Crusty Sores All Over Dog’s Body & Red Spots on Belly

January 29, 2015

Hi Trish,
From the photos of your dog’s skin, and describing the itching and scratching, especially belly and the rest of her body, I suspect she has an allergy and her scratching has caused some secondary infection in her skin.

She may be allergic to wheat/grain, but I would also worry about inhaled allergies to grasses, pollens, or even flea allergy.

Returning to the raw Primal diet would be a good idea. Although if she was tired of the lamb or beef, she might prefer chicken or turkey. At 7 years of age, she is sort of ‘middle’ aged, and a blood panel to rule out an underlying pancreas, liver, or kidney problem, would be a good idea. The lamb or beef may be too ‘rich’ for her to digest now. If she has an allergic condition, this might also show up in the blood panel.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions:

1. Bathe her once a week with a baby shampoo. Use ‘cool’ water, which will help to cool off her red, inflamed, itchy skin. A bath will also remove surface bacteria caused by scratching herself.

2. Make her wear a cotton T-shirt. This will protect her skin from her scratching.

3. Flea Prevention-See our page on Natural Flea Prevention, https://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-flea-medicine.html. And check out EVOLV, from www.wondercide.com, made of cedar oil.

4. Diet–return to the Primal diet, and consider chicken or turkey.

5. Blood Panel

6. NO more vaccinations. At seven years old, and she is now suddenly developing an allergic dermatitis problem, I am concerned she may have some underlying problem. Continuing to vaccinate her will further compromise her immune system. Seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption.

7. If the above suggestions do not restore her to full health, she may need some immune support and homeopathic remedies.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Thank you so much for your advice Dr. Carol! I will take her to her vet to get a blood panel done. I hope there is not underlying condition! I really do think it was the food because the sores have never been there until I switched the food but I’m sure it will be a good idea just to be sure. As for stopping the vaccinations, I don’t think I can stop them because we love in Hawaii and she travels with me (she is my service dog) and the Dept of agriculture requires the vaccinations to be current when and we have to go through them every time we return back to the islands. I believe it is only the rabies that she needs to keep current. Also, you mentioned it may be a flea allergy but ahe has always been on flea medication from the beginning. Revolution for the first few years and Trifexis for the past two years and I habe never seen a flea on her, although she is a labradoodle and she is quite furry. But she is with me 24/7 and I am very aware when she is acting different or has any sort of issue. I think the baths will help and I just got an oatmeal and tea tree shampoo that my groomer recommended for me to use. Thanks so much again for your help and advise!

January 31, 2015

Hi Trish,
Regarding the Rabies vaccination:
Would it be possible to find out if they would accept only the Antibody titer without a Rabies vaccination? Especially if she has been vaccinated the year before?

The veterinarian filling in the Health Certificate could also write a note that she has no infectious or contagious disease but that she is not healthy enough at this time for a vaccination due to allergic dermatitis.

Also, FYI, In every box of vaccine comes an insert that says, ‘to be administered to HEALTHY dogs and cats only.’

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman