[Bleuberrius22]

Hi... Here is my dilemma... Bleuberri (my chow/shepherd or coyote mix... vet thinks it's coyote) has eaten his back half raw in a matter of days. A little background might help... We have recently moved to Birmingham, AL from Minnesota. While we were up there he occasionally would have a "hot spot" but with a little hydrocortisone and time it always got better. When we moved here last year he was doing well until around June... I read that the humidity can effect chow breeds but it seemed to get better after a few good baths, lotion to keep his skin moist etc. Then he was back to his beautiful self! Throughout the fall and winter he stopped the behavior. Well now it has come back and with a vengeance. He is scratch all the time and most the time he is just making the motion and not even scratching himself. I have tried medicated baths, oatmeal baths, fish oil, antihistamines, and antiseptic "no bite" spray! I have finally found a vet here but can't get in until Monday. I was just hoping that someone out there might be able to point me in the right direction as to what I should ask the vet or if they have had the same issues what the diagnosis was and the resulting treatment!!
Thanks!!

[cigwyllt]

What a distressing situation for you both. Is his coat very thick? Would he feel more comfortable if he was clipped? I don't know - I'm just thinking off the top of my head - it could be worth talking to a professional groomer to get their opinion.

As for the possible causes - there could be as many causes as there are dogs! Allergy to wheat? A specific meat? Some sort of household product? I'm in the UK and here the cost of allergy testing is prohibitive if you do not have insurance.

Has he been tested for skin mites? Mange?

Could he have behaviour problems - ie could it be habit rather than a physical problem?

I'm sorry I haven't any other ideas - hopefully someone will have some suggestions for you.

[CorkyMax]

As cigwyllt mentioned ---it could be many things. One thing that came to my mind is allergy to flea bites.---Especially as this seems to get worse in the 'flea months' but the warm weather months there could be a lot of different allergies too but if I had to guess only one --it would be fleas.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

As cigwyllt mentioned ---it could be many things. One thing that came to my mind is allergy to flea bites.---Especially as this seems to get worse in the 'flea months' but the warm weather months there could be a lot of different allergies too but if I had to guess only one --it would be fleas.

I was thinking the same thing. Could be an allergy to fleas or just a bad case of them. Do you see any fleas on or near the dog? As previously noted, could be mange or a number of things. Are there still visable hotspots?

Here is a lot of info I dug up and compiled from online. Gave this answer before. Sorry it'a a bit long. I'd gibe the link but I don't believe it' all from the same site...

"Sounds like it could be a few things. It could be an ear infection such as ear mites or it could be an allergy such as an enviromental or food allergy causing your dog's ears to itch. Has your vet looked at this? If not I'd recommend going to the vet and having him or her take a look/take necessary tests. Meanwhile, here's some info I found online that could be the cause. You may want to suggests these to your vet as well;

In addition to allergies, there are other diseases which can cause your dog to scratch, lick, or pull on his hair. A short description of these conditions such as mange, cancer, behavioral problems, and infections, along with their diagnosis and treatment, are included in the table below. Many of the more uncommon conditions are listed as well. This large number of conditions helps you understand why a quick diagnosis may be difficult to make and various diagnostic tests may need to be performed. The most common conditions causing licking and scratching are color-coded gray in the table (some may be more common in certain geographical areas).



Condition Description
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Acanthosis nigricans Inherited form seen in Dachshunds; secondary form caused by friction, hormonal abnormalities, or hypersensitivities Darkening of the skin; in secondary form see scratching and hair loss History, physical exam; in secondary form, testing to determine underlying cause Primary: No treatment; Secondary: Treat underlying disease; in some cases, steroids and Vitamin E supplementation

Acral lick dermatitis (neurodermatitis)
Self-licking in dogs results in self-trauma; possible causes include anxiety, boredom, stress (e.g., new member in household); licking can develop into an

obsessive behavior
Red, hairless, well-circumscribed, sometimes raised lesion usually on the leg; if chronic, will drain
Exclude other causes; history important
Relieve underlying cause e.g., anxiety; restrict licking, e.g., Elizabethan collar; behavior modifying medication may be necessary

Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis
An allergic reaction following exposure to antibiotics applied to the skin; metals such as nickel; materials such as rubber, wool, and plastic; and chemicals such as dyes and carpet deodorizers; or inflammation caused by irritating substances such as poison ivy. Generally requires multiple exposures.
Red skin and small bumps or blisters on the areas of skin that are sparsely haired and directly exposed to the offending substance; itching; hair loss in chronic conditions

Patch test, exclusion trials
Restrict exposure to the allergen or contact irritant in the dog's environment; steroids, antihistamines

Atopy (allergic inhalant dermatitis)
Allergic reaction to something airborne, such as pollen, house dust mites, and mold
Licking of feet, inflamed ears, itching, redness, and hair loss; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Intradermal or serologic (blood) testing for allergies
Reduce exposure to allergen (what the dog is allergic to); steroids, fatty acid supplements, biotin, antihistamines, shampoos, or immunotherapy

Bacterial infection (pyoderma)

See Folliculitis, Staph hypersensitivity
Often occurs as a result of another condition such as a parasite, allergic, or hormonal condition

Bee, wasp, hornet stings Skin reactions can vary dramatically in severity Immediately after the bite, see swelling, redness, pain, possibly itching; subsequently may develop extensive ulcers with draining; may develop hives or anaphylaxis History, physical exam Antihistamines, steroids; wet dressings, if ulcerated; protect the area from self-inflicted trauma
Calcinosis cutis Mineralization of the skin usually due to an excess of corticosteroids; also rarely occurs in kidney failure, or in granulomas and tumors Hard nodules and papules usually on the back, groin, or axilla ulcerate, drain, and develop crusts; severe itching; may become infected; often see other signs of Cushing's disease Skin scrapings, biopsy, history, and other clinical signs, adrenal gland function tests If due to glandular tumors, selegiline, o,p-DDD (Mitotane), or surgical removal of tumor; if due to high steroid doses, withdraw use of steroids slowly

Cheyletiella (rabbit fur mite) mange
Infection with the Cheyletiella mite
Itching, scaliness; some hair loss, if severe
Skin scraping and microscopic examination - the mite is often very difficult to find Pyrethrin, Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Chiggers (harvest mites)
Seasonal disease caused by larvae of the chigger
Itching, bumps usually on feet, abdomen, folds at base of ears
Visualization of mite larvae or microscopic examination of skin scraping
Pyrethrin, Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Demodectic mange(red mange, puppy mange)
Infection with the Demodex mite - occurs when the immune system is deficient
Hair loss, scaliness, redness, pustules, ulcers, sometimes itching, darkening of the skin
Skin scraping and microscopic examination
NO Steroids

Amitraz (Mitaban) dips

Drug or injection reaction Rare skin reaction to a drug which is inhaled, given orally, or applied topically; more common with penicillins, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins; usually occurs within 2 weeks of giving the drug Can vary widely and may include itching, hair loss, redness, swelling, papules, crusts, ulcers, and draining wounds History of being treated with a drug, symptoms, biopsy Discontinue offending drug; treat symptomatically

Ear mites
Infection with Otodectes
Intense itching of ears, redness, dark crumbly discharge in ears
Direct visual or microscopic examination of ear discharge
Clean ears and apply medication containing pyrethrin (Ear Miticide)

Epitheliotropic lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) Rare cancer of T lymphocytes seen in older dogs Can take multiple forms: redness with itching and scale; ulcers and loss of pigment; one or more nodules; oral ulcers Needle or other biopsy Poor response to treatments, which include chemotherapy, surgical removal, retinoids, fatty acids
Flea allergy dermatitis (flea bite hypersensitivity)
Severe reaction by the animal to the saliva of the flea
Intense itching, redness, hair loss, papules, crusts, and scales; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Presence of fleas; reaction to intradermal testing
Flea control in the environment and on the dog; steroids and antihistamines for the itching

