My wife's 13 year old dalmatian has always had skin problems in the summer.

They never were serious, and never seemed to bother her. No itching or indication of pain.

I wasn't around the dog all the time 'til the past 3 years since my wife and I got married.

The old vet couldn't ever pinpoint anything. He sent a sample off and never got back with us. The problem was already gone by then any way.

Now it has suddenly came up again is worse than before. She is mildly itchy, and shows discomfort with the sores. Usually it isn't open sores, it is tiny scabs. A month ago she was showing a few little scabby places, but not much at all. It was actually looking like she was going to make it through the summer. This past week it has flared up, though.

I would really like her to not have to deal with this ever again.

Sorry this post is so jumbled. I'm not sure what info is needed for me to get help from y'all on this.

The new vet seems kinda stumped, too.

We won't be able to see him 'til Monday or Tuesday.

Can someone please let me know what to ask him to do? I know he'll help me and do whatever I ask. I'm just getting frustrated that this keeps happening year after year to her. We were so close to getting out of summer with little to no problems. I don't know allergies enough to know what to ask for.

Thanks in advance.

How itchy? Scratching at night? Opening the skin?

What kind of discomfort?

Summer only, definitely?

Where? Flanks, belly, folds, what?

Paws? Tail?

Has any vet said anything? Atopy? Has anyone done a scraping?

What has been tried?

And most important: How itchy and what kind of discomfort? "She is mildly itchy, and shows discomfort with the sores." Details.

How is she inside the ears?

Oh, and: Does she get fish oil and E? Always a basic anti-inflammation agent.

I'm finding that her pain and discomfort level is not a good indicator. I know dogs don't like to readily show pain or discomfort, but this ole' gal is tougher than I thought.

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How itchy? Scratching at night? Opening the skin?

She isn't scratching with her feet, but with her old age her legs aren't as flexible as they once were. I bet she can't really scratch effectively like that. I did finally see her scratching her back on the floor a few times today. Not a closet scratcher, as I believe she can't get her foot up to scratch.

Yes, this time the skin is opening. I will post pics tonight or tomorrow morning.

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What kind of discomfort?

She winced and wanted to pull away when I was looking at the sores. Normally there is no reaction.

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Summer only, definitely?

Yes, with 100% certainty.

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Where? Flanks, belly, folds, what?

Paws? Tail?

Not so much on her belly, tail, or face. Mainly the trunk of her body. Base of the tail to her forehead. Its also under her chin on her neck. It doesn't go down much past her hams or shoulders, either.

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Has any vet said anything? Atopy? Has anyone done a scraping?

Nothing specific. Just "allergies".

Nobody has done a scraping. The old vet sent off one of the scabs a year ago and never got back with us.

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What has been tried?

Nothing with the new vet yet. I wanted more answers before we just blindly threw something at it.

The old vet tried steroids(depo-medrol), anti-fungal, and I think maybe an antibiotic. Sorry I can't be more specific.

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And most important: How itchy and what kind of discomfort? "She is mildly itchy, and shows discomfort with the sores." Details.

She isn't losing any sleep, but will try to rub furniture every now and then when awake. She still doesn't act like it is bothering her, but usually there has been no reaction. This is the first time she has acknowledged it. She doesn't show discomfort until I touch the sores.

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How is she inside the ears?

Normal. No abnormal smells or bumps.

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Oh, and: Does she get fish oil and E? Always a basic anti-inflammation agent.

Yes.

She is shedding worse than normal. Especially on the scabs and sores. A "plug" of hair is easily pulled off those places.

Her hair is greasy and leaves a film on your hand if you pet her for a while, too.

Oh my gosh, I cant believe I just saw this.
Hopefully some of my exp. this week may help.

Thursday eve, I noticed that Link had open sores and scabs on his lower abdomen (near his privates) as well as a sore near his front upper shoulder, and one under his chin.

They seem to itch him, and some are raw and open, and some are scabbed over.

I took him to the vet, and she said it is called Pyoderma
(sp) and gave me an antibiotic for him.
Ive been giving him Vit E and Salmon Oil as well.

Vet said seems he has sensitive skin, and this is something we will need to watch.

Also said its more common in warm and humid climates.

In hopes of helping Mike, I hope I am permitted to put a link here, regarding canine pyoderma:

http://www.medi-vet.com/Canine-Pyoderma.html

This is what Link has right now - however, Kai does not and it is not contagious via the vet.

Have a nice weekend,
Deb

Hi Mike,

True had a greasy coat and scabby sores and it turned out to be a bacterial skin infection. Not saying this is what your dog has but a greasy coat is an indication of it.

A scraping will tell the vet and you what it is and what is needed to treat it.

If this turns out to be a bacterial infection, antibiotics will clear it up and I strongly suggest a follow-up scraping be done to make sure it's completely gone.

Sorry your girl is going through this.

Greasy or waxy skin is also a symptom of yeast overgrowth, and this is often a summer thing because of the breach that other allergies (or anything else) cause.

The scraping (more of a press-down-sticky-tape-and-lift) is going to help. Sometimes both yeast and bacteria (often together) can be seen immediately, while you are there.

This is going to help us and the vet to give you good advice about avoiding future events and also healing and keeping the dog comfortable now.

I'd go asap, and start treating before it can become systemic. (And yes, if it's yeast/bacteria, it sounds now as if it's early stages). God for you that you are addressing it now.

Fish oil and E are appropriate, BTW, even with that greasy feel.

JMO.

 Quote: Sarah Morris

If this turns out to be a bacterial infection, antibiotics will clear it up and I strongly suggest a follow-up scraping be done to make sure it's completely gone.

Excellent reminder, Sarah.

ASAP is Monday morning. Already got the appointment.

So, just to clarify. Usually, her past problems healed on their own, and weren't this bad. This seems like the same thing as before, except it escalated farther than ever in the past few days.

It still isn't bothering her to the point of not being able to relax, but is bothering her more than usual.

Does that still sound like yeast or bacteria? Can those problems go away on their own sometimes?

I don't want recapping those 2 points to sound like I don't want to go to the vet. I promise, that was NOT what I was getting at. I just wanted to bring those back up to make sure this sounded like yeast or bacteria.

And a scrape is usually analyzed in-house?

Thank you guys so much for your help. Its nice to walk into the vets office and not be totally clueless.