JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Hi Everyone, What a great board! I was wondering if someone could help me out. My dear, sweet 8 year-old Border has had serious problems with the skin on her legs for the last year or so. The vet told me that my dog had injured her joints running and that they were hot so she was chewing her legs. He gave me an anti-biotic, some bedryl and a steriod. It didn't help. I've tried all kinds of "no-bite" sprays and I even put a lamp-shade style cover on her. I don't know what to do I don't know if it's an allergy (to fleas or food, or something else), an injury, an infection, or nervousness? She chews her legs all the time, it's realy upsetting. Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Sorry, the picture didn't work. Basically there are several 1/2dollar sized raw spots on her legs (they look like typical hot spots: Pink, wet, hairless If anyone thinks they can help and has dealt with a similar problem, I can email them pictures of her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 The pictures may (or may not work after all) if you paste them - so just in case here another one. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSnappy Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 The first thing you might like to try is a different vet. That seems a mighty strange conclusion to have come to (the inflamed joint thing)- it's not totally implausible, it's just no the most likely culprit. The chewing stems from one or both things: a) an irritation a habit. It may be an irritation that has led to a habit. The habit may be obsessive/compulsive and have nothing to do with the irritation anymore. You'll need to eliminate certain things from her environment, which will probably include a diet change, and explore the possibility of putting her on a pharmaceutical to assist in breaking the licking / chewing habit. However, my caveat - I am not a veterinary behaviourist. But I bet one can help you, and this is the advice you should be seeking. Check out your local VMA for referrals. RDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betsy Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 How did the vet diagnose? I think they can determine if it's an allergic reaction by a skin biopsy (or at least the poster at the beginning of THIS THREAD claims.) Also, try the "search" function on this board (top right corner of your screen) and search for "hot spot" or other related words. That how I found the tread I linked above. Oh, and yes you can see the pics if you copy the URL and paste it into a new window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Thanks. The vet made the Dx, just by looking at the dog. I'm think I'm at the point that I need to have another vet check her out. I'm sure to some degree it's a habit. But, I don't have a clue how to break. The dog is very sensitive and well trained, but I can't even raise my voice to her (she gets so scared) and she seems to have a need to chew so I don't want to torture her. I'll seach some more threads her and then see about a new vet. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 We have a veterinary dermatologist near here and it's a great resource. Many times they will see a TYPE of irritation that speaks volumes to them about an underlying condition, where your general practioner vet just sees a problem that needs fixing. And it was my own GP vet who explained this to me. Some larger problems that can cause the sort of outbreak you describe: Thyroid dysfunction (many causes for this) Allergies Tick Borne Disease Autoimmune disorder Obsessive-compulsive stress disorder I've listed these in the order I'd expect to see them in a dog the age of yours. Seven to eight is right when most of the thyroid problems raise their heads. But the specialist I think it your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 You've already gotten ton of great information. I'll only ask what you're feeding her, (if it's allergy related, the food could be part of the problem) and are you giving her anything else to chew? A kong, rawhide, stuffed bones, anything? My Sammi has a tremendous need to chew. I've recently discovered, (only took me almost 8 years) that if I give her things to chew, she doesn't go looking in the laundry basket or My Beloved Husband's sock drawer, (which he apparently does not know how to close.) And, when I regularly do mentally stimulating things with her, like trick training or such, she's much less likely to chew. Anyway, I also second the idea of a vet dermatologist, ours was an angel. She could also have a bacterial skin infection. I wouldn't spray anything directly on the wounds at this point. It's not helping and probably adds to the irritation. Good luck, let us know what you find out. Ruth n the BC3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3crazybcs Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Veterinary dermatologists are great. It sounds like maybe your dog could have hot spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Originally posted by urge to herd:You've already gotten ton of great information. I'll only ask what you're feeding her, (if it's allergy related, the food could be part of the problem) and are you giving her anything else to chew? A kong, rawhide, stuffed bones, anything? My Sammi has a tremendous need