Folliculitis Infection of the hair follicles, often with staph bacteria; symptoms usually appear on skin with less hair, such as the abdomen (belly) Pustules form in follicles and break open to form 'bull's-eye,' 'annular,' and 'target lesions,' which have crusty centers and red or darkening on the periphery, and 'epidermal collarettes,' which appear as rings of scaly skin; itching may occur; short-coated breeds may develop small tufts of hair which are lost; breeds with long coats may have seborrhea Skin scraping; culture; biopsy Antibiotics for at least 4 weeks - continue antibiotics 10 days beyond the apparent cure; if recurs, look for underlying problem such as allergy or hormonal imbalance

Food Allergies
Allergic reaction to something in the diet
Licking of feet, inflamed ears, itching, redness, and hair loss; sometimes development of infection or hot spots
Food elimination trials
Change in diet

Hookworms
Infection with the larvae (immature forms) of hookworms
Red bumps, usually on feet, rough foot pads, abnormal nail growth, itching
Physical exam, history of poor sanitation
Treat for intestinal infection; move dog to different environment

Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis)
Result from allergies, flea bites, mange, anal gland disease, poor grooming, ear infections, plant awns or burrs, arthritis
Hair loss; red, moist, oozing skin; constant licking or scratching
Physical exam and history
Treat underlying condition; clean area; apply Domeboro solution; topical and/or oral antibiotics and steroids

Lice
Infection with several species of lice
Variable; itching, hair loss, crusts, rough hair coat
Finding lice or nits on skin or hair
Pyrethrin, ivermectin (off-label use*), Permethrin (Do NOT use permethrin on cats.)

Lymphoma
Common cancer in dogs; can involve the skin
Itching, ulcers, nodules, redness
Biopsy
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation; lymphoma of the skin does not usually respond to treatment as well as other lymphomas

Malassezia
Usually follows some other underlying disease
Itching, redness, hair loss, greasy scales; if chronic, develop

hyperpigmentation
Skin scraping/smear and microscopic examination, culture
Treat underlying disease; oral ketoconazole; miconazole shampoos

[Todd]

CONT...

Pelodera dermatitis
Accidental infection with larvae from a non-parasitic worm that lives in straw and other organic material
Affects areas of skin touching ground; intense itching, redness, hair loss, papules, crusts, scales
Skin scraping and microscopic examination
Remove bedding; mild antibacterial shampoo; steroids if necessary to control itching

Pemphigus foliaceus The most common form of pemphigus in the dog; an autoimmune disease; some breeds are at increased risk Often affects feet and head; starts with pustules and progresses to severe crusting; depigmentation of the nose is common; itching may occur; if footpads and nails affected often see lameness; symptoms wax and wane; severely affected animals may have fever and loss of appetite History, physical exam, skin scraping and biopsy Corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive therapy, gold injections

Pyoderma-superficial
See Folliculitis, Staph hypersensitivity

Ringworm
Infection with several types of fungus
Hair loss, scaliness, crusty areas, pustules, vesicles, some itching; can develop a draining nodule called a 'kerion' Culture
Miconazole, lime sulfur dips; oral griseofulvin or itraconazole

Sarcoptic mange

Infection with the Sarcoptes mite
Intense itching and self-trauma, hair loss, papules, crusts, and scales
Skin scraping and microscopic examination - the mite is often very difficult to find

Amitraz (Mitaban) dips (off-label use*); ivermectin (off-label use*)

Schnauzer comedo syndrome Uncommon; only seen in Miniature Schnauzers Comedones (black heads) on back, mild itching; may see secondary infection, thinning of hair; small crusts may develop Clinical signs, breed, skin biopsy Long-term antiseborrheic shampoos; sometimes antibiotics and retinoids
Sebaceous adenitis Sebaceous glands are destroyed, cause unknown; certain breeds more susceptible Short-haired breeds: circular areas of hair loss with fine scale; long-haired breeds: more widespread hair loss and scale, hair mats easily; may see itching in all breeds Clinical signs, breed, skin biopsy Antiseborrheic shampoos, fatty acid supplements; in more severe cases, steroids, retinoids

