I woke up this morning and walked my 9 month old GSD "Love" to notice that she had biitten or gnawed herself down to her skin and it looks painful. She wouldn't let me check it however I did get to look at it after awhile when I gave her a snack. It is right in her lower back where her tail begins and is raw pink in color. The fur has been peeled so it is an open wound. I have never seen such a thing done. I don't know exactly if she bit it or if it was an accident. She keeps chewing on it and I don't know what to do. Should I take her to the Vet tomorrow or does anyone have a remedy or has experienced this? Please help me because I almost cried at the sight of it. Thank You.

Yes, you should take her to the vet!! WHY GAMBLE?

Sorry, it submitted when I wasn't ready... When in doubt, check it out. It could be an allery, an embedded tick head...it could be a million things. But your dog needs help, so go check it out and then, to help others, let us know what it was.

Good lucK!

Being that you are in a state that is sooo humid, it could be so many things , yes I would take to the vet.If you have some neosprin I would put some on it,lightly.

 Quote: Angelique Cadogan

Being that you are in a state that is sooo humid, it could be so many things , yes I would take to the vet.If you have some neosprin I would put some on it,lightly.

I agree that the dog has to see the vet, because no matter what the cause, skin in that condition is likely to get infected fast.

If you post back what the vet says, I imagine that some of us will have had experience with whatever triggered it.

Sounds to me like allergies. I suggest you take a hard look at what you are feeding this dog. Go read the article I wroteon my web site about allergies - get this dog on a raw diet (no grains) and dont vaccinate it - if your Vet tried to vaccinate this dog - pack your bags thank him and walk out the door.

Bottom line is you need to educate yourself on raw diets and vaccination.

Yup, I certainly agree that it sounds like an allergy. That's a typical spot, too, at the base of the tail.

But it also sounds like the sore at the site (atopic dermatitis) is or is likely to become infected.

Hi Rosenoel. Just to support the recommendations of others.....

That spot at the base of the tail was a common, a regular location for "hot spots" on our Beagle for several years. He would chew off the fur, dig into the skin, and it would get bloody and infected. Of course we went to the vet to get proper "treatment" for the infection - which I would recommend you do. We would always end up putting the beagle in what we fondly call a "lamp shade" (the plastic hoods that fit to their collar, and prevent them from licking/chewing). Our beagle was probably spending at least 50% of his life wearing a lamp shade just to try to keep infections down.

Raw feeding changed all this. We have been raw feeding for almost 1 year, and Buck has not had a hot spot - not even one - during this time. Our feeding program including supplements, closely mirrors the raw feeding program and menu recommended here. I am so happy that this Beagle is hot spot free by this change in feeding - rather than dealing with hot spots "after the fact" with antibiotics, steroid shots, etc. I urge you to give it a try.

Best wishes, and keep us posted.

Beth

Beth's experience is pretty common. It's very much like my own. I often help people get started with fresh food feeding, and one of the first things most owners comment on is how the skin and fur are normalized ..... glossy fur, healthy skin.

I agree 100% with Beth's advice to get the spot checked out, too, because I've seen so many allergic dogs maddened by itch, breaking skin and starting an infection cycle.

I have a dog who still has some dermatitis from inhalant allergies, but compared to when he came to me with infected armpits and groin and fur gone at the base of the tail, inflamed paws, and ear infections one after the other, I call the present affliction almost nothing.

The fresh food, salmon oil, and seasonal antihistamines (hydroxyzine) have changed his health dramatically.

Editing to add that if I were feeding kibble and getting ready to start fresh food, I'd get the salmon oil and vitamin E immediately and start it right away, even if I didn't have the fresh food quite ready.

IMO, there is no dog who isn't better off with Omega 3 fatty acids from marine sources, plus E. And for dogs with any inflammation issues (like dermatitis or joint problems), it's a top priority. JMO.

I have a question regarding the whole DON'T VACCINATE idea. I too agree that vaccinations are probably not warranted but the vets in my area won't even see a dog unless it is up on it's vaccinations or you agree to get them up on vaccinations. Also, occasionally I take my dogs to a kennel if I am out of town for awhile and the kennels will also not take the dogs unless they are current on all vaccinations. So how do you guys circumvent these problems? Also, do you at least do rabies? It is our city law that your dog must have a rabies shot or you could face a fine.