skin problem with Springer/ any ideas lads?

brianfrancis45

Quite recently I noticed that one of my springers had developed an ugly weeping sore the size of an old 50P piece on the back of his neck. Took him to the vet , who had a quick look and said it was wet eczema. Vet said that the vast majority of cases cases are caused by the dogs environment and that a very common cause is some form of chemical that a dog is coming into contact with (FFS sake he's a gun dog not a laboratory technican !) . He also said that it can also be caused by diet but this is much rarer. He didnt give any treatment (and in fairness didn't charge me anything) as I''ve had several dogs in to him recently. He just said to keep an eye on it ..... What struck me is that the sore was exactly in the same place where the dog was given his booster shots by the same vet just a few days earlier. I asked vet if that might be the cause and he said no. He said that some dogs may react to the shots but the reaction is a small hard lump at the injection site and not an open sore.

The sore eventually healed up but in the last week I noticed another few similar sores appearing around the neck -head area. Popped back into vet (without the dog) looking to buy some special medicated dog shampoo which I thought I might try but vet said it would not really help and instead he gave a tube of steroid cream to use which should relieve the itching/swelling. My worry is that this cream is just treating the symptoms and is not a cure.

I keep the kennels very clean ( and I don't use chemcials) so I can't see how the dog's environment could be causing this problem. Also I've had the dog for a few years now and fed him the same food and he is/was thriving apart from this recent skin condition.

I was starting to think now if the cause might possibly be either the worm tablets or the Frontline spot-on that I applied as one of the sores is in the same place where I applied the spot-on. Having said that I gave the worming tablets and spot-on at the end of July (to all 3 of my dogs) and the first big sore appeared on the one dog (it would have to be the best dog !) only 3 or so weeks ago...... so its probably too much time between the medication and when the first sore appeared, for this to be the cause ?

I know its a long shot and I'll probably have to bring the dog back to the vet again but before I face another unwelcome bill, I just thought I'd ask in case any of ye might have come across a similar problem i.e. dog getting skin problems after shots or worming/spot-on flea doses ?

With the season coming up I really want to get to the bottom of it and get the dog 100 % right for opening day.

Any ideas based on past experience greatly welcomed.

p.s.
mods if this is not appropriate in this forum feel free to move it. Thanks

TriggerPL

Are you pens open or in enclosed , what do ya wash them down with ? It could be a number of things . Like you bet said , I'd remove all bedding everything apart from bowl wash all down and start there if it enclosed , mayb too warm I had spaniel that got sores from sweating to much from over heating , he use to drag bedding out and everything , normally it was on his legs and back of neck , I'd also treat for tics as well , it trail and era really

brianfrancis45

TriggerPL wrote: »

Are you pens open or in enclosed , what do ya wash them down with ? It could be a number of things . Like you bet said , I'd remove all bedding everything apart from bowl wash all down and start there if it enclosed , mayb too warm I had spaniel that got sores from sweating to much from over heating , he use to drag bedding out and everything , normally it was on his legs and back of neck , I'd also treat for tics as well , it trail and era really

Thanks. Pen is in the open and also opens out into a large enclosed garden , apart from night time when the dogs are enclosed in a 20 x 6 ft pen which is hosed down and swept regularly. Kennel is just a weatherproofed wooden box with felt roof. 2 years ago when we had the very bad winter I did insulate it with loft insulation but no insulation is showing/can be touched by the dogs as I boxed it in completely with plywood sheets.

As far as tics are concerned , I hear ya and you might be unto something there ! This particular dog is a magnet for them .... in the summer/autumn he seems to pick up 5-6 a day just in the back garden but I check him almost every evening and remove them carefully. I have 3 dogs and all are left outside the kennel/run for several hours a day as I have about a 1/4 acre of well fenced in garden and the other 2 dogs seem to just get the odd tic here and there.. Maybe I should mention that to the vet.

Wondering if I should try cleaning the kennel/main run with disinfectant but then again I don't like using chemicals especially in view of what the vet said and also bearing in mind that the other dogs have not got a skin problem at all , so I doubt the problem is coming from the kennel/main run.

I guess it's going to be trial and error but am determined to get to the bottom of it.

p.s.

I don't use bedding at all. Just three plastic baskets in the kennel, without any straw/soft bedding at all.

TriggerPL

I'd try ticxol or something first lad could be simple

good logs...

could be ringworm, try an antifungal cream.

brianfrancis45

good logs... wrote: »

could be ringworm, try an antifungal cream.

Thanks. Vet said it is eczema so you'd be inclined to think that he should know. Also I worm the dog regularly so I doubt its ringworm but if I don't see any improvement soon I might just try another vet for a 2nd opinion....

Stheno

If it's ringworm and you've contact with the dog you might pick it up, over a prolonged period if you haven't it's not likely to be.

Honey believe it or not is a great treatment for ringworm as it blocks oxygen ringworm needs.

In terms of cleaning, trigene is a very safe chemical cleaner to use, go to one of the big saddliers and it's good value.

One ointment that is fantastic for wet sores is Multiderm, I've used it lots of times for consistently wet sores.