Open Sores on dogs back

Hello, My 6 year old female black lab/pointer mix developed a skin rash about 5 weeks ago. It started as oily scaly skin and then thickened to an elephant like appearance. The skin was extrememly thick and then peeled off in large chunks and the skin underneath looked dead and black. It is completely contained to her back but has covered her entire back and she is losing her fur in patches.

She never seem bothered by the rash didn't scratch or bite at it. On the inside of her leg she had another rash that was different and may or may not be related. That rash consisted of a bunch or raised red bumps that looked like pimples and felt like sand paper. She did chew at it quite a bit. She is still full of energy and doesn't act sick.

About 4 weeks ago I took her to the vet. They did a cytology and skin scraping and said that she had bacteria on her skin and she could have either dermatitis, a staph infection, or ringworm. The ringworm can back negative. The vet prescribed an antibiotic pill (can't remember the name) and Hexadene shampoo twice a week for three weeks.

(On a side note, about 2 months ago she was feeling very lethargic and seems stiff and in pain and I took her to the vet and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. They did a blood panel and said her thyroid was slightly elevated which could suggest Hyperthyroidism but couldn't be sure without getting a blood panel when she was feeling better. She's never been well enough since to get another blood panel.)

She showed absolutely no improvement on the antibiotic and has been off of it for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I've continued with the Hexadene shampoo. About a week ago the red pimple rash on the inside of her leg did go away however the elphant skin on her back has gotten worse. Now the skin is oozing puss and bleeding. Originally the sores were about the size of a quarter but now they are so large that they have overlapped each other and her entire back is covered with them. However, they are still only on the back. She doesn't have any sores on any other part of her body. She still doesn't seem bothered by them except for when they burst and bleed. I have been applying neosporin to them.

I haven't changed her diet and we haven't changed anything in our home so I don't believe its an alergy. I also don't believe its an alergy because it is only on her back. It is also not contagious because we have another dog and he has not caught it.

She has another appointment with the vet in a couple of days, however I'm hesitant as to whether I should continue with the same vet or if I should try a new one.

Has anyone seen anything like this or have any suggestions?

mstiltz wrote:
Hello, My 6 year old female black lab/pointer mix developed a skin
rash about 5 weeks ago. It started as oily scaly skin and then
thickened to an elephant like appearance. The skin was extrememly
thick and then peeled off in large chunks and the skin underneath
looked dead and black. It is completely contained to her back but
has covered her entire back and she is losing her fur in patches.

She never seem bothered by the rash didn't scratch or bite at it. On
the inside of her leg she had another rash that was different and may
or may not be related. That rash consisted of a bunch or raised red
bumps that looked like pimples and felt like sand paper. She did
chew at it quite a bit. She is still full of energy and doesn't act
sick.

About 4 weeks ago I took her to the vet. They did a cytology and skin
scraping and said that she had bacteria on her skin and she could have
either dermatitis, a staph infection, or ringworm. The ringworm can
back negative. The vet prescribed an antibiotic pill (can't remember
the name) and Hexadene shampoo twice a week for three weeks.

(On a side note, about 2 months ago she was feeling very lethargic and
seems stiff and in pain and I took her to the vet and they couldn't
figure out what was wrong with her. They did a blood panel and said
her thyroid was slightly elevated which could suggest Hyperthyroidism
but couldn't be sure without getting a blood panel when she was
feeling better. She's never been well enough since to get another
blood panel.)

She showed absolutely no improvement on the antibiotic and has been
off of it for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I've continued with the Hexadene
shampoo. About a week ago the red pimple rash on the inside of her
leg did go away however the elphant skin on her back has gotten
worse. Now the skin is oozing puss and bleeding. Originally the
sores were about the size of a quarter but now they are so large that
they have overlapped each other and her entire back is covered with
them. However, they are still only on the back. She doesn't have any
sores on any other part of her body. She still doesn't seem bothered
by them except for when they burst and bleed. I have been applying
neosporin to them.

I haven't changed her diet and we haven't changed anything in our home
so I don't believe its an alergy. I also don't believe its an alergy
because it is only on her back. It is also not contagious because we
have another dog and he has not caught it.

She has another appointment with the vet in a couple of days, however
I'm hesitant as to whether I should continue with the same vet or if I
should try a new one.

Has anyone seen anything like this or have any suggestions?

http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+2111&aid=421

has some info...the bit about dermodectic mange sounds similar to what your
dog has, but it really needs a vet to see it.
I'd go to a different vet if I were you.

PS don't think it's not an allergy just because you haven't changed anything
and it's localised on her back - allergies can be triggered at any time and
by anything, even if it's something that the dog (or human for that matter)
has been used to for many years previously.

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

On Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:01:56 +0000, mstiltz
wrote:


Hello, My 6 year old female black lab/pointer mix developed a skin rash
about 5 weeks ago. It started as oily scaly skin and then thickened to
an elephant like appearance. The skin was extrememly thick and then
peeled off in large chunks and the skin underneath looked dead and
black. It is completely contained to her back but has covered her
entire back and she is losing her fur in patches.

She never seem bothered by the rash didn't scratch or bite at it. On
the inside of her leg she had another rash that was different and may or
may not be related. That rash consisted of a bunch or raised red bumps
that looked like pimples and felt like sand paper. She did chew at it
quite a bit. She is still full of energy and doesn't act sick.

About 4 weeks ago I took her to the vet. They did a cytology and skin
scraping and said that she had bacteria on her skin and she could have
either dermatitis, a staph infection, or ringworm. The ringworm can back
negative. The vet prescribed an antibiotic pill (can't remember the
name) and Hexadene shampoo twice a week for three weeks.

(On a side note, about 2 months ago she was feeling very lethargic and
seems stiff and in pain and I took her to the vet and they couldn't
figure out what was wrong with her. They did a blood panel and said her
thyroid was slightly elevated which could suggest Hyperthyroidism but
couldn't be sure without getting a blood panel when she was feeling
better. She's never been well enough since to get another blood
panel.)

She showed absolutely no improvement on the antibiotic and has been off
of it for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I've continued with the Hexadene
shampoo. About a week ago the red pimple rash on the inside of her leg
did go away however the elphant skin on her back has gotten worse. Now
the skin is oozing puss and bleeding. Originally the sores were about
the size of a quarter but now they are so large that they have
overlapped each other and her entire back is covered with them.
However, they are still only on the back. She doesn't have any sores on
any other part of her body. She still doesn't seem bothered by them
except for when they burst and bleed. I have been applying neosporin to
them.

I haven't changed her diet and we haven't changed anything in our home
so I don't believe its an alergy. I also don't believe its an alergy
because it is only on her back. It is also not contagious because we
have another dog and he has not caught it.

She has another appointment with the vet in a couple of days, however
I'm hesitant as to whether I should continue with the same vet or if I
should try a new one.

Has anyone seen anything like this or have any suggestions?

You might ask this vet for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist.

"mstiltz" wrote in message
...

Hello, My 6 year old female black lab/pointer mix developed a skin rash
about 5 weeks ago. It started as oily scaly skin and then thickened to
an elephant like appearance. The skin was extrememly thick and then
peeled off in large chunks and the skin underneath looked dead and
black. It is completely contained to her back but has covered her
entire back and she is losing her fur in patches.

She never seem bothered by the rash didn't scratch or bite at it.


she could have
either dermatitis, a staph infection, or ringworm. The ringworm can back
negative.

.................what about the rest of the tests?

(On a side note, about 2 months ago she was feeling very lethargic and
seems stiff and in pain and I took her to the vet and they couldn't
figure out what was wrong with her.
............They need to figure out this episode. My guess is it's the
presenting symptom.

They did a blood panel and said her
thyroid was slightly elevated which could suggest Hyperthyroidism but
couldn't be sure without getting a blood panel when she was feeling
better. She's never been well enough since to get another blood
panel.)

................Hyperthyroidism is extremely rare in dogs. You need a 6
panel test to diagnose thyroid problems.
About thyroid tests:
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...echThyroid.htm

She showed absolutely no improvement on the antibiotic and has been off
of it for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I've continued with the Hexadene
shampoo.
....................I'd stop with the shampoo, it may be exacerbating things.
It certainly isn't helping.
Read side effects he
http://drugs-about.com/drugs-h/hexadene-shampoo.html

About a week ago the red pimple rash on the inside of her leg
did go away however the elphant skin on her back has gotten worse. Now
the skin is oozing puss and bleeding. Originally the sores were about
the size of a quarter but now they are so large that they have
overlapped each other and her entire back is covered with them.
However, they are still only on the back. She doesn't have any sores on
any other part of her body. She still doesn't seem bothered by them
except for when they burst and bleed. I have been applying neosporin to
them.

I haven't changed her diet

...............what exactly does she eat? Remember all the pet food
disasters in the last few years. The manufacturer can change diet
components at any time and not change the label for 6 months - legally.

She has another appointment with the vet in a couple of days, however
I'm hesitant as to whether I should continue with the same vet or if I
should try a new one.

Has anyone seen anything like this or have any suggestions?

..................Stuff like this doesn't happen in isolation, just by
itself. There's something else going on and until you get to the root of
the problem, you're just treating the wrapping.

http://www.dermapet.com/articles/art-20.html

I'd vote for going to a specialist. I think your vet has already used all
the tools in his toolbox.

Good luck with your pup.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

A now-deceased local English Springer Spaniel show breeder had a young
(about 2 yo at onset of symptoms) intact male who presented with similar
dermatological picture, which her general practice vet treated a number
of ways without success, and by the time she took him to a vet
dermatologist at the state's vet school, most of the dog's body was
involved. At the vet school, a full thickness skin biopsy was taken
(this was perhaps 12-15 years ago). A mixture of fungus and yeast was
found, along with bacteria of a number of types.

Treatment prescribed was much as described in the article about the
Westie..... minus the thyroid.... but the ketoconizole continued for
about 6 months.... along with medicated baths. By the end of the
treatment, this dog had a gorgeous coat and sound skin, and there were
no other skin-related problems through the dog's life. He was neutered,
and worked weekly as a therapy dog from age 4 to about age 11.

As has been suggested, it is now time for a visit to a vet
dermatologist. I don't think I'd have waited this long, but I saw what
that above Springer went through.... Note that in veterinary medicine,
the dermatologists are also the allergists..... just FYI.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

"buglady" wrote in message
m...

"mstiltz" wrote in message
...
They did a blood panel and said her
thyroid was slightly elevated which could suggest Hyperthyroidism but
couldn't be sure without getting a blood panel when she was feeling
better. She's never been well enough since to get another blood
panel.)

............I'll also say I do not understand this response. There is a
term - euthyroid sick - which explains LOW T4 thyroid readings in a sick
animal. It means the thyroid is normal, but the animal is sick. So
sickness tends to lower T4 thyroid activity (to help focus the body on the
illness - like a governor on a bus - can't go over a certain speed), NOT
raise it.

.......Also depends on what thyroid measurement vet was talking about - T4 or
T3 when they said "elevated." Get a copy of all bloodwork and lab tests to
take to the next vet. Read the Antech site I posted thyroid.

.............Oh and resist corticosteroids with everything you have - unless
they can prove to you it is absolutely necessary (as in the case of
Addison's for example).

best of luck
buglady
take out the dog before replying