Hot Spots?

[carolinagirl58]

There is no flea product on the market that keeps fleas off for 4 months. If a dog has a flea allergy, it only takes a single bite from one flea to cause her to start itching. So even though you don't see them, that does not mean they are not there. Comfortis WILL get rid of all fleas and keep them gone. If you have a Tractor supply near you, check out 4-health dog food. It's great food! also look at Diamond Naturals (NOT regular diamond food). Taste of the Wild is another good one (but expensive). If you have a Costco close by, Kirkland's food is great. I have heard great things about Avoderm too, but it's a little expensive too.

and yes.....get a new vet. any vet who would tell you to put your dog on Beneful and not even even try to find the cause of hot spots needs to get a new profession.

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

Self Mutilation: Dogs Who Chew, Lick or Scratch Themselves to the Point of Harm

Letting her chew at herself is VERY bad too. Stumbled across this article a while back while looking for an article on fleas for a client(I tech at an Emergency Vet). I think it has a lot of good information and some good tips.

I'm also wondering about this 'cream stuff'. Did you get it from your vet? It sounded to me like he went and had you buy it elsewhere. He shoud have or be able to get most things needed to make Miss Callie better.

I think you should find a dermatologist. Put an e-collar or SOMETHING to keep her from harming herself. Also did your Dr. check her thyroid levels? Abnormal levels can cause skin problems, not necessarily always itching though. You definately need a second(even third) opinion though, She shouldn't have to suffer because your vet cant figure out what is wrong with her!

If it is allergies it's not only grains they can be allergic to, but proteins too, even chicken. Like Royal Canin sells 'selected protein diets' through vets. If you aren't getting any releif from grain free diets, thyroid is normal, she doesn't have fleas or any other parasites then basically (with the guidance of your NEW vet) you remove most of the things and slowly introduce them back in one at a time every couple of weeks. This only works if she is not itchy when feeding her the minimal hypoallergenic diet and it is certainly allergies.

Good Luck!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Sadie has a hot spot on her head right now. Noticed it saturday morning. I clipped the area and put her e-collar on. I've been cleaning it with the original gold listerine and then putting extra strength gold bond powder on at night. It looks 100% better.

In the summer she had a big on below her ear, needed antibiotics for that one.

I suggest getting an e-collar and keeping it on until the spots heal up. Also bathing her in Micro-Tek. It's a medicated shampoo to help with the itching.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
She has been to the vet, thats who told us to buy that cream stuff. (No idea what it was called.. Someone lost it..

)
Her food hasn't been changed at all.. She gets the Beneful dog food.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/69362_calie_pictures_-_6-8-2011_027.jpg
Here's a picture of said dog.

When treating hot spots you want to dry them out. The hot spot needs to be dry and scab over. Keeping it moist with creme won't help.

Also Beneful is garbage food as others have said, I would find a different vet.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
X2 plus once you bath them that stuff's gone!!

 

[Sylverfly]

My first dog a collie lab mix suffered from itchy skin, ear infections, and hot spots most of his life. It was all caused by an allergy to grass pollen. We tried over the counter sprays and shampoos, and creams and sprays from the vet. Then steroids from the vet. Nothing worked until we tried a special shampoo that was available only from the vet. It wasn't for hotspots or dry skin...I don't remember the name of the stuff but I think it was for the treatment of mange. It had oatmeal and vitamins in it to soothe the skin and some medication in it as well. You had to let it sit on the coat and skin for like 15 minutes then wash it off. My dog never had mange but we tried it just to soothe his skin and it worked ask your vet if they have something like that you can try, it might just solve your dogs problems. Also I'm not 100% sure it was for mange but I know my vet used it to help heal dogs who had mange, maybe to heal the skin once the mite is gone or something like that. Also because my dog was itchy he would roll in the grass to itch himself which made everything much worse, don't let your dog roll in the grass and see if it helps. Good luck!

 

[watchdogps]

For some temporary relief, you can try mixing the yellow listerine with water, half and half, and sponging it on the spots. Works like a charm. It does not change the fact that you need to get to the root of the problem, but it might soother it for now.

 

[shadowpaints]

as a sheltie breeder and owner, i would highly suggest getting her off beneful. the first ingredients are corn, which many dogs have sensitivities to.
if you cant afford blue buffalo, then you can get nutrish just 6 (rachel rays dog food) and it has no grains in it and is about the same price of beneful.

ill bet you change her food, the hot spots go away. also make sure you are brushing her out very well when she blows her coat, as matted hair can cause moist spots on the skin causing hot spots


good luck and BTW she is a cutie

 

[MeatKing]

My old dog, used to always get hot spot when swiming in dirty creeks.. I don't think that's what's happening here.. But thought I'd mention it in case she's a swimmer!!

Yes I agree with the others, get her off Beniful.. I would talk to a few different pet stores around. Find one where you like them and they know the food inside out. They are usually on their game as far as food is concerned

I hope it works out quickly..

Oh and other Idea instead of the cone A t-shirt? or long sleaved shirt.. I would make sure it's cotton so she can let her skin breath.. And if she licks through the shirt taki it off, cause the wet shirt would not be good for her..

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
She has been to the vet, thats who told us to buy that cream stuff. (No idea what it was called.. Someone lost it..

)
Her food hasn't been changed at all.. She gets the Beneful dog food.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/69362_calie_pictures_-_6-8-2011_027.jpg
Here's a picture of said dog.

The dog food she is eating is terrible, and may be the cause of the hot spots. I would change her food today. I recommend Taste of the wild. I would get one of the flavors that have a 25% protein content to start. Taste of the Wild is grain free. Dogs are true carnivores. They do not need grains. Any dog food made by Purina has corn in it. Dogs can not digest corn. You can change the dog straight away. With the high quality of TofW your dog will not have any problems with adjusting to it. I would never feed my dogs with any food made by Purina.

My Komondor had hot spots off and on for years, until we settled on this brand of food. It may not be all that is causing your problems, but it is going to be a good start. There are a number of products for hot spots. The best is probably tea tree oil. A trip to the vet for a cortisone shot isn't a bad idea. It will help heal up the spot fast, and give her time to recover from the food allergy if that is the problem. Food is usually the first thing to change.