Lick Sores?

Anybody getting alot of these on your dogs this summer. Some people would call it a hot spot but my dog has one bad lick sore on the base of his tale and he wont stop trying to get at it. What can you put on it to help it.

 

First question I have for you is your dog on any flea preventative? If not it could be a flea allergy. I ahve seen dogs chew themsleves till they bleed because they are allergic to fleas. All it takes is one flea to bite them.

Second it could also be seasonal allergies. The list goes on.

Either way the dog needs to be taken to the vet. It may have chewed itself so bad that it needs antibiotics. And the area clipped and cleaned.

There is also something called lick granulomas but that is like an obsessive licking thing.

 

http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/lickderm.html Might oughta check out this option to, I have seen a few with this as the cause also.

 

Thanks for that info. I think it might be the fleas i put flea treatment on him about 3 weeks ago but fleas are really bad right now in my area and are bothering all the dogs but i think him more then the others. I put some antibiotics on it and it seems to heeling up.

 

This year, you won't keep NOTHIN off of NOTHIN for 3 full weeks. I've never seen the flies so bad. Earlier in the year, after a long walk, I got back and pulled what was probably close to 300 ticks off me, where I didn't notice them, as I was constantly plucking them off my arms and legs on the walk. I have NEVER seen flies or ticks so bad in my entire life. Shadflies are horrible as well, but they are not a threat-just annoying.

 

Knock on wood, we haven't had so many fleas this year...some flies but a poop load of ticks..

To your question...its on the base of the tail??I will say that if a dog is having a food allergy, that is where they will lose their hair.

 

Food allergies tend to cause the dog to chew it's feet. But flea allergies in 99% of the cases I have seen are on the back right above the tail. See link http://www.petplace.com/dogs/flea-allergy-dermatitis-in-dogs/page1.aspx

But it could be a combination of both.

Again I would take the dog to the vet.

And if it is a hot spot you would shave the area so it can breathe and heal. The hair slows down the healing process.

Chonic ear infections are secondary to allergies

 

What kinda food do you feed em'? I've been having a problem with hot spots since summer hit. I've been using hot spot medicine on them but as soon as one clears up, another pops up some where else. I've been feeding them Diamond Hi-Energy and was told that it could be come'n from the hi protein and fats. Well I switched to Diamond naturals Chicken & Rice and they are going away now...so try switching up foods and see what happens. It could be from fleas or a sting but it sounds like it could be th food IMO. Good luck

 

could be a flea allergy...trim the hair back clean the area with soap and water and try Benadryl (doseage: under 50 :25mg over:50mg.)


we use frontline for fleas, ticks etc.etc in our yard and have never seen any parasites in our yard on any on our dogs...we get this product for free and it works great so not promoing anything or justifing a purchase. It's a monthly topical and IMO is a great external parasite prevention. It does not work for flies, ....we use ultrashield spray for horses and keep our yard raked clean.

good luck

 

FourCorners, here are my suggstions:

1. Have someone hold the dog for you while you take some scissors and cut all the fur away from the hotspot. A sore needs air (oxygen) to heal and when fur is constantly sticking to it, it just creates a moisture zone. If you have a electric shaver (for haircuts and stuff) you can shave away the hair once it's cut down some.

2. Give the dog a good bath preferably with an antibacterial/antimicrobial shampoo such as Chlorhexaderm aka Nolvasan. If that is unavailable, a good oatmeal bath will work as well. Make sure to rinse all the shampoo completely off....this means rinse your dog until you get clean water coming off for at least a full minute.

3. Dry the dog as mush as possible esepecially the hotspot area. From now on, you want to make sure the hotspot area stays as dry as possible.

4. You can put a triple antibiotic ointment on the hotspot, but the key is to keep the dog from licking it. Invest in an elizabethan collar (e-collar)...they can be easily & cheaply found at a local Petsmart or vet clinic.

5. Wait a full 24 hours and then apply your Advantage/Advantix or Fronline/Frontline Plus. Make sure you are parting the hair to get it directly on th skin. I like to apply it directly in between the shoulder blades and then run it up against the hair growth about an inch. In the meantime, wash all bedding, replace all straw/hay, whatever. These products are completely safe for you to apply every 3 weeks if need be. Also, you can pick up some Capstar pills which are a very efficient quick kill option if the fleas get out of control on a dog, however it has no lasting affects whatsoever.

If left untreated, hotspots can result in large-scale sores and host a wide variety of bacteria resulting in extreme infections. I've dealt with some in which we had to anesthetize the dog and actually cut the dead tissue away. There's no need for it to get that far.

 

I just had this same problem recently, It could just be allergies. Do to fresh cut grass, a flea bite, and/or food.... I took my dog in to the vet because she had them under her armpits and belly.... He gave antibiodics and a steriod to help her out, it is a week later and everything is cleared up.... Benedryl will definately help, it helped my girl...

Hope that helps a bit...