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Can someone help with dog skin issues

Discussion in 'Health & Nutrition' started by trueblue, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    I have a blue pitbull with on-going skin/ear issues. He has had these spots on him now for a few of months (since summer started) they start out as a pimple like spot then as they fade away they become dry spots. When you scratch them after they are dried out the skin flakes off. He has had skin issues for about a year now and gets red sometimes and I have to give him benadryl which sort of works. He is 2.5 now and has been to the vet multiple times for yeast ear infections and between his toes yeast. I have taken him so many times for skin issues I have just disregarded this now for a little while. He doesn't get the insect liquid preventative you put on the back and I dont know if it is mosquito bites from when go goes outside that stay for a while or what. He gets fed taste of the wild now. He has this sort of stinky smell I don't know if it is a skin infection that makes him smell like that or the food. His issues are a pain in the ass it seems I am always dealing with something, makes me wish I didn't get a blue coat dog but I love him and try to take care of him the best I can. I should also note that he banged one of his canine's a while back and got the pink colored tooth which was quoted for over a grand to fix and multiple times being put to sleep which I don't really want to do because of his heart murmur. They told me that it could cause an infection that could spread to other parts but I have kept an eye on it and it seems fine. Sorry for the long writing but I need some help. The pictures show a part of him but they are just about all over him but his underside which gets red from time to time. It seems that in the winter it doesn't get bad but in the summer is when these spots happen. I cant really remember him having them last summer though.
     

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  2. old goat

    old goat CH Dog

    could be a reaction to bug bites . your going to have to go to the vet to know for sure what it is .
     
  3. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    Ok, ya I gave him the insect stuff once but it make his skin red because it is sensitive but I have been trying to wait until it gets colder out to see if it is from bites. He isn't left outside at all only times he is is when he gets walked or goes to the bathroom and plays out in the yard for a little while. he does get him heartguard though to make sure he doesn't get worms from the bites.
     
  4. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    You can see it better here DSC_0006.jpg DSC_0003.jpg
     
  5. TopBox

    TopBox Top Dog

    Is the hair lose behind his ears from a collar or has he had that since a pup? Heartguard could cause it too...try ivomec under skin for heart worms and it has always helped me with skin problems. 1/4 cc once a month...looks like insect bites to me
     
  6. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    He has always been a lil bald behind his ears like that. Do you guys do heart worm preventative in the winter also? I usually stop when it gets real cold out.
     
  7. TopBox

    TopBox Top Dog

    I only stop when i have a bitch bred and once the pups are off of her she goes right back to once a month. It looks like a allergic reaction to me...try raw for awhile.
     
  8. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    I tried that for a little while when he was young but it didn't seem to work with him to well. Any suggestions on a good dry food that is grain free maybe? I need to stop giving him table scraps too but he begs for them every night and works me over.
     
  9. CBRSALT

    CBRSALT Big Dog

    Blues are notorious for skin probs. Totw is a good grain free food. Try subn n some raw chickn quarters a few days a week. Raw chickn has alot of great enzymes in it that benefit dogs.
     
  10. old goat

    old goat CH Dog

    do you give the dog a bath alot ? shampoo smells good to fleas and bugs . i have a house dog that when you wash her and then take her for short walks in grass the fleas will do this to her . have you tryed biospot . that's not to hard on the skin .
     
  11. trueblue

    trueblue Pup

    About every two weeks I give him a bath with this medicated shampoo for fungal problems I got from the vet. I will go ahead and give the biospot a try, I will be out back with him and he will lay in the grass within 10 seconds gnats are all over him but I suspect them to be mosquito bites rather than problems from gnats. I slack on scooping his shit up and I am sure it attracts more bugs ya know. it will be cold here soon so I am hoping it is the problem but I will have to take him to the vet if it isn't. Just hate to spend 40 bucks on a vet visit for skin issues again when they never really know what really causes it and just tell me it is probably allergies. Either most vets don't know much about blue pitbulls and their skin issues or I just need a new one rofl.
     