Seborrhea Can be primary (inherited) or secondary (resulting from other disease processes such as allergies, hypothyroidism) Scales; depending upon the type, may have a dry or oily coat; odor; some scratching; may see hair loss Blood tests, skin scraping, etc., to find underlying cause Treat underlying cause if present; antiseborrheic shampoos; fatty acid supplements
Skin cancer See Lymphoma

Skin fold pyoderma (intertrigo) Inflammation of skin that contacts other skin, e.g., lips, facial folds (on Bulldogs, for instance), vulva, tail, toes, and bodies of obese dogs Red, oozing area; crusts; often becomes infected and may develop odor Clinical signs; skin scraping and tape impression smears Clip and cleanse area; keep area clean; medicated shampoos; topical antibiotics; treat underlying condition, e.g., increased tears from eye disease, obesity, allergy

Staph hypersensitivity Rare disease in dogs caused by an allergic reaction to the bacteria Staphylococcus; often occurs in the presence of other skin diseases Red skin, pustules, vesicles, severe itching, and sometimes crusts Culture, biopsy, intradermal allergy test Treat any underlying disease; antibiotics

Superficial necrolytic dermatitis of Miniature Schnauzers Skin reaction to shampoos (usually insecticidal or medicated) Papules, ulcers with drainage; develop 2-3 days after exposure to the shampoo; may also see fever and depression Breed, history of exposure, clinical signs Treat symptomatically
Tail dock neuroma Nerve regrowth after tail docking causes symptoms Nodule at site of docking, itching with self-mutilation, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation History and symptoms Surgical removal

Tick bites Ticks cause a local inflammation in the skin, even when the entire tick is removed Nodule and redness at site of the bite; may itch and develop crusts; may last several months History Remove the tick; use a tick preventive; allow nodule to resolve on its own

Urticaria (hives) Reaction, often allergic, to insect bite, drug, vaccine, sunlight, etc. Multiple swellings, with hair standing up over swellings; may itch History, physical exam Often resolves on its own; in the case of allergic reactions, antihistamines, epinephrine, or corticosteroids depending upon severity.

In the meantime, here are a few natural remedies to clean the ears and relieve itching;

Treating a Dog's Ear Infection Without Antibiotics

Cure Your Pet?s Ear Infections

Itching Home Remedies and Natural Cures for skin irritation

Some Useful Home Remedies for Dogs Dry Itchy Skin and Other Skin Ailments

*See vet for official diagnosis which is very important. Good luck.

[Bleuberrius22]

To everyone that sent in a reply.... Thank you!!!! After taking my little guy to the vet she said that it is allergies... especially since we are not from this area and it seems to be a seasonal issue. She gave him a cortisone shot and he seems to be doing better! I'm so happy for him!! Hopefully he will soon be back to his beautiful self!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Bleuberrius22

To everyone that sent in a reply.... Thank you!!!! After taking my little guy to the vet she said that it is allergies... especially since we are not from this area and it seems to be a seasonal issue. She gave him a cortisone shot and he seems to be doing better! I'm so happy for him!! Hopefully he will soon be back to his beautiful self!

Did the vet mention what type of allergy? Food allergy, seasonal allergy, flea allergy? It's important to pin point the root cause of the allergy in order to prevent future reactions. The shot will only help temporarily.

[Bleuberrius22]

Todd -- The said that it is seasonal allergies due to the fact that we have only been living in Alabama a little over a year and I have been feeding him the same food for over 7 years. The cortisone has really helped!! She did say that I may have to bring him back in 2 months for one more booster before the fall season. But at least he is happier and his little scabs are starting to go away and he is getting his hair back!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Bleuberrius22

Todd -- The said that it is seasonal allergies due to the fact that we have only been living in Alabama a little over a year and I have been feeding him the same food for over 7 years. The cortisone has really helped!! She did say that I may have to bring him back in 2 months for one more booster before the fall season. But at least he is happier and his little scabs are starting to go away and he is getting his hair back!

What are the boosters for? Vaccinations can be very dangerous and harmful and it is recommended you have them done when neccessary only (get titers test to see if they are necessary every 3 years). This goes for standard vaccinations. What are the boosters you are referring to and how often have you been getting them for your dog and how often had you planned on giving to him in the future?