Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Stressed about various puppy ailments

29 replies

ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 19:47

I'm a first time puppy owner with a one year old Tibetan terrier who has been a 'busy and challenging dog' according to the vet and her trainer. Let's just say it's been a baptism of fire.

Things were finally improving a few weeks ago, when she went into season (we'll be getting her spayed after the first season as per vet advice).

The season was pretty miserable and stressful as she really misses being off lead and playing with friends.

We finally got to the end of the 3 weeks only for her to get an ear infection and two hot spots on her front leg at the same time. For the last week she's had a cone and been SO miserable. We went back to the vet yesterday and the ear infection has improved but not totally, the hot spots haven't despite antibiotic cream so she has at least another week with the cone. She's not eating she's so miserable, and still can't play with friends, or go off lead.

It's really starting to get me down and I'm wondering if the hot spots in particular will ever heal? She's desperate to lick. Also the vet said she will be more prone to ear infections now as the ear canal swells.

We have lots of other stresses at the moment eg child illness, family bereavement and obviously Christmas planning as we are hosting, and I'm really struggling.

Has anyone else had this sort of thing and do the hot spots heal? I'm worried she will always want to lick and have visions of her wearing the cone forever.

I guess I've just come on here to rant and ask for moral support as a first time dog owner.

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 19:50

I don't have any experience of hot spots.

But I do have experience of having a dog that has had many different illnesses and accidents that I felt like a frequent flying at the vets. Yes it gets you down and I recognise that feeling so have a solidarity paw hold here.

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 19:56

BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 19:50

I don't have any experience of hot spots.

But I do have experience of having a dog that has had many different illnesses and accidents that I felt like a frequent flying at the vets. Yes it gets you down and I recognise that feeling so have a solidarity paw hold here.

Thankyou ☺️ yes it's been very hard, I'm in touch with her siblings' owners, all of whom have had dogs before, and they are all much less 'full on' than her, and have had no ailments so I guess I'm feeling a bit unlucky too even though she's becoming a lovely girl. And her problems are not even that major but it's so stressful.

I hate seeing her miserable!

Sorry you've gone through lots of vet visits too xx

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 23/12/2022 19:59

Hot spots do take a few weeks to clear up sometimes, I honestly don’t think antibiotic cream helps much, because it keeps it damp for longer.

Obviously I’m not saying ignore the vet, just sympathising - my last dog got them very regularly, turned out to be an allergy.

BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 20:01

One thing we found helped was changing the vet plastic cones to inflatable ones. They were much easier on him and whilst they didn't always protect the areas we needed to they did deflect most of the licking.

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 23/12/2022 20:02

For hot spots you can use a spray called vetericyn. It's good stuff and we have successfully used it to treat various skin problems in dogs.
Sorry you're having such a time.

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:04

tabulahrasa · 23/12/2022 19:59

Hot spots do take a few weeks to clear up sometimes, I honestly don’t think antibiotic cream helps much, because it keeps it damp for longer.

Obviously I’m not saying ignore the vet, just sympathising - my last dog got them very regularly, turned out to be an allergy.

Thanks - as a possible alternative, I have some 'wound powder' (recommended by a breed specialist online) that I was using, but the vet said it would just clog up her hair (she's very long haired), but maybe that would be better. From now on, once these have healed, I'm going to check her every day and use the powder if I see any soreness, although her hair does obscure her skin a lot.

I can't wait til she doesn't have to wear the cone any more but I keep having visions of it being weeks and weeks! Also I'm worried that the cone is stopping her ear infection from healing and creating a moist environment! Gah!

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:05

BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 20:01

One thing we found helped was changing the vet plastic cones to inflatable ones. They were much easier on him and whilst they didn't always protect the areas we needed to they did deflect most of the licking.

Ah thank you - yes we do have an inflatable ring, but sadly she can easily reach her leg with it 😭 but we will be able to use it if she ever gets them in more difficult to reach places.

OP posts:
Wanderingoff · 23/12/2022 20:05

My boy had all sorts of issues as a puppy - some of which have calmed down. He had terrible ongoing ear infections and other allergies - he now has cytopoint injections monthly which have changed our lives. If we’re even a little bit late I can tell. Apparently most of his ear infections were probably linked to his allergies.

maybe ask the vet about that?

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:07

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 23/12/2022 20:02

For hot spots you can use a spray called vetericyn. It's good stuff and we have successfully used it to treat various skin problems in dogs.
Sorry you're having such a time.