  12. fonzie

    fonzie Top Dog

    the blue dogs get skin problems then any other color dogs bucuz they have sensitive skin
     
  13. old goat

    old goat CH Dog

    i would wash the dog when starts to stink . to many bath and you will get yeast infections in the ears . and your taking the oil of the skin . and i would use ivory soak . it has the same stuff in it as off spray . i take my dogs in some really thick woods . i use bonce fabric softener . you know the little towel thing they put in the dryer . it's good very good . i want go i the woods without it . the tricks chiggers and mosquitos spiders and snake and mice hate it . it has the same stuff as off spray . if you use it put the bounce in the bottum of your shows and in your pockets . yes it smells like a girl but you want have chiggers .
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 14, 2011
  14. old goat

    old goat CH Dog

    not shows haha shoes .
     
  15. NorCalTim

    NorCalTim Big Dog

    Its genetics. Fish oil may help a little. The blue gene comes with a hidden gene for a poor coat. Its just a life long thing you and your pup will have to deal with. If something helps, stick with it. I do not think there is a permanent fix.
     
  16. NorCalTim

    NorCalTim Big Dog

    I would stay away from the Bison Taste of the Wild. It can dry the skin some what.
     
  17. vnairp11

    vnairp11 Pup

    The best dog food for skin issues is Royal Canin or any other ones with no fillers
     
  18. NorCalTim

    NorCalTim Big Dog

    That Alvoderm is great for a dogs coat as well. I have seen the difference in the dogs coat by feeding him only one bag. I do like TOTW, its just if your dog has dry skin, you may not want to feed him just the Bison Taste of the Wild.
     
  19. Cynthia

    Cynthia Top Dog

    You are describing a staph infection of the skin. Pimple looking lesions that grow and end up being dry and flakey.

    And what it sounds like is he has allergies. When a dog is allergic to something they release histamines in their feet as well as their ears. That is why dogs with allergies get ear infections and lick and chew their feet. The moisture due to the histamine release in the ears along with the temp and darkness is a perfect environment to grow yeast. And why your dog has yeast in his feet as well.

    You do not want him to go with an ear infection untreated. It will cause MAJOR problems with his ears. I have seen dogs with chronic ear infections actually have to have surgery to have their ear canal removed. You have to stay on top of the ears. Once the infection is under control. Clean his ears out a few times a week as mantainance.

    Staph is normal flora of the skin. However when a dog is itchy due to allergies they will scratch. And excessive scratching and breaking the layers of the skin will cause the staph to overgrow. Staph infections are very common in allergy dogs. Usually the Vet will prescribe antibiotic when they break with staph infection

    A way to help determine if it is food vs environmental is if it was food they would exhibit symptoms year round you will not see a seasonality with it.

    Until you remove the allegen from his environment he will continue to have skin issues. Dogs express allergies wether it is environmental (inhalent or contact) or food in their skin. Or if you remove the dog from the environment.

    Adding an omega 3 fatty acid supplement is a start. Most dogs with allergies are deficient (lacking) that in their skin. So putting them on a suppliment will help.

    Also using antihistimaines such as Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec. Benedryl is 1-2mg per pound. And you can give it up to 3 times a day.

    If you want the dose to Claritin for Zyrtec let me know. Both Claritin and Zyrtec are once a day. But they are in a different class of antihistamines than Benedryl and you can use them at the same time.

    I personally have had better luck with using Claritin in the morning and if my dog is having a rough night I give him a dose of benedryl at night. And during his seasons of allergies I give antihistamines every day. Wether I see him scrathing or not. I start at the beginning of spring and continue through the end of fall.

    Allergies are frustrating. Because all you can do is manage them . And unless the dog is removed from the cause of the allergy it will keep reoccuring. I have one that has HORRIBLE allergies during spring and fall. He is chewing on his feet and itching and scratching, breaking out with staph infections. Thank goodness he does not have ear issues. Did not start till I moved to Florida. And I do not plan on moving so I manage his allergies. I do sometimes have to do courses of prednisone. But I try not to because long term use of steriods can cause issues as well.

    You can do either a blood test or a skin grid for allergy testing to see what it is that he is allergic to. The blood test runs around a few hundred dollars and the skin grid can run up to $1000 dollars.

    Good luck allergies and skin is very frustrating. But it can be managed :)
     
  20. giggles89

    giggles89 Pup

    omg!!! my blue pit has horrible skin its flaky he itches ALL day until i give him benadryl which helps. i am new to this breed...he is currently on pedigree is this a good food...i am currently crossing over to better quality things for him such as better shampoos, foods, and snacks any advice? i realize i cant fully get rid of his skin problem but i do want to manage it properly
     

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