Skin probs

[ashleybaker]

I am wondering if anyone on here can give me any advice. My puppy Addie is a little over 1 ½ spayed female brindle boxer. We got her when she was 5 months old and after only 4 months of having her she started experiencing some skin issues. We took her to the vet he said it was just puppy acne and fleas not to worry. Then about 2 months went by and we got her flea drops and the bumps on her body still didn’t go away. They had seemed to get worse. So we took her to a different vet and she said that she had a bacterial skin infection on her body, which caused the bumps (they were on her back, underbelly, hind legs, and butt). She was on antibiotics for 12 weeks and during that time period we stopped the antibiotics 5 weeks into and she got the bumps again 2 days after we stopped so we started her back on. While she was on the pills her bumps had subsided only 3-5 bumps. We took her off the antibiotics 6 weeks ago to look at other options. The bumps did come back so we decided we would see if she had a food allergy. She was on nutra nugget lamb and rice, so we eliminated corn, wheat, and chicken and put her on Blue fish and sweet potato. Her bumps stayed the same but her itching was not as bad during the first 2 weeks of fully being on Blue. The past 4 weeks have been the worst for her. She is covered in the bumps and now I have noticed that her hind feet are pink between the toes and on the underside of her paws. I have done a lot of research and cannot determine it on my own. I was thinking a contact, inhalant, or food allergy. I came up with food in the end because it was not a seasonal occurrence she has had it for 8-9 months, but also is not located in areas where there is not a lot of hair. I would love to take her to the vet but she has issues with the other dogs that are in there so I would love to figure out as much as I can to help her at home. She has been getting a bath weekly with oxydex shampoo for the past 7 months. We contacted the people we got her from because they own the mom and dad to see if they knew of any allergies, they said chicken and rice for sure. We ended up switching Addie to the same dog food her mom and dad are on which is Natures Variety Prarie New Zealand Venison and millet. I figured if it is a food allergy then since both of her parents have no reaction to this food neither would she. We are almost 100% switched over to the new food but we recently had a conflicting incident. I went on a weeklong trip and while I was gone my parents watched her and while I was gone her bumps got better. When I arrived home she only had a few on her lower hind legs and on her butt. But only 2 days after being home she is all covered again. Which makes me think its something I am putting her in contact with or giving her. I have been racking my brain for days to figure out what changed. We feed her with the same scoops, same bowl, same food, she slept in the same bed with the same blankets, and they didn’t feed her scarps like I told them not to. I cannot think of anything besides my makeup, and face wash that is different from my parents. I am going crazy because I cannot help her. I have been giving her Benadryl 25mg once a day (she is 43lbs). Has anyone experience this I have some pictures I will post but it is very hard to take a picture of the bumps.

 

[Sansal]

What about cleaning supplies and laundry detergent? Do your parents use the same also?
Do you have any carpet on your floor?
Do you live in the same area or could she get in contact with a certain type of grass/plant/pollen that grows where you live but not where your parents live?
Do you give her any treats at all?

 

[nalabear]

There is an allergen in your home somewhere. It could be in your carpet. Have you had it steam cleaned since you got her? Also I noticed you live in Washington, its possible you have mold and mildew somewhere in your home that is affecting her. Do you have a lot of moisture in your home. If so the mold and mildew may be your culprit.

 

[urupe]

Hi, my 1 yr old boxer, Cassius, has the same problem. Its been going on since June of this year. We brought him to our vet and they gave him antibiotics and we switched him to Venison and Potato wet and dry food. he was fine for a while and on thanksgiving my nephew gave him turkey and the next day he broke out with bumps. The thing is that he has never had turkey before so it couldn't be that. We brought him to another vet and they did the skin allergy test to dust, pollen, grass, trees, etc and hes not allergic to anything. the thing we are concern with now is his weight - he has lost a lot of weight! The doctor is trying to find a puppy food w/o chicken, lamb or beef.

my advice is to write down every day what he eats - any treats... Oh and the vet told me i should give him 1 1/2 of 25 mg of benadryl twice a day, he weights 50lbs.

Also check if your dog caresses his/her body against your bed skirt or sheets, your detergent might be the source as well.

 

[maery]

I'd also check with the vet about the 12 wks of antibiotic prescribed...sounds like you didn't finish the 12 wks? Maybe you did, just not all at once. Sometimes the skin infections can be VERY persistent and it truly takes 12 wks to clear them up. Though they may clear on and off during that time, I'd recommend continuing the meds as prescribed to fully knock it out...even if you see her get better during the course. And of course, if that doesn't work...you may indeed have an allergy. However, current veterinary medicine that I've read about states that the vet generally has to do some other ruling out before jumping to the allergy diagnosis, as it can be quite labor and money intensive!