My poor little Marshall..

[megooego]

Originally Posted by kjc

Is he on heartworm/flea products? Many don't take care of mites, and mites can evade a skin scraping test. If you don't already use Revolution, I would switch to that for one month to see if you see any improvement..

He is just on Heartgard and Frontline Plus. For whatever reason, I know that my vet doesn't carry Revolution but they do have Interceptor. Does that have a similar effect?

Originally Posted by kjc

Also, I use antibiotic eye ointment on any sores around the eyes... seems to work real well and you don't have to worry about the product in his eye. Sores and infection can damage the skin to the point the hair will fall out. The hair will grow back once the situation is under control.

I actually have some antibiotic eye ointment from when my other dog Jimi got scratched by my cat around his eye. Maybe I could use it? I don't remember the name of it.. I will get back to you on that. His hair does seem to be sparse by his eyes.

Originally Posted by kjc

You could put an e-collar or softie collar on him to prevent him from doing further damage. Are there any times during the day that he seems to itch more? Do any family members have any skin/itching problems ongoing? Any particular rooms in the home that he appears more bothered by itching? Does he scartch his sides under his front legs/ribs, and does the skin have a normal, smooth appearance? Between his back legs...skin look smooth or puckered?
Do you see any tiny white flakes along the very edge of his ears (may or may not be scratching ears), or along the very edges of his eyes? You may need to look with a magnifying glass. Would be about 1/2 the size of a small pinhead.

I have a softee cone collar, but somehow he always manages to get it off. I should be more persistent with making him keep it on. He seems to be itching more at night. No family members with skin-related issues. He doesn't itch in any room more than another. He only scratches his face/ears, and his skin everywhere else seems to be normal. I don't see any white flakes anywhere, just the scabs.

Originally Posted by kjc

When I first adopted Tinkerbell she had very scabby ears, and would constantly scratch/dig at them. Her ears were actually becoming thick from her abuse. I made an appointment with my vet, but popped a collar on her bc I was afraid she would really inflict damage if I didn't. At the vets they all asked why she had the collar on! I said look at her ears! Big dime sized scabs... ew! Plus it's hard to tell if they're itchy from the scabs or if they have another problem going on. So the e-collar will help the sores to heal, but if he's still really itchy something else may need to be done.

See, that's the problem. I think that the sores are self-inflicted and that he is just itching himself to the point where he is developing scabs. But, I guess I don't know for sure. They could be mites or a parasite or something.

Now that I notice it.. he is developing scabs by his other eye too.

[megooego]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Aw, little Marshall. Don't be hard on yourself, Meagan, bc I think we have all had things go unnoticed on our fur babies, I know I have....and then you notice them eventually. Been there.

So, is it just this one eye, not the other? Pull the fur apart all over his body, and check for anything else, check his belly, armpits, underneath his neck. Put your fingers into his mustache and feel the skin there too and take a peek.

If he has skin stuff elsewhere, this could be pyoderma (bacterial skin infection, easily cleared up) - and many dogs who have allergies will have a case of pyoderma during/after allergy season. Simplicef is great for clearing up pyoderma, even stubborn cases.

If it is only on this one eye - it may just be that, at some point, there was 1 break in the skin somewhere and that little break became infected --> then he started scratching the area, and now it's irritated and just needs topical anti/bio/fungal.

Also, like kjc asked - what is the pattern of itching (where does he itch)?

Since he itched right through winter (and if all parasites are ruled out), then you start to suspect food, or something enviro such as dust etcetera. He is pretty young for allergies, I agree; you usually wouldn't see them this early (over the winter). Recurrent ear issues can also be from allergies.

Mites can be really tough to diagnose in some dogs, as they can burrow under the skin. Do you know if that was one of the things they tested for?

I would take him in sooner, especially bc this is near the eye. (btw, Wylie had this exact same thing once, and it was just that somehow the skin barrier was breached, it became irritated, and he itched it like crazy)

He is just now starting to get the scabs by his other eye too. I know for a fact I didn't notice them until now. I guess that means it is getting worse. Right now he is taking his paw by his eye and itching it. No scabs anywhere else though.

I called today, and my vet told me that there is still one more mite that is deep under the skin that she has to test for, so when I come in again she will be testing for that. I will be taking him in sometime this week. I don't have a whole lot of time because of my work schedule but I will definitely be taking him in this week. I feel so bad for him, I don't want him to be in pain.

[megansmomma]

It sounds like you have some good advice and are keeping in touch with the vet. I'm so sorry that Marshall is so itchy and miserable. Hopefully you will get to the bottom of whatever is going on and he will be quickly on the mend. Poor little guy

[mojo]

Originally Posted by kjc

Is he on heartworm/flea products? Many don't take care of mites, and mites can evade a skin scraping test. If you don't already use Revolution, I would switch to that for one month to see if you see any improvement.

Also, I use antibiotic eye ointment on any sores around the eyes... seems to work real well and you don't have to worry about the product in his eye. Sores and infection can damage the skin to the point the hair will fall out. The hair will grow back once the situation is under control.

