Skin complaint / infection

GHughes17 · 01-29-2013, 06:49 PM

Archie, our 2.5 year old male beagle has had a number of skin infections. At first it affected his stomach area but more recently has spread to his back. On all occasions he has been prescribed antibiotics and steroids and we have used a medicated shampoo on him. His stomach has cleared up nicely but his back has worsened. It has been very sensitive to touch (he kicks his leg uncontrollably when touched on his back) and we have noticed very small instances of fur matting with dead / flaky skin. He has been to the vets tonight and has had his lower back shaved to reveal to full extent of the problem (see photo). The vet says he is confident it is infection that won't heal properly due to the thickness of the fur and that by removing the fur we will be able to treat it better (with shampoo) and better assess any improvement. The vet has done skin scrapes over the past two months that reveal no evidence of fleas / mites or other condition.

Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so what did you do. Happy to trust the vet and accept that it's an infection and run the latest course of antibiotics and steroids etc but this has been a problem for some time and wondering if there is anything else we should be looking out for?

Thanks

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GHughes17 · 01-29-2013, 06:51 PM

On a more positive note, he's a lovely little dog who despite his appearance in the above photo is usually very handsome!

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My6beagles · 01-29-2013, 07:19 PM

Is there a specialist in your area? I have found that after a couple tries to fix something I don't hesitate and take mine to a specialty hospital/clinic. After a couple trips to my regular vet I could of used that money for the specialist. I really would look at a second opinion and try to get to the root of the problem.

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My6beagles · 01-29-2013, 07:20 PM

Oh btw Archie is totally adorable !!!

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GHughes17 · 01-29-2013, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the reply. Not aware of any specialists in our area (North West England) but I will ask our vet if he is aware of any when I take him back next week for a check up. I'm hoping our vet has it right (i.e. that it'll clear up now that the fur is out of the way) but its looks quite unpleasant at the moment and I'm wondering how it compares to any other beagle owners' experience.

Another picture...playing in the snow last week!

Skin complaint / infection-imageuploadedbypg-free1359505539.884873.jpg

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My6beagles · 01-29-2013, 07:49 PM

Do a search for veterinary specialists. Since I don't know exactly where you live I couldn't be sure of the locations. Usually a specialist needs to be referred to by our regular vet. I learned very quickly when my old vet misdiagnosed one of my pack and thankfully I decided on a second opinion. The vet thought my beagle had bone cancer but instead she blew out her MCL. The second opinion saved her life. Now I don't hesitate.

Skin complaint / infection-imageuploadedbypg-free1359506927.439845.jpg

That's the "bionic beagle" playing in the creek.

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Cassie · 01-29-2013, 11:13 PM

Just something to think about...could it be laundry soap or any other materials such as the bedding the dog is exposed to? I use only soaps with no perfumes on my dog's towels etc.

Would a light sweater or such that covers the area help from being exposed to what might be causing the problem?

Your dog is really good looking. Was his head always brown?

ljas · 01-30-2013, 01:29 AM

It could be a food allergy. The most common foods that can cause something like this are wheat, corn, artificial flavors and colors. You may want to look for a lamb and rice based food, or read up on making food for your dog.

His back looks like the rash that can occur with celiac disease

GHughes17 · 01-30-2013, 03:35 AM

Thanks for the replies. Really appreciated.

We will ask about a specialist, thanks My6beagles. Happy you got the right diagnosis in the end. Looks happy in the creek there!

Cassie - we will change the detergent. Thanks for the suggestion. It could be that causing the irritation. Yes, his head has always been brown, my profile pic was taken on the day we picked him up.

Ijas - I will look into changing his food to something more natural. He currently eats Pedigree or Bakers (UK brands I think) but I'll do some research into alternatives. The vet has done a skin scrape and found no disease but I will ask him specifically about celiac disease when I take him back next week.

We are also feeding him more fish and giving him Evening Primrose Oil to try to combat the dry skin. Hopefully this, combined with all your suggestions, clears it up.

Thanks again for the replies. Very helpful.

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Natty Boh · 01-30-2013, 10:12 AM

It could be food allergies, but I'm not sure with it being on his back. My previous dog had food allergies. The skin issue presented under her legs, on her stomach and sometimes around her mouth.

And yes - Archie is gorgeous, even shaved.

