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So worried about my dog :(

16 replies

MaggieDo · 29/09/2018 10:54

I have a wonderful, amazing Labradoodle who's 6 years old. I know all doggies are wonderful but mine really is.

Earlier this year he had a patch on his leg that was bothering him and was about a month wearing a buster collar, various creams from the vet and a body wash. I kept thinking he'd be alright with his cone off and then he bothered it more so it didn't heal properly.

It went on so long Vet said we needed to do a skin scrape and to stop all creams to prepare - and then when it was time for the scrape it no longer bothered him at all so we chalked it up to "odd". We still never worked out what caused the initial itch but considered a flea bite etc.

Anyway, a few months later it's happened again on the same leg but a slightly different patch. As I'm typing I remembered it happened last year he had a small occurrence as well I thought it was clipper rash from a groom but we went on a beach holiday and he was totally wiped out from all the walks and the sea water and he stopped bothering it.

He did have a groom the week before the latest episode so I did wonder if it was the wash but the vet hasn't advised me to rewash him in hypoallergenic stuff?

He was on Suralan cream but his leg has all healed now and he's on steroid tablets (2 tablets a day?) for the last 3 days. He slipped his collar off last night and was still fussing the patch which is totally back to normal. Vet is considering nerve problems and is concerned, thinks it can't be shampoo or food allergies or he would be itchy all over.

I don't know what to do, I don't know what to try. I don't know how worried I should be but right now I feel sick to my stomach. He's such a lovely boy, I'm attaching a pic of him right now in what I've re-branded as his "biscuit funnel" (the damn thing is driving me fucking demented!)

We have excellent coverage with Pet Plan, I think the next step will be a scan for a tumour? My lovely dog Sad

So worried about my dog :(
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lelepond · 29/09/2018 12:21

Sorry you and your beautiful boy are going through this. I would be asking for an x-ray asap.

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Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten · 29/09/2018 13:50

Ok and breathe.

Your dog has a skin issue that healed on its on.
He has had it over a year but otherwise been healthy
I would not be worrying excessively yet do not waste the worry on the good times!
Many dogs have skin issues that never find a cause
If there is a reason for it your vet should be able to treat it
You are insured so can spend money on finding the best treatment
Why are you assuming a tumour or is that the vets suggestion?

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Cantdoright1 · 29/09/2018 14:03

My dog had similar and it was his food. We changed to James wellbeloved which is for hyper sensitive dogs. There's probably other brands too. His skin cleared up and we never had another problem after the change in food. He was on good food before too so I still don't know what it was about the food change that worked.Good luck.

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tabulahrasa · 29/09/2018 14:19

“Vet is considering nerve problems and is concerned, thinks it can't be shampoo or food allergies or he would be itchy all over.“

Um, I’m not a vet or any sort of health care professional

But my dog has allergies that flare up as hotspots only on his neck, it’s deginitely allergies, he’s been allergy tested and allergy medication works for him.

So I think your vet is maybe ruling that out a bit quickly if that’s all he’s basing it on... obviously he might have factored in other things, I wouldn’t know, but allergies deginitely don’t need to be everywhere.

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MaggieDo · 29/09/2018 14:44

Thanks all, he's on Lily's Kitchen chicken at the minute. I might ask them to do some allergy testing whilst I follow vets investigations as well. The last time it happened vet had advised they would need to start investigating if anything was pressing on his nerve. It's only a small vets practice I think we would likely be referred onto a larger animal hospital for more treatment? Would be good to get a second opinion by the sounds of it.

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SilverHairedCat · 29/09/2018 14:49

Take it back to the beginning.

Did he ever have the skin scrape?
What skin creams has he tried?
Did sea water make any difference?
How big is this patch? What does it look like on the skin?
What is his behaviour with it? Bothering him how? Whining? Affecting sleep?
Why straight to nerves or tumors? Why not allergies or food?

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MaggieDo · 29/09/2018 14:49

To be fair we have seen 2 vets at the practice. He's not showing any signs of itching or a poorly tummy etc - just one front leg and one spot at a time. I'm worried he's licking to try and relieve pain?

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helpingvsdoinghomework · 29/09/2018 14:51

I know of an excellent dog dermatologist based in Hampshire called Sarah warren. Look her up

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Cantdoright1 · 29/09/2018 15:21

My dog had the same. One spot at a time. I didn't have any tests at the vet I just changed his food and it worked.

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Floralnomad · 29/09/2018 15:27

Nothing to do with the skin but have you tried a blow up soft collar instead of the cone , or a dog suit with legs in which would be more comfortable for him . I wouldn’t personally stress too much about this , is it possible that he’s just chewing a particular patch if he’s stressed about something and then it’s habit forming .

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Aurea · 29/09/2018 15:36

Chicken (and turkey) can be an allergen, particularly as the animals are grain fed. Why don't you try a grain free food with lamb or fish as the main protein and see if this helps?

Aatu do a single protein food so you can rule out allergies to certain ingredients.

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NewYoiker · 29/09/2018 15:42

We changed to a fish based food because His back leg was entirely bald at the time as he was rubbing it on the carpet and licking it constantly. Turned out to be a chicken and grain allergy. Since moving to entirely fish based his hair has grown back and he's leaving it alone.

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MaggieDo · 30/09/2018 11:12

Sorry @SilverHairedCat I cross posted with you

Did he ever have the skin scrape?~

  • No, he stopped licking so problem was thought to have resolved itself. No his leg developed a sore this time, but area looks totally healed now after being in the cone.


What skin creams has he tried?
I can't remember, Suralan and another one in a tube last time.

Did sea water make any difference?
It recovered quickly that time but he wasn't left alone for the week either as he normally is. He can be fairly good and stop licking if told too and it's not yet a lick granuloma.

How big is this patch? What does it look like on the skin?
I can upload a picture. They're about 8cm or so - just under 10 cm

What is his behaviour with it? Bothering him how? Whining? Affecting sleep?
He went off his food but appetite now increased now that he's on his steroids. Not sure if he was miserable due to the cone. Other than that no complaints or unusual behaviours.

Why straight to nerves or tumors? Why not allergies or food?
The Vet had advised me that because he wasn't itching or scratching in general and he was only incessantly licking one spot he thought it could be a nerve problem. He didn't think it needed a skin scrape as the area looked clear but said he needed to rule out that before progressing with "the next step" which I thought was a scan.

Thanks all for your advice. We've previously been on a fish and mash kibble (I've forgotten the name!) Which he liked. He wasn't a fan of Lily's Kitchen hypoallergic lamb which we tried last year. Little fella.

Day 4 of steroids today - I can try him without the cone tomorrow.
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MaggieDo · 30/09/2018 11:17

Here's his latest one but it's not as bad as we put him into his cone quickly.

So worried about my dog :(
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SilverHairedCat · 30/09/2018 11:48

Hmm. It seems odd to me that they have still not eliminated the lower level possibilities and the skin scrape still has not been done, given a good run around in salt water and good wound management by you seemed to do the trick last time. However, I am not a vet..... Poor chap, it does look miserable, no wonder he's trying to lick it!

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MaggieDo · 30/09/2018 12:01

Silver it only looks like that because he licks it. I can tell it starts off looking completely normal, then he licks his leg (I can tell as the fur looks wet like he's been at it but the skin looks healthy) and then he carries on licking it until he takes off all the fur and the skin which causes the itch/lick cycle until he's in it's cone.

There's no need to scrape as it's clear that there's no mites, dandruff or bites or anything Sad

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