Our Rottweiler Puppy Has A Skin Problem

[tuffy]

Our 5 month old puppy has been developing a skin problem that isn't getting better.

She has bleeding sores/rash on her body. A friend said it looked like "mange" to them but the vet has assured us that it isn't. We have been to 2 different vets now, the first said it was bacteria, the second said it may be an allergy. She hasn't gotten any better with either treatment.

I hope someone can give us a suggestion to a treatment or better yet the best vet in the Pattaya/ Rayong area.

Thanks for the help.

Scott

[bina]

any one of these or most likely a combination of them.... u didnt say where it is or started, how long, what she eats, etc.

wht DID the vet say it was?? what treatments did she get til now?

possibilities:

1. they can do a skin scrape to see if it is mange (mites) and or give her ivomec treatment anyway

2. fleas can bite and cause allergies which causes scratching which causes bacterial infection/and or fungal infection. so check for fleas (comb her with a lice comb its the easiest way)

3. fungal infection (ringworm) and then of course scratching causing bacterial etc etc. (vet should tell u, but usually round crusty red sores the size of a quarter

4.food allergy causing rash causing scratching : would show up on stomach, neck also. so what is she eating? some dogs do best on lamb /rice diet only, or things like that. but an expensive poossiblitly better to rule out other things first.

5. wet excema (wet spots/hot spots syndrome) usually see by tail or where fur is thickest. there are medicated shampoos for this plus creams to put on the area.

6. allergy to flea/tick stuff (collar, drops, whatever); same as food allergy type reaction. remove collar, bath to get flea stuff off, dont use anything on her yet.

there are also other seasonal allergies, syndromes etc that could cause this but the list above are the first things to consider. sometimes things just cme and just as mysteriously, they go away. have her avoid going in to fields, grassy areas with plants etc. if it was allergy and the chlortrimeton (what they probably would have given her) didnt work, then they probably would have tried prednisone or other steroid thing. if that didnt work, probably not allergy. but with skin things on animals it is often a mix of things cause they scratch and worry at the area causing inflammation etc.

waiting for bambi to put in her prescriptions, she' s the vet. and gie more specific info. , or pic

bina

[tuffy]

Thanks for the fast reply Bina.....

It started a few weeks ago and i will have to find out which medications were given by the first and second vet. My wife was told by the second vet that it may be an allergic reation to ticks as we do have a lot of these at out place. Also my Wife gives teh dogs egg and milk a few times a week but she is going to stop this. She has changed the food since also but we havn't noticed an improvement yet.

[johnh101]

Heading out from pattaya towards Rayong on Sukhumvit, past Tesco Lotus a few clicks. You will see Greenway driving range on the left. Almost directly opposite is the vet we have always used. There are three signs down the front of the building one red, one blue and one green. 3 or 4 vets at least one is US qualified (the certs are on the walls) and they obviously care about the animals, something which does not seem so apparent in other vets we have tried here.

[bina]

first things first:

ticks: not sure about diesease in thailand but ticks carry diseases to dogs and people (do a blood test, i think elfe or sbk knows what disease i;m talking about we have it here in the middle east). not seen allergy to ticks but irritation if lots of ticks and then the scratching etc. , so...

groom your dog every day. pick the ticks off, clean each wound with some disinfectant stuff, polidine, or whatever. dont use tick flea stuff on her yet. first u have to eliminate as many variables as possible.

try feeding only chicken/rice for a week or so. definately no eggs and milk the rottie doesnt need that anyway. (maybe a scrambled egg for a treat once in a while.).

keep her frm licking/scratching at the areas. even if it means putting a t=shirt on her or one of thsoe elizibethan collars.

will answer more tomorrow. 2 a.m here

bina

[tuffy]

Thanks JohnH I will give them a try.

[tuffy]

thanks for the suggestions Bina!

[sbk]

Sounds like it could be "hot spots". I had a medium haired dog (but thick hair) and she got hot spots. I cut her hair short so that air could get to the spots and kept her dry and they cleared up. As soon as her hair got long, the hot spots would return.

hot spots:

A hot spot is a localized area of skin inflammation and infection. The infection can be superficial or deep. Other common names for this condition include: moist dermatitis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, and acute moist dermatitis. Broken down, "pyo-" refers to "pus", "-traumatic" refers to self-inflicted trauma of biting, licking, scratching, and so on, and "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin.

These common skin lesions are usually caused (and made worse) by biting, licking, or scratching. The important thing for successful long term treatment of a hot spot is to find the underlying cause to break the cycle of continued skin trauma and resulting inflammation.

Redness, oozing, pain, and itchiness are hallmark signs. Hair loss is commonly present. Sometimes hair can mat over the lesion, obscuring the size and degree of the problem. These lesions can appear suddenly, and grow rapidly in size. It is common for an owner to notice a small area of inflamed skin in the morning (perhaps an inch or couple centimeters in diameter) and come home from work to be met with a large area the size of the palm of a hand. The dog is usually highly agitated, and will not leave the area alone. Some dogs will even growl or snap if the area is touched.

There is usually an inciting factor to initiate the extreme licking and scratching behavior. Look for fleas, mites, or other external parasites, an insect sting or bite, allergies (food, inhalant, contact), or injury (skin wound, scrape, etc.). Some animals have been known to "start" a hot spot out of boredom or stress-related psychological problem

[elfe]

could be hotspots (rather not) or demodex mange or other reasons. i think it is most possibly demodex mange - very common in this breed and show at the age your pup has. you could go and ask the breeder if the parents have the same symptoms or check if siblings of your dog have it too. the mites can be seen easily from skin scrapes under the microscope at the vet. the medication would be ivermec, preferably injected every week or orally every day. this will also keep off ticks. if you got a tick problem in your house i suggest you have it sprayed with a fogger to kill all of them, dog has to be injected with ivermec 1 cc for 15 kg and then again after 15 days. after your dog is better always apply tick and flea prevention! ticks can transmit horrible blood diseases and blood parasites as babesia e.a.

for feeding avoid dry food and give raw meat and bones instead or cooked food. could also be an allergy against the grains in the kibble. don't forget to add some vitamins and oils like flax or fish oil in his food.