Puppy itching, red patches, fur loss: Is his weight and food okay?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 7th, 2018

  Itchy skin and red bumps like this are often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. Below is a link to more information about allergies. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good that he was treated for fleas, but I would ensure they are all gone and give treatment if needed. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo, soap, or other product that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. Below is a link to other helpful tips. https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ The antiseptic wash you have would be good to use once a week with this condition to help prevent infection. The lime-sulfur dip is reserved for certain cases of infection and not indicated in this case, so I don't reccomend using it. I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet. Unfortunately, most pets do hate going to the vet, but we take comfort in knowing that we are helping them even though they don't realize this.

  

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  Answered By Jennifer Ladd, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 21st, 2016

  My answer to this would include 2 parts. 1) Start him on a fish oil supplement . I prefer the liquid which you can pour over his food. This is a natural anti-inflammatory. I would also add some vitamin E oil in as well. This will help nourish his skin. Neosporin can be toxic to dogs Kidneys, and so I would avoid that. Also, over bathing can dry his skin so I would focus on 1x per month with an oatmeal shampoo or similar product. 2) I DO think there is an underlying issue. a higher quality food could be indicated, but with the itching it makes me think more of a flea allergy. If that is the case you may not see fleas on him, but he is likely developed an allergy to the few that are present. I would start him on a monthly oral flea product.

  

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  Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 10th, 2018

  It sounds like LD may have a skin infection. Depending on the cause, its likely than an oral prescription medication may be needed, in addition to medicated baths. Additionally, skin infections are often due to underlying allergies. Getting any allergies under control will also help in getting his skin and hair healthier again. I would strongly recommend that you get him in to see your vet ASAP, as this is likely something that will need prescription medication to get on top of. However, if you want to try to treat him at home and see how he does for a few days, you can try a few things. Make sure he is on a flea and tick medication such as Frontline or Advantage. These are available without a prescription. If he has a flea allergy, fleas could be the underlying cause here--- however, again, I think he may have a secondary infection in his skin that needs to be treated. You can try giving him some Benadryl; see the link below for dosing information. You can also try a soothing medicated bath daily for a couple of days. While these suggestions may help, he likely needs to get in to see a vet so that the problem can be identified and appropriately treated. medicated shampoos you can try: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/sulfodene-medicated-shampoo-and-conditioner-for-dogs Benadryl information: https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/ Thanks for asking PetCoach! I hope that helps you!

  

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