So Ambi finished her keflex, and is being weaned off the prednisone, I had stopped the Benadryl and she started giving herself hot spots and she had some hard lumps still in the skin she had one on her side that had been there for a couple of months (that with help) oozed a whitish substance that didn't really seem to be pus.
I started a new job and had to go away overnight for a training and put Amber in the kennel she's been going to for a long time, coincindentally I had an idea to take her to a derm vet and made an appointment that morning, picked her up that evening and she comes out looking like a patchwork quilt with 6 or 7 large hotspots on her back...I've put her back on Benadryl, still weaning her off the pred. and washing and applying hot spot remedy to them. I'm pretty much at a loss as to what else to do, I kind of had the feeling something more was going on but geez my bank account is begging for mercy. The derm appt is on the 14th of Nov. I'm thinking about putting a cone on her to prevent any licking at home but I don't know if that will frazzle her in other ways, I think some of this must be anxiety but it seems more itch related. I was thinking of starting Rescue Remedy to help her walking anxiety but with the derm. appt. I figure its probably not a good idea to start anything new until the derm appt. Maybe I should take the Rescue Remedy? Oy vey!

Jodi here are a couple antihistamines that have been shown to work a bit better in dogs:

The ones I have had success with are either the over the counter
Chlor-Trimeton the generic is (chlorpheneramine) or the prescription, Hydroxyzine.
You may want to ask your Derm vet about trying these instead and see if you get better relief.

I sympathize with you, allergies are one of the most frustrating things I have been through too. Lots of us here have. I know it can take a toll on your finances too.

I had some good luck with an herbal tincture called " Detox Blend" by Animal Essentials.
http://www.animalessentials.com/#product_search:detox%20blend

It has some very good constituents in it that help detox the liver which helps skins issues, as well as licorice root which has shown great results helping all allergic conditions.

I resorted to looking outside the box when I was not seeing any changes from some of the conventional stuff I had tried.

Hang in there until the DermVet appt. They are very good at what they do, and I am sure you will get some great care there!

I'm so sorry I missed the last post of the hives thread. I had no idea this was still going on (only worse) or especially that you might have thought derm vet = intradermal testing.

Yes, that's who should do it, but there is SO much more the derm vet can and will see before that suggestion is made (if it ever is).

No chance of getting in sooner? Hot spots (acral lick dermatitis), are actual localized infections, painful and miserable. If I had to wait two plus weeks, then meanwhile I'd get her in at the GP vet.

And also, I'd be completely upfront about money concerns when you get to the derm vet.

If I resorted to a cone, I'd make it a donut or soft cone. She's already so frantic, if she created multiple hot spots in one 24-hour period.

Do you know about CareCredit for vet care? I did that for part of my last dental-for-two-dogs woes and paid it off in the no-interest period.

Until you can get to the derma vet, I would go to your regular vet and ask for an Rx for the hydroxyzine antihistimine, or at least switch the Chlor-trimeton otc. Benedryl doesnt do much for a lot of dogs. And don't go off the prednisone completely - I'd give it every third day until you see the derma vet.

Also, for hot spots and other skin rashes, I have found this stuff to be very effective:
http://reviews.petsmart.com/4830/2751909/veterinarians-best-veterinarians-best-hot-spot-itch-relief-spray-reviews/reviews.htm

It is mostly tea trea oil and really helps heal and the dogs don't like the taste so they don't lick it off as much.

I missed the Benadryl too. The least effective (statistically) for dogs of all the antihistamines. (Of course, that doesn't matter for the dog who does benefit.)

Good point on the Pred, too.

A blossoming of hot spots like that is a little scary. I'm with Lori.

Are you 100% totally certain no way in hell this dog could possibly have fleas?


Your GP should be able to refill your prescription medications to quiet things down, without seeing you again, w/o the exam fee. But it doesn't sound like the medications
really got to the cause of the problem.
Time for the derm vet is right!
Joyce has great ideas for antihistamines.

Good catch on fleas, Betty, which can seriously exacerbate any derm condition.

I would do the white sheet test asap.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll definitely follow up. yes, I am absolutely positive she doesn't have fleas, and the vet did a comb through on her last time she was there, which showed no fleas.
At the kennel she had entered with the one hot spot which I'd asked them to keep an eye on, and this is what I think happened: I had asked my sister to pick Ambi up so she wouldn't have to sleep over if I didn't make it by closing, my sister showed up but forgot the part where they charge, (and she didn't bring money with her, seriously I love her but...) so they had taken Ambi out then put her back. When I picked Ambi up she was frantic, whining in the car like she needed to poop so I stopped to walk her, still whining, when I got home she ran in and drank half of her large dish of water, I suspect when they put her back in they forgot to refill her water which made her frantic and I wonder caused her to chew on herself. The kennel insists the additional hot spots weren't there the day before; and I know Ambi is always concerned about water she doesn't drink excessively but if its not in front of her she worries.
She does have what feels like small pea sized welts in her skin, they are not reddened, and she has some scabs on top of some of these welts. So while I am entirely certain she does not have fleas, I can't help but wonder if they're might be another parasite that is too small too see.
She has very mild dandruff, I do notice when I grab her leash to take her for her walk that she will pace and will start to scratch herself with a hind leg- so again I wonder if theres an anxiety component to this.
I decided on the derm vet more because I am hoping he can look at this and have a clue from eyeballing it, I haven't even begun to think about intra-dermal testing yet,plus he is also behavioral and can look at it from that point of view as well. Ambi's "dogter" is wonderful and he is aware, she currently is on the pred every other day and I actually have some chlor-trimenton at home what would the dosage be?
Its pretty strange that Ambi ears have cleared up and now this is happening... Good news is that she is bright and alert and she doesn't seem to be worrying at them, so I haven't used a cone, she seems to lick more when anxious. Most of the spots are looking good, one is a little weepy. I'll give my vet a call tomorrow to ask about refilling the pred and antihistamines. Thanks for all the info, guys. This is so worrying to me.

Look up Chyletiella mites, mange on the internet.

Look at the dandruff with a magnifying glass!

"She has very mild dandruff"


WHOA! Where?


Have you heard of walking dandruff?

Even though it's often mild, some dogs are allergic to these mites (similar to flea saliva dermatitis or hypersensitivity compared to the "usual" flea effect) and have extreme reactions; in addition; they really exacerbate other, even minor, skin conditions.