms, back, that itch,

sometimes on the face(redness, and breakouts around lips

sometimes on the feet (redness and hives)

i ate food at 2pm today (cheese burgers fries, soda)

walked around fine until 5pm then it started to break out on my arms

then i ate a chocolate ice cream cone with nuts on it at 5:30pm

and got home at 9pm after driving 2 hours,

the rest of the symtoms accurred when i was driving and got into house, i took my shirt off just in case.

and i drank luquid benarly to help it

Best answer:

Answer by COUNTRY–GIRL
The best thing to do is see your doctor and have him/her run test for allergies to determine what you are allergic to sounds like the best solution could be whats in the air right now???JUST a GUESS!!!!

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