Red bumps all over skin which turn dry and into scabs.

[maxmyyorkie]

I have a four years old Yorkie. For more than a year now, he's been having skin issues. On his skin, he gets these red little bumps which try into dry patches of scabs and get flaky. I took him to the vet and the vet thinks its allergies. Before he would get antiobiotics and they would clear the skin up but as soon as he finishes the antiobiotics his skin gets the red bumps again which eventually try into dry nasty scabs that are very flaky and all over his skin. Now he's on Atopica which the vet prescribed and it doesn't seem to work. Could it be staph infection? I spent sooo much money and pay each month for his wellness plan so he can be covered for at the vet, but its getting so expensive and I cannot find the solution to this skin problem. Someone, anyone whom may have the same problem please help. He only eats the blue buffalo 100% grain free dog food which the vet stated, but that too doesn't help much on the solution to the skin issue.

[lillymae]

The 1st thing I would do is change his food to a hypoallergenic food as most often canine allergies are caused from their food. Welcome to YT !

[Maximo]

Are the bumps everywhere or only on his underside? Max has had bumps that turn into scabs on his undercarriage. His vet thinks they are an allergy to grass or something else. He is currently finishing a round of antibiotics. He doesn't scratch or chew at the spots. If they return again, I'm not sure what I will do with him next because constant antibiotics are not a solution.

If the bumps are everywhere, I would go to a dermatologist.

[FlDebra]

Your pup is 4 years old and has only had the rash for a year, right? Is there anything different in this last year? Did you change environments, food, lawn treatments, spray house for insects, start having him wear clothing, change shampoo or other hair product? Is he sleeping on a new bed, your bed with different detergents?

I agree with changing to a hypoallergenic food but if the food never changed.... then it would be odd to develop an allergy at 3 years old, when he had been fine on the food all along.

Is there a possibility of fleas? They are often allergic to the fleas and can break out from that. Long after the flea is gone, the pup has to fight this rash. This explains how the allergy is to the proteins in flea saliva Flea Allergies | Dog Itching | Dog Rashes | Dog Dandruff. It is not dogs with noticeable flea problems that wind up with these rashes but instead it is the dog that rarely comes into contact with them. The dog might be on treatment so fleas do not stay on him at all but will occasionally get on him long enough to bite a few times and get that saliva allergy going.

Other problems that can create a rash like you describe include an allergy/reaction to flea prevention product, mites, fungus infections. Since it is going away when on antibiotics and coming back when the antibiotics are done, there is obviously infection, but that can accompany a rash from any source. It could also be Folliculitis -- there is a picture here: Skin Problems in Dogs Slideshow: Mange, Allergic Dermatitis, Impetigo, Ringworm, More 4/19.

I know you are concerned about repeated bouts of antibiotics, have you considered topical antibiotics? That way, it would not be a systemic treatment but rather to the rash itself. I would def. ask the vet about trying this for an extended time. Seems like maybe previous antibiotic treatments have not been strong enough or long enough to eradicate the problem (since you said it comes back as soon as you stop the antibiotics).

If this vet will not help find the source of this rash, you might have to find another or ask for a referral to a canine dermatologist as another suggested Over a year -- you should at least have a cause by now!

[maxmyyorkie]

Hi, Everyone thanks for all of the replys means a lot to me. Yes, my dog has only been having this issue for about a year. There's nothing different in this last year that I could think of that might be causing this. We still live in the same house, and everything is the same no changes basically. I keep the same shampoo oatmeal shampoo which i heard was good for his skin. He does not sleep in his pet bed but on the same bed as me. Sheets are kept clean and washed twice weekly .He has been eating the hypo allergic prescreption food but that did not help at all. Max does not have fleas, I make sure he takes a single dose of comfortis, which i found works the best for fleas rather than those other fleas meds that you put on them.The red bumps are all over his back.He does not get them on his stomach. I have not consideted topical antibiotics because he's currently on the expensive medicine which is called Atopica. Its allergy pills That the vet gave him. He takes a pill once everyday. It helps his immune system. He currently eats the Blue buffalo 100% grain free food. Thats all he eats not table food whatsoever.

