Skin Problem on Dog.?

My dog has dime sized scabs all over his underbelly, it is starting to work it's way up his chest now. I thought it was something outside maybe he was allergic to grass? I have tried oatmeal baths, sulfodene medicated shampoo baths, changed his food to lamb and rice, started giving him skin and coate supplements, he still has this condition. For a dog who hates baths, he likes them now and when I touch him, everything is sensitive and he drools when we rub him or pat him on his back. why is he so sensitive and what else can I do until I can afford to take him to the vet? I've also tried benadryl.

Skin Problem on Dog.?
Some dogs with allergies have the symptom you're describing. It's possible it may be a staph infection (not contagious) that is secondary to an allergy. The Benadryl, even if he does have allergies, won't heal the lesions if they are staph. It will help prevent him from feeling itchy. Without seeing the lesions nobody can tell you for sure what it is, or what to do about it, but you could try a triple antibiotic ointment until you get him in. If you use anything with a steroid in it such at cortisone, it could make things worse if it is fungal or bacterial, so I'd recommend you stay away from things like that until you get a diagnosis. Topical antibiotics don't usually clear up a staph infection, but you may help it improve in the short term if that's what you're dealing with.
Reply:my dog had issues to. I switched to holistic dog food with no preservatives and it cleared the problem right up. You have no idea what they put in the grocery store crap.
Reply:sometimes dogs shed their skins.....if you really feel its some kind of allergy than you can consult your pet doc to give some ointments or some injections to develop immunity against the allergy....
Reply:Whow. Sounds like you have done just about everything. You really should talk to a vet, but you already know that. If you have been going to the same vet for a while, ask if you can do payment installments.





I agree that it sounds like a food allergy. http://www.purebredlabs.com/canine_food_...





Good luck.
Reply:It could be what some call hot spots. this can be caused by fleas, dog eczema, or he/she could have allergies. I had Bulldogs that I raised for 15 years that had the hot spots. Vet told me that they were born with it inherited by one of the parents. The vet does have a special lotion, cream, or shampoo that will help them. And I dont know if you notice they seem to have more problems when the weather gets warmer.
Reply:Are they round spots? Could they be ringworms? That is a fungus that can be killed with rubbing alcohol or (because it is a larger area) a fungicide like monostat.
Reply:This sounds like ringworm, which is a fungus and not a worm. It is similar to athlete's foot in humans. Vets and some grooming supply stores (perhaps Petsmart) have medicated shampoos that can help alleviate the symptoms.





This could also be a staph infection, which IS contagious, but usually you will see open cuts or wounds with staph.





In any case, ringworm and staph are both contagious for people, but you are doing the right thing by keeping your dog clean.





I'd bet on the ringworm - your vet can do a simple scraping of one of the scabs to make sure it is it.