You could put an e-collar or softie collar on him to prevent him from doing further damage. Are there any times during the day that he seems to itch more? Do any family members have any skin/itching problems ongoing? Any particular rooms in the home that he appears more bothered by itching? Does he scartch his sides under his front legs/ribs, and does the skin have a normal, smooth appearance? Between his back legs...skin look smooth or puckered?
Do you see any tiny white flakes along the very edge of his ears (may or may not be scratching ears), or along the very edges of his eyes? You may need to look with a magnifying glass. Would be about 1/2 the size of a small pinhead.

When I first adopted Tinkerbell she had very scabby ears, and would constantly scratch/dig at them. Her ears were actually becoming thick from her abuse. I made an appointment with my vet, but popped a collar on her bc I was afraid she would really inflict damage if I didn't. At the vets they all asked why she had the collar on! I said look at her ears! Big dime sized scabs... ew! Plus it's hard to tell if they're itchy from the scabs or if they have another problem going on. So the e-collar will help the sores to heal, but if he's still really itchy something else may need to be done.

What does that indicate? I'm asking because my dogs have had problems with their ears. They got crusty and then hair loss and maybe a little flaky now around the edges. This has been going on for months. Have seen the vet several times and tried different medicines - don't remember the first one, the second was gentamycin. I thought they may have leather ear, but somebody said that causes something like oily black spots. They have had black spots, but they weren't oily or oozy or anything. So still trying to figure out what is going on.

[megooego]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

It sounds like you have some good advice and are keeping in touch with the vet. I'm so sorry that Marshall is so itchy and miserable. Hopefully you will get to the bottom of whatever is going on and he will be quickly on the mend. Poor little guy

Thanks for the support, Jodi.

I will update everyone after I take him in.

[cathys]

Our maltese's eyes look just like that about 3 months ago. It was allergies, they put in on steroids and we changed his food. Now he is much better. The vet said if it returns he is going to try some allergy meeds, can't remember the name though.

[PenniesMom]

Awww poor Marshall Penny sends TONS of loving and support your way and she wants you to know she will love you no matter what even if your sick!

[terlis]

What food are you feeding?

[megooego]

Originally Posted by terlis

What food are you feeding?

I feed A rotation of raw diets, right now we are feeding Nature's Variety. (Alternating between chicken, lamb, & beef). They also get Orijen kibble on the side; I believe it is the fish flavor.

[megooego]

Originally Posted by PenniesMom

Awww poor Marshall Penny sends TONS of loving and support your way and she wants you to know she will love you no matter what even if your sick!

Aww Penny, you are so sweet! Marshall is in loveeee.

[jencar98]

Awww....poor Marshall! I don't have advice because I've not had anything like this with our dogs, Meagan. I did wonder about the possibility of a yeast infection, a friend's dog has problems with that around her face.

Don't feel bad though, we've all missed something at one time or another. Give Marshall a hug from us, and hope he is all better soon!

If the collar isn't working for you, what about using surgical tape and taping socks onto his feet. I did this with a foster dog once to keep him from scratching, and it worked like a charm. Also, have a show breeder friend that does this to keep her boy from scratching his long coat.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by jencar98

Awww....poor Marshall! I don't have advice because I've not had anything like this with our dogs, Meagan. I did wonder about the possibility of a yeast infection, a friend's dog has problems with that around her face.

Don't feel bad though, we've all missed something at one time or another. Give Marshall a hug from us, and hope he is all better soon!

If the collar isn't working for you, what about using surgical tape and taping socks onto his feet. I did this with a foster dog once to keep him from scratching, and it worked like a charm. Also, have a show breeder friend that does this to keep her boy from scratching his long coat.

was going to suggest that. You can buy infant socks and use surgical tape on them.

Ears - do you pluck the inner hair out of the ear canal? Important with floppy ears to keep that canal open. It usually doesn't hurt at all. I just use my fingers when Razz is on my lap - do a few every other day or so.

Sorry I don't have suggestions about rash around the eyes, but I do so hope he starts to feel better son.

[hartygirl]

This might be a little late but I have been using Coco Therapy for my allergy pup this season for the first time and the results are like night and day. I have spent a small fortune in the last 3 years every spring-summer for my itchy Addison and this is the best product EVER!

I'm not sure if it can be used near the eye area, I'll have to look into it and get back to you. The scabs on Marshall's face look just like the ones that Addison gets on her back and neck area from itching. I started giving all the pups the coco chips and oil (I keep it in the fridge so it is a solid) and letting some of the oil melt in my hands and then rub it in to problem areas. Within days they are gone and the itching stopped almost immediately. I got my coco therapy stuff on ebay, maybe you can find it closer to you or see if someone has some samples, I'll look for you as well.

Hope little Mr. Marshall feels better soon

[hartygirl]

CocoTherapy

I didn't see anything about using it near the eye area but I'll keep looking.

[megooego]

Sorry I didn't update sooner.

I took Marshall to the vet a few days ago, and he had another skin scraping done. Once again, the test revealed that he didn't have any mites/parasites. She didn't recommend doing the allergy shot right now, (She thinks it is too soon), so she just gave me some antibiotic eye cream to put on his sores to see if there is any improvement. She also put him on clavamox. Already I can tell a difference! They are starting to clear up. I will let you guys know how he comes along, but I think he will be just fine.

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions!