Weird Rash....help!

[Guest kiwigoesup]

Ok so Ella, my grey, had been showing signs of a UTI, so I took her to the vet. She had also started scratching and biting her fur, so I told the vet, and he thought it was either environmental allergies or a flea allergy, but since she had been itching more on her neck and her tail area, he decided to go with flea allergy. He advised she start taking Nexgard, so we started her on that. After a week, she is STILL itching like crazy. Poor thing is miserable, so I've been giving her 50 mg of Benadryl which seems to help somewhat. The itching hasn't stopped.

 

I have been switching her food from a grain-free food to the Iams green bag (did some research and found the previous food had lots of associations with UTI issues), so of course I'm inclined to think its the food, but she was itching before then. Also could be the antibiotics I'm giving her for the UTI, but again, she was itching before any of this was happening.

 

Then, this evening, I saw this rash on her stomach. Anyone have any ideas???

 

 

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Edited July 4, 2017 by kiwigoesup

[macoduck]

I don't think it's the Iams. Using any chemicals on your lawn or carpet?

[Guest kiwigoesup]

UPDATE: I gave her a bath and found one grown flea, dead. Could this be flea allergy dermatitis?

[KF_in_Georgia]

It could be a flea allergy. But it looks like the rash one of my dogs used to get if she had been lying in the grass. She'd get the rash, and the skin on her feet would get very pink.

[Guest kiwigoesup]

It could be a flea allergy. But it looks like the rash one of my dogs used to get if she had been lying in the grass. She'd get the rash, and the skin on her feet would get very pink.

She has been laying in the grass. So its nothing to worry about? She doesn't seem to be itching it at all. and I did notice her paws were pink.

[JohnF]

Antibiotics will often set off an allergic reaction like how we humans get hives. Then were are more sensitive to everything including grass and insect bites.

Just one flea or little tick is all it takes.

[Batmom]

Is she better since the bath?

 

The rash looks like bug bites to me. Along with using the Nexguard, might want to check/wash bedding, carpets, etc. to make sure there are no fleas as an allergic dog will be miserable with just one bite or a little flea dirt on their body. Altho they can also get gnat bites, ant bites, etc. out in the grass -- mine do but don't seem to itch much from those.

[lukasmom]

Maybe a staph infection?

[XTRAWLD]

Looks like a reaction to either grass (maybe fertilizer on the grass) or detergent/fabric softener on her bed, or chemicals on carpet if you've had the recently cleaned, or even a bug bite since you found a dead flea.

 

Giving benadryl for allergic reactions for environmental contaminants is common and you could see if that helps. Avoid giving her a bath frequently, but at least give her one perhaps oatmeal based to help alleviate any itching.

[cleptogrey]

Is she nibbling It? If not it can be temporary. Looks like a dusting with a medicated powder and benadryl would be pretty benign. Watch and wait

[Guest kiwigoesup]

The rash on her stomach is gone but she is still itching like normal after the bath. I'm still giving her benedryl about twice a day and I think it seems to be helping. I just don't want to have to medicate for an extended period of time without checking up on anything else.

[GeorgeofNE]

Sounds like allergies to me--not food allergies, which everyone is so quick to jump on--but what we call "hay fever" in people.

 

My brother had a mixed breed dog who was allergic to grass. Sounds like your dog may be too.

[XTRAWLD]

How are her paws looking now?

[Guest kiwigoesup]

Paws are normal, but there are red, small bumps in-between her hindlegs now. The antibiotics are done today, so I'll see if she feels better in a couple days. Thanks for all your responses! I feel like it might be the grass, because she starts itching as soon as she goes outside.

[XTRAWLD]

Ugh, bummer. That's really hard to avoid! I'm not sure about antihistamines for long term use in dogs, but I guess if people can do it seasonally..... might be the best route? What does the vet think?

[macoduck]

IIFC, using Zertec instead of Benedryl may be a better choice for an allergy.

[Guest Islandhopper3]

Looks like contact dermatitis, because it's manifesting itself where her body comes into contact with things (feet, chest/belly). My 10 year old gray has dry skin, with occasional small, rough, red bumps on a 3" x 3" area just forward of her left rear leg. Having tried fish oil, coconut oil, oatmeal shampoo, and more frequent brushing we're still looking for what will clear it up, or at least keep our girl from chewing on it. Maybe vitamin E oil rubbed in? Suggestions?