Dog with dry skin? Sores on tail

[Isabella Whateva]

So we just moved a few weeks ago and our dog has been acting pretty clingy. We figure it's normal for him to be like this with such big changes. However, we also notice that he's been biting at his butt/tail a lot. Today we saw that he had three or four big scabby sores on the base of his tail. We shaved the fur down since it was getting matted and washed it with some mild (unscented, hypoallergenic) soap. We also put on some 1% hydrocortazone (our vet tech friend told us to do that).

Anyone else have any suggestions? We've known our dog has dry skin for a looong time, but we're thinking he chewed his tail out of anxiousness and it just made it worse. What are your remedies for dry skin with dogs?

 

[fanofdmb84]

Skin problems in dogs are often caused by their food. What are you feeding him? I always advise people to avoid any of the foods you can buy at a grocery store or Walmart (Iams, Pedigree, Alpo, Science Diet, Purina, etc). Buy something with NO corn in it. Low quality foods are mostly corn based with some flavors, preservatives, and by products added--really nothing good. Corn causes SO many allergies in animals, it really amazes me that big dog food companies get away with using it as a main ingredient. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

If/when the dog is on a good diet, you can supplement with something like Halo Dreamcoat to help with dry skin.

Considering he's bothering his tail, though, I would also have his anal glands checked. Sometimes dogs will chew or lick an area trying to get relief from something else that is bothering them.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

yea id say its a skin problem or allergy..i highly doubt its from the move

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

He could also have an allergy to the beef or any other meat that may be in the food. Try switching to an all veggie food and see if that helps.

 

[alli713]

You wouldn't necessarily need to go with an all veggie diet, as many times dogs have allergies to red meat (beef, venison). My sister's dog is like this. If we feed a chicken, turkey or fish food her skin and itching gets better.

However if you haven't changed his diet recently it could also be due to being in a new place. However the fact that he's always had dry skin makes me wonder that it isn't a food allergy.

 

[Snickers]

One of my 4 dogs would get hot spots. She was on pills for alittle bit. Had a cortizone