The bumps are only on his back, all over his back starting from below his neck, down to his tail.

He ate hypoallergic food for about six months and that doesn't seem to work.

Vet told me to change from hypoallergic food to the blue buffalo 100% grain free food which is good for the skin and I did. I spent about $80 dollars each month on theses atopica pills, and its getting every expensive.

Thanks for the replies!!!!

[kjc]

Maybe ask the vet to do a Culture and Sensitivity on one of the spots. Seems that if the AB works for a bit, he may need to be on it for a longer amount of time or a different AB all together. A C&S will tell exactly what type of bacerial infection is present and exactly which AB will be effective against it.

My GSD had a similar problem years ago. I don't remember which AB was used but it did clear it up completely. Some bugs are harder to get rid of than others.

[minilove'smommy]

My eight year old Mini Love has what sounds like the exact thing your Max has (I have a Max also). I just discovered these bumps and flaky skin patches Christmas day. I haven't had an opportunity to take Mini to the Vet yet but have an appointment for tomorrow.

The condition doesn't appear to itch since she isn't attempting to scratch. Like Max, there has been no change in her life or environment that I can think of. There is just a series of red bumps with "scabbed" over areas and dandruff like flakes running right down her midback (down the part line).

I will update you on what MY Vet says.

[Reau482]

I asked for info a little bit ago on something on my Yorkie - little bumps, brown spots on the skin on her back and darker spots on stomach. When I took her to the vet, I was told it was probably allergies. Well, she had a seizure the other night and my vet agreed to see her (Christmas Day). He put her on seizure medication and gave her a shot. Well, when I brought her back the next day for bloodwork (no staff for it on Christmas Day) and I mentioned the skin condition, he mentioned that it could be a thyroid problem. The blood test confirmed this and she is on thyroid medication (just started it tonight). Vet said bad skin and losing hair are one of the symptoms. Don't want to scare you but just a thought for everyone whose Yorkies are having skin/hair issues. We thought for months that she had allergies also, but when her blood work came back, the T level was -0.6. But now we know and she is now taking thyroid meds and she will get her blood check again in three weeks to see how it is working and to tweak the dosage if needed.

[minilove'smommy]

Thanks for the information. I have given this to Mini's Vet and we will do thyroid test to see if she has this problem.

[Reau482]

Please let me know what you find out. Just started mine on the thyroid meds and already see a huge difference in her personality. I also googled the thyroid problem and she had every symptom.

[minilove'smommy]

I will update you when I have information. Mini is the oldest of my five Yorkies and the undisputed Queen. My kids say their dad and I love the fur babies more than we did them. I always tell them that the furs haven't created the problems the real kids did. lol

[Freddy_SW]

Just wanted to drop a quick reply. Freddy had something similar to what you described. He had red bums on his tummy as well as brown spots. He was also itching more than usual. The vet said that he thinks it is allergies but the allergy medication didn't really help. After trying a bunch of home remedies as well as switching his food. ( even though he was on a high quality dog food) the only thing that finally helped him was coconut oil. I give him a little bit every day and the red and brown spots are all gone. Disappeared a couple days after i started giving the oil to him. Just a suggestion because i know that all this testing and taking him to the vet gets very expensive.

[maxmyyorkie]

reply to minilove'smommy, Same with max, he doesn't seem to be itchy at all. I have a vet appt today and I will see what she thinks is the next solution. My Max has been taking Atopica meds for 3 months now and the meds do no seem to work, yet they're supposed to help build his immune system. I will see if she can put him on topical antibiotics and see fromt there. Please keep me updated on your situation. thanks for replying!

[maxmyyorkie]

thanks Freddy SW, I will most definately get some coconut oil and try it. Do you add the coconut oil onto your dogs food?

[minilove'smommy]

Mini is scheduled to go for her lab tests on January 9 (no food after midnight before). Meanwhile I will try to coconut oil also. I hope she doesn't have a thyroid problem but I am afraid that she does.