to chew. I've recently discovered, (only took me almost 8 years) that if I give her things to chew, she doesn't go looking in the laundry basket or My Beloved Husband's sock drawer, (which he apparently does not know how to close.) And, when I regularly do mentally stimulating things with her, like trick training or such, she's much less likely to chew. Anyway, I also second the idea of a vet dermatologist, ours was an angel. She could also have a bacterial skin infection. I wouldn't spray anything directly on the wounds at this point. It's not helping and probably adds to the irritation. Good luck, let us know what you find out. Ruth n the BC3 Thanks to everyone for the feedback. The dog is on a more or less "regualr diet" - Purina (lots of corn). But, she's been eating it for years and the problem is pretty recent (1 year). She does have a need to chew - she has tons of toys and always needs to be with atleast one of them. Part of the problem could certianly be pschy related. I'll keep you posted. And, I'm glad some of you were able to view the pics. I don't have my own website - so I snuck the pictures in my gallary on reef central (an aquarium based BB). Thanks again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Could still be food related. A couple different vets told me that dogs 'typically' didn't develop food allergies after 2 yrs of age or so. Well, Shoshone, in oh so many ways, is not typical. She decidedly developed at least some of her food allergies after we'd had her a couple years. Try a food with no corn or wheat and see if that makes a difference. For some dogs, it does. Good luck, please keep us posted. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 JohnnyW, Reefcentral is sneaky. It seems to intercept the request to display the photo. I was able to look at the photo directly by pasting the URL you gave into my browser though. I think you will find a LOT of information on this "skin" problem if you do a google search for "lick granuloma". The dog is on a more or less "regualr diet" - Purina (lots of corn). But, she's been eating it for years and the problem is pretty recent (1 year).Another way to look at this is that it took this long for the problem to manifest itself to the point that you were able to notice. A lot of medical problems do not develop overnight but are the result of cumulative stresses, so I wouldn't discard the "food as a possible source of stress" hypothesis just because the problem didn't show up earlier (when her body was younger and more resilient to stress). Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herderdog Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Here are some links about "lick granuloma" in dogs. http://www.vetinfo.com/dlickgran.html http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/lick.html There are pics as well as lots of info. Might be a possibility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyW Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Originally posted by Herderdog:Here are some links about "lick granuloma" in dogs. http://www.vetinfo.com/dlickgran.html http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/lick.html There are pics as well as lots of info. Might be a possibility? Thanks - that looks a lot like what I'm dealing it. I'm planning out some different stragies to use at once: 1.)Seeing a derm vet for (at the least)some antibitoic treament 2.)Improving the dog's diet 3.) Buying her even more toys 4.) Increasing her activity level (multiple walks a day) I appreciate the support, it's been very sad to see her develope these sores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 It is very hard to see them so uncomfortable, good for you for taking some action about it! Is there a place where you can take her to run safely off leash? Or can you play fetch with her? I really have to work pretty much on more mental stimulation for Sammi, at age almost 10 with arthritis in her lower spine, I can't let her chase her beloved ball a whole lot. But with your pup, some regular very vigorous exercise might help. Problems like this, I've discovered, are often things that you have to work on from more than one angle. Like more exercise AND better food AND a visit to the doggy dermatologist AND more mental stimulation AND . . . It can seem overwhelming at first, but it really can be done. Pretty soon, it all just becomes part of the routine. Please do keep us posted, I'd love to hear that she gets better! Ruth n the BC3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted January 21, 2005 Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 If your pup is licking at a particular time; for instance my dog was only licking himself when he was in his crate, you can try getting a greyhound kennel muzzle with a stool guard. It allows them to pant, drink, bark, etc but they can't lick themselves. Griffin used to lick sores onto his legs and while a hypoallergenic diet has reduced the itchiness the licking has become a habit. He is on prozac to try to break the licking OCD and wears his muzzle while in his crate. He doesn't mind it at all, in fact if you hold it up he knows he is going in the crate and will shove his face into the muzzle so I can slip it over his head. Olivia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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