Thanks! Ooh we also do have that spray. I'll definitely try it in future. I'll keep using the cream until we see the vet again next Friday but then if any others appear I'll get right on it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:08

Wanderingoff · 23/12/2022 20:05

My boy had all sorts of issues as a puppy - some of which have calmed down. He had terrible ongoing ear infections and other allergies - he now has cytopoint injections monthly which have changed our lives. If we’re even a little bit late I can tell. Apparently most of his ear infections were probably linked to his allergies.

maybe ask the vet about that?

Thanks! Sorry you had lots of issues and I'm glad some of them have calmed down.

Yes I am wondering about allergies, she used to scratch a lot when she was much younger, so we cut out chicken and she seemed a lot better.

I'm hoping these were scratches instead or maybe even insect bites rather than an allergy, but we'll see.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:11

A pic of the poor girl. She has big floppy ears, the cone can't be helping with the infection bless her. We did try the plastic see through one but she HATED it.

Stressed about various puppy ailments
OP posts:
BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 20:12

Awww what a cutie. It's so hard seeing them ill and even harder explaining these things are there to help them.

Floralnomad · 23/12/2022 20:15

Could she wear a suit rather than the cone , and whilst you are about just let her wear nothing and just distract her if she goes to lick .

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:16

Floralnomad · 23/12/2022 20:15

Could she wear a suit rather than the cone , and whilst you are about just let her wear nothing and just distract her if she goes to lick .

Ah yes we got a suit that covered the front legs only - and in the night she nibbled the bottom of them and got to the hot spots!! She's such a tinker! Thanks though x

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 20:17

BiteyShark · 23/12/2022 20:12

Awww what a cutie. It's so hard seeing them ill and even harder explaining these things are there to help them.

Thankyou xx

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 23/12/2022 21:18

Ooh no, I wouldn’t put powder on... and you don’t want a suit either, because best thing for it is air to be able to get to it.

What ended up working best was shaving it - then cleaning it (I used hibiscrub) once or twice a day and drying it after and leaving it to dry up.

They absolutely can happen just as a one of, something irritates it, they lick and hotspot. Mine was getting one every 6 weeks at one point though, that’s why we went and got it investigated.

thelobsterquadrille · 23/12/2022 21:30

tabulahrasa · 23/12/2022 21:18

Ooh no, I wouldn’t put powder on... and you don’t want a suit either, because best thing for it is air to be able to get to it.

What ended up working best was shaving it - then cleaning it (I used hibiscrub) once or twice a day and drying it after and leaving it to dry up.

They absolutely can happen just as a one of, something irritates it, they lick and hotspot. Mine was getting one every 6 weeks at one point though, that’s why we went and got it investigated.

Yes, I was going to recommend this too. Hotspots need to dry out so I'm really surprised the vet has suggested using cream.

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 21:35

Thankyou ☺️ will avoid the powder and the suit. It makes her matted anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 21:36

thelobsterquadrille · 23/12/2022 21:30

Yes, I was going to recommend this too. Hotspots need to dry out so I'm really surprised the vet has suggested using cream.

Show quote history

Just checked, it's called Isaderm gel. Maybe it dries quickly?

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 21:38

I actually think getting wet may have caused this problem in the first place. Her legs are regularly wet and she is terrified of the hairdryer so we just towel her down and let it air dry, but the hair probably traps the wetness in for too long making it irritated. I need to get her used to the hairdryer.

OP posts:
thelobsterquadrille · 23/12/2022 21:47

Could you try a doggy drying coat/bag for after walks? You only need to leave them on for half an hour or so and the dog comes out bone dry.

BoxerMam · 23/12/2022 21:56

One of my boxers had pyoderma (hot spots) on her face a few weeks back, we had to shave the area which was difficult, use hibiscrub to clean twice daily, and oral antibiotics.
Maybe ask the vet for oral antibiotics as putting cream on will not be letting them dry out. Fingers crossed for you that it heals up soon.

Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 22:55

@thelobsterquadrille good idea thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 22:56

@BoxerMam thank you that sounds good, I'll mention it.

OP posts:
thelobsterquadrille · 23/12/2022 22:58

ClaireandTed · 23/12/2022 22:55

@thelobsterquadrille good idea thanks!

The added bonus if you get a bag is that while she's in it, she can't lick either!