Dog people- rash help (PIP)

KentuckyKate · September 2010

I tried putting this on the pets board first, but I can't make the PIP work over there, so any advice would be appreciated!

I just noticed my dog has a rash looking thing on her back armpit. She's four years old and has never had this before, so I'm not sure if it's an allergy or injury. Part of it is little red bumps, and part of it looks like a cut. On Saturday she bolted after a squirrel while I was walking her, and ran through a lot of brush into a ditch. She may have come into contact with a plant she doesn't normally encounter, or she may have cut herself in all of the bushes and weeds, or it could be from something totally unrelated. She is not scratching at it, but she is licking it. Other than that, she is acting completely normal and is in a good mood.

Does anyone have any idea what this is? Do you think I should I take her to the vet today, or just put something on it and see if it gets better first?

Loopyseven · September 2010

We keep an anti-bacterial spray (prescription from the vet) around the house for random injuries since we do so much hiking and camping with our dog. It has something in it that numbs it a bit too which might help with the licking. If you have something like that, or your vet will prescribe it for you without an office visit it might be worth a try for a few days to see if it starts to heal on its own. And try to keep her from licking it or it will get irritated and even more inflamed. Use an e-collar if you have to when you can't watch her.

STOLI15 · September 2010

Ahh, poor puppy. I would just put some Neosporin on it and see how it looks in a day or so. If the redness doesn't go away, then I would take the dog to the vet. Dogs tend to lick areas when they hurt or are sore, so I am sure that is what she is doing. I know it's rough to not take her to the vet, but I think she is probably just fine and was irritated by something.

emilyinchile · September 2010

Yup, I'd do Neosporin too and keep an eye on it. Hope it clears up!

KentuckyKate · September 2010

Thanks everyone! I really want to avoid a $50 office visit if possible, but I'll keep an eye on it!

Robyn5298 · September 2010

Poor puppy! That looks sort of like the staph infection my dog had a while ago. The treatment was an antibacterial cream that needed to be rubbed in twice a day, so PP's advice about Neosporin sounds spot on.

My vet told me that dogs are so covered in staph and other bacteria that its easy for the ph balance to get out of whack like this, and that infection can set in quickly if the skin is broken.

I'd recommend taking her in if the Neosporin doesn't start clearing it up in a few days, but hopefully it will. Good luck!

ecsmiles · September 2010

Is your dog licking the spot at all? My dog has allergies that affect his paws - once it starts bothering him he'll obsessively lick the spot making it worse - like the skin gets raw from it.

Also - when my dog was at the vet the other day, and we were talking about the allergy problem on his paws, she said to wipe the area with unscented baby wipes a few times a day to keep it clean. Maybe that would help your pup.

Good luck

Birdie1483 · September 2010

Awww poor baby! To me it looks like she could have cut herself in the brush, but it's hard to tell. It looks like right where her leg folds into her belly, so it could be some type of heat rash or something or another. I would do what PP said with the neosporin and take her in if it doesn't start to clear up.

Our dogs get "hot spots" and they have to be scraped by the vet to clear up. I'm not exactly sure what they look like because they're usually under hair, but the dogs will bite or itch at them and it's hard for them to go away until you see a vet. :-/

missy68 · September 2010

I'd think more of a cortisone cream. Is there a smell with it?

I give Max Benadryl periodically when his eyes are watery and he's chewing on his feet a lot, after clearing it with the vet (and making sure at another office visit the clear discharge wasn't anything else).

Our yard's beginning to go to seed, and everyone's kind of miserable with allergies right now. Seems he's no exception.

But - I wouldn't give it more than a couple of days before going to the vet. It could be heat rash, or it could be an allergic reaction to something else.

sarabellam · September 2010

Missy, if it is an infection, the cortisone cream might only exacerbate the problem. If it is an allergic reaction, the antibiotic won't compound the problem, KWIM? Barring further testing, I would go with an antibiotic.

Jelenny · September 2010

looks like maybe she got scratched OR she scratched herself due to irritation...

make sure she doesn't lick it - so you may need to cone her

make sure it is disinfected - if infected monitor because she could easily get a bad infection and you don't want it to get worse (just had a dog with three different infections in his toe)

she COULD have gotten into something she is allergic too so you can try benadryl - regular adult tabs. My foster dog was approx 50lbs and it was 50mg so two pills....might want to check wtih your vet if your pooch is on any other meds to avoid any issues

another foster of mine had a slight rash like that and one vet suggested soaking a washcloth in some camamille (sp?) tea after it cooled...so it was a cool tea compress...

tortis · September 2010

Our dog gets hot spots all the time. When he gets them on his belly, thats what they look like. You probably wouldn't need to take him to a vet, we use a topical liquid we got at the pet store.

What kind of dog is it? The first time Emmit got one, we didn't see it for a day or two b/c of all his fur (he's a golden). It spread really quickly so they had to shave him- the idea is that the irritation needs to dry out. Since you said yours pups was in his armpit, that might be a similar problem?

Anyway, now that we know what they are, we just treat them w/ the hot spot treatment from the pet store. Ems also has pretty sensitive skin and starts to get rashes pretty easily. We haven't had to take him back to the vet since we've been using that stuff. Good luck!

irshis20 · September 2010

That looks like a scratch that has turned into something more. I would put a cone on your doggie, clean the area and look for a scratch. If you find a scratch, put some Neosporin on it. If it doesn't get better in a day of no licking and Neosporin, I'd take the dog into the vet. $50 (so cheap for a vet visit, btw...I'm jealous!) is nothing if it turns out to be a staph infection that is spreading.

Dogs can also get staph infections from flea bites.

If you don't find a scratch, it might be an allergic reaction to food. Food allergies for dogs are very common, particularly if they've been eating the same food for a while.

Dog people- rash help (PIP)

Re: Dog people- rash help (PIP)

Choose Another Board

Search Boards