Skin condition? Parasite? - Page 1

I am wondering if anyone can give me some advice.  I have a 9 weeks puppy, checked out at the vet a week and a half ago, another appointment in 4 days.  He's been biting his rear above his tail and there are now two "patches" of I don't know what. At first we thought it was dry skin or hair that had become matted. Now there are white skin flakes coming from the area also.  Okay, must be dry skin...another patch appeared and he's been scratching more.  Tried to investigate but between his thick hair and his puppy squirming and yelping, it's hard to get a really good look at what's going on.  I wet the area and it now feels like it's either a thick rash on the skin or maybe something under the skin.  Any suggestions on what it could be? Do any parasites burrow under the skin? Should I push his appointment up or do you think it'll be okay for another 4 days.  I'm probably being paranoid but I don't want to take any chances with one so young.  Thanks.

Any chance he has fleas?  Biting above the tail is the most common place to get irritated if the dog has fleas, could also have flea bite dermatitis (basically allergy to fleas)  With the white flakes I would also worry about "walking dandruff"  which has a big long name that I will try to spell but will fail horribly at I am sure, chileateala.  Sarcoptic mange would be another possibility...

Has he been bathed or anything?  if not, give him a good soak.  Dawn or Ivory dishsoap works great on fleas and such.

could be a type of mite.

also, demodex mange causes symptoms similar but it generally starts on the face and ears.

one easy way to take care of the mites would be to inject under the skin a small amount of Ivemect, but I wouldn't do it as young as he is.

I have seen no evidence of fleas, checked when he first started biting.  The vet also checked him for fleas.  Also have three other dogs and they would have been infected by now.  We have had him for two weeks and have not bathed him, just brushing.  He has no other places except on his rear.  I do have Dawn dish detergent, maybe I'll give it a try just to be on the safe side.  He really hollered when I just wet his behind, this ought to be fun .  Is demodex mange easily managed, anything I have to panic about?  I think I'll call the vet in the morning and see if I can push his appointment up.  Thanks for the input, I'll let you know the outcome.

Sparrow, sounds like what Chaos has.  He has what's called Folliculitis.  It's infection of the hair follicles.  Not genetic, not contagious and it can be treated.  Steroids and a strong antibiotic for 3 weeks then a recheck.  Also I have to bath him in Selsun Blue and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.  The vet said it could have been caused by anything.  A small cut that got infected that I never saw!  Anything like that.  He's been on his antibiotics for over a week now and he's doing great.

Thanks Shepherd Woman, I am calling in the morning and I'll see if he can be seen tomorrow. Also glad Chaos is doing well.

Thanks, and I hope yours is too after tomorrow.  It only took like 2 days for him to be feeling better.  Vet said it was never hotspots to begin with, and now that we know what it actually is, it can be treated and it will go away and hopefully not come back!  On my new website we have a entire health forum and Folliculitis is one of the topics discused and it tells all about it.  If you want, check it out. 

Sparrow...The best and safest thing to do is what you're doing...Taking him to your vet's...Because to be sure they'll need to do a scraping of the skin and check it under the microscope...This way you'll be sure what it really is...There are just too many things that it could be and without doing a scraping it's almost impossible to tell...Tell me...Where do you live?...Because where you live could be a cause of some of the troubles your having...I lived in Florida for a long long time...and have now moved to Michigan...anyways...In the hot weather...with a lot of humidity you can have a lot of skin problems...Without doing a skin scraping and having your vet check it out...you'd just be guessing at what the culprit is...Good Luck...

~Bob~

SW, I will check your site, thanks!

Q Man, I live in the northeast, PA to be exact, although it's been an unseasonably warm winter, humidity is not one of the problems LOL. I actually thought fleas at first because the bugs do emerge from wherever they hide during warm spells but I see no signs at all.  I knew it wasn't a tick and just never dealt with other skin issues, even though it can get pretty humid in the summer it usually doesn't last for months at a time.

Thank you all for your advice, I'm nervous with a puppy.  He's so darned bad and I'm loving every minute of it   Love that puppy breath!  I just don't want to take any chances and will have him at the vet as soon as I can get an appointment.  I'll let you know as soon as I have an answer.

No stereoids on a new puppy   absolutely not    dont let any vet give a puppy steroids or a strong antibiotic on a 9 week old puppy....go get some   head and shoulders shampo for dandruff.............it contains   salisylic acid which the vet should be able to confirm      gets rid of the dead skin   or   go buy some expensive medicated shampoo with salisylic acid and tea tree in it.....

I use head and SHOULDERS..., thats what my good vet told me to use...and it works...puppies a lot of time develop the dandruff on the top of the shoulder to the butt...and sometimes it is from the bites of their litter mates,,,and it leaves a bunch of scabbies , that m ake you think something is wrong..,...shampooing and them brushing  his rear and his back will help move the scabs off.....by that time you will have his appointment......doesnt sound like dermadectic....

also it could be flea bites  from his former owners place...they may have bathed him and gotten them off....one or two fleas can do a lot of flea egg producing on a pup....not your fault....but they hid in puppy hair and by chance you might find one....and these are the bite places they nested in......and the bad part...you cant use anything for fleas on a 9 week old puppy...

Adams does make a flea spray for puppies ,,,and it has to say on the front of the bottle.        WATER BASED       READ DIRECTIONS AND IT WILL TELL YOU AT WHAT AGE        I BELIEVE IT IS 12 WEEKS OLD.....ALL THE OTHERS SAY   NOT TO USE UNTIL    6 MONTHS....