Ick--dog issues...UPDATE pg 2

[minkydog]

My dog Minky has licked a half dollar size place at the base of his tail until it's raw. In fact, there is a large area of intact red skin around it, at least 6"x8". I have noticed a little rough, kinda scabby area at the base of his tail, but it's never been bleeding until today. It looks pretty bad. I'm going to take him to teh vet tomorrow and see what we need to do. He's an old gentlemen, 9-/12, so I don't like to mess around with stuff too much. Any ideas about how I should treat this until tomorrow? He seems...okay. Maybe a little pensive or anxious. i can't put my finger on it. Maybe it hurts.

I hope it's not his food. We changed his food in early November and it seemed to be working out pretty good. If the doctor thinks it's a problem, of course, we'll change it. Minky is my darling doggie--he gets whatever he needs and he always has.

 

[maxiesmom]

If it is by his, ahem, opening, it could be that he has impacted anal glands. My German Shepard used to have that problem. They can take care of that in a jiffy at the vets.

 

[jjarman]

Could be an allergy if it is above the tail. Probably will give some ointment to put on it or spray. May have to change food though if it is an allergy. Good luck.

 

[Holly]

It sounds like a hot spot but I wouldn't do anything to it until it's diagnosed by your vet. We can worsen skin conditions or sores by treating them incorrectly.

Poor old guy. I hope you can get in the vet tomorrow and get it taken care of.

 

[luvwinnie]

That is a common flea area. Have you checked him for those nasty creatures? Hoping it's not that. Maybe just clean with some peroxide for now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Another vote for anal gland problem.

 

[lisajl]

Definately anal glands bothering him. Glad you are taking him in tomorrow.

 

[minkydog]

If it is by his, ahem, opening, it could be that he has impacted anal glands. My German Shepard used to have that problem. They can take care of that in a jiffy at the vets.

No, it's above the tail. He's not licking his bottom at all.

That is a common flea area. Have you checked him for those nasty creatures? Hoping it's not that. Maybe just clean with some peroxide for now.

I haven't seen any fleas, but I'm sure the vet will look too. Minky doesn't want me to touch it, so I'm leaving it alone for now. I was going to put some cortisone on it, but I thought maybe the vet might want to do a scraping tomorrow. I kinda hope she'll put him in an elizabethan collar so he can't get at it. He just keeps looking at me with these sad, anxious eyes. I feel so bad for him!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I bet it's a hot spot. He will probably be adorned with an Elizabethan Collar. I've heard that a dogs's dosage of Benedryl and Gold bond powder can help with the painful itch-can ask your vet about that. My dogs have had hot spots-it about drives them mad.

 

[NikiM20]

One of my doxies was doing that and my vet said it was food allergies. I switched him to a new food with no corn, wheat, or soy in it. Within a week he had stopped scratching and by the end of the month you could not tell he previously had a large raw spot there!!

 

[wdwmom2]

Sounds like a hot spot to me. My golden used to get them. Sometimes so bad she needed to be put on steroids. If I caught them early enough, I would use a hot spot remedy I bought at the grocery store (can't remember the name) and that would take care of it.

 

[damo]

We spray with Chlorhexadine (bought at the drug store) and it heals up hot spots pretty quickly. Don't use an ointment.

 

[luvwinnie]

Did you go to vet yet?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Here's hoping Minky's problem is easily solved.

 

[pixiewings71]

Our mutt used to do that, with his paws too, we changed his food and the problem went away...well until he gets stressed out and then he starts doing it again. I hope your pup doesn't need to wear the "cone of shame", my dogs hate that. LOL

 

[minkydog]

Update--I took Minky in first thing this morning. The vet checked him out and found *one* flea. Of course, we all know there is no such thing as ONE flea. I don't know where he picked them up. Minky has never had fleas in the 9 years I've had him.

The site was much worse than we both realized. The vet had to shave off an area above and on the tail about 8"x11". There were actually several nasty places, all infected. So now he's on Cephalexin 750mg(he's over 70-lbs) twice a day, and Gentamycin-Betamethasone spray 3 times a day. And he has to wear the Cone of Shame. This thing is Ginormous! So far he has run into every wall in our house. Poor thing. I know his behind is hurting because every now and then he'll kinda hunch his pelvis forward and tries to look behind him. Of course, the cone prevents him from doing much.

I treated him for the fleas this morning so that problem ought to go away in the next day or two. I haven't seen any in the house, but I'll be on the lookout for them. We're trying to treat him nicely as I know Minky is miserable. He doesn't even want to play with his ball. Just as well. He probably needs to rest up, with all this infection. He's an old doggy.

 

[horseshowmom]

I hope he's better soon!

One of my daughter's kittens had to have cone after he was neutered, and she said that he ran into everything in the apartment (walls, furniture, etc.). He did finally adapt, but it took awhile.

 

[pixiewings71]

Awww, poor Minky, I hope he's able to remove the Cone of Shame soon.

 

[luvwinnie]

I had a feeling it could be those nasty things...but hoped it wasn't. We went through hell with them with my cats and an infestation in the house...had to get an exterminator. Hope you found it early enough and hope Minky is all better soon!

 

[Desiree]

My dog has an allergy from fleas and has that exact same problem. We use the topical spray, cone of shame and 1 capstar pill when he flares up. That usually fixes the problem and he's fine within a few days.