01-29-2013, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
GHughes17 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27	Skin complaint / infection Archie, our 2.5 year old male beagle has had a number of skin infections. At first it affected his stomach area but more recently has spread to his back. On all occasions he has been prescribed antibiotics and steroids and we have used a medicated shampoo on him. His stomach has cleared up nicely but his back has worsened. It has been very sensitive to touch (he kicks his leg uncontrollably when touched on his back) and we have noticed very small instances of fur matting with dead / flaky skin. He has been to the vets tonight and has had his lower back shaved to reveal to full extent of the problem (see photo). The vet says he is confident it is infection that won't heal properly due to the thickness of the fur and that by removing the fur we will be able to treat it better (with shampoo) and better assess any improvement. The vet has done skin scrapes over the past two months that reveal no evidence of fleas / mites or other condition. Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so what did you do. Happy to trust the vet and accept that it's an infection and run the latest course of antibiotics and steroids etc but this has been a problem for some time and wondering if there is anything else we should be looking out for? Thanks Sent from Petguide.com Free App

01-29-2013, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
GHughes17 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27	Skin complaint / infection On a more positive note, he's a lovely little dog who despite his appearance in the above photo is usually very handsome! Sent from Petguide.com Free App

01-29-2013, 07:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
My6beagles Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ohio,USA Posts: 668	Skin complaint / infection Is there a specialist in your area? I have found that after a couple tries to fix something I don't hesitate and take mine to a specialty hospital/clinic. After a couple trips to my regular vet I could of used that money for the specialist. I really would look at a second opinion and try to get to the root of the problem. Sent from Petguide.com Free App __________________ Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel very peculiar. I feel like I've just got to bite a cat! I feel like if I don't bite a cat before sundown, I'll go crazy! But then I just take a deep breath and forget about it. That's what is known as real maturity. Peanuts Snoopy

01-29-2013, 07:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
My6beagles Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ohio,USA Posts: 668	Skin complaint / infection Oh btw Archie is totally adorable !!! Sent from Petguide.com Free App __________________ Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel very peculiar. I feel like I've just got to bite a cat! I feel like if I don't bite a cat before sundown, I'll go crazy! But then I just take a deep breath and forget about it. That's what is known as real maturity. Peanuts Snoopy

01-29-2013, 07:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
GHughes17 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27	Skin complaint / infection Thanks for the reply. Not aware of any specialists in our area (North West England) but I will ask our vet if he is aware of any when I take him back next week for a check up. I'm hoping our vet has it right (i.e. that it'll clear up now that the fur is out of the way) but its looks quite unpleasant at the moment and I'm wondering how it compares to any other beagle owners' experience. Another picture...playing in the snow last week! Sent from Petguide.com Free App

01-29-2013, 07:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
My6beagles Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ohio,USA Posts: 668	Skin complaint / infection Do a search for veterinary specialists. Since I don't know exactly where you live I couldn't be sure of the locations. Usually a specialist needs to be referred to by our regular vet. I learned very quickly when my old vet misdiagnosed one of my pack and thankfully I decided on a second opinion. The vet thought my beagle had bone cancer but instead she blew out her MCL. The second opinion saved her life. Now I don't hesitate. That's the "bionic beagle" playing in the creek. Sent from Petguide.com Free App __________________ Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel very peculiar. I feel like I've just got to bite a cat! I feel like if I don't bite a cat before sundown, I'll go crazy! But then I just take a deep breath and forget about it. That's what is known as real maturity. Peanuts Snoopy

01-29-2013, 11:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cassie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California Posts: 926	Just something to think about...could it be laundry soap or any other materials such as the bedding the dog is exposed to? I use only soaps with no perfumes on my dog's towels etc. Would a light sweater or such that covers the area help from being exposed to what might be causing the problem? Your dog is really good looking. Was his head always brown?

01-30-2013, 01:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
ljas Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 806	It could be a food allergy. The most common foods that can cause something like this are wheat, corn, artificial flavors and colors. You may want to look for a lamb and rice based food, or read up on making food for your dog. His back looks like the rash that can occur with celiac disease

01-30-2013, 03:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
GHughes17 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 27	Skin complaint / infection Thanks for the replies. Really appreciated. We will ask about a specialist, thanks My6beagles. Happy you got the right diagnosis in the end. Looks happy in the creek there! Cassie - we will change the detergent. Thanks for the suggestion. It could be that causing the irritation. Yes, his head has always been brown, my profile pic was taken on the day we picked him up. Ijas - I will look into changing his food to something more natural. He currently eats Pedigree or Bakers (UK brands I think) but I'll do some research into alternatives. The vet has done a skin scrape and found no disease but I will ask him specifically about celiac disease when I take him back next week. We are also feeding him more fish and giving him Evening Primrose Oil to try to combat the dry skin. Hopefully this, combined with all your suggestions, clears it up. Thanks again for the replies. Very helpful. Sent from Petguide.com Free App

01-30-2013, 10:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Natty Boh Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 643	It could be food allergies, but I'm not sure with it being on his back. My previous dog had food allergies. The skin issue presented under her legs, on her stomach and sometimes around her mouth. And yes - Archie is gorgeous, even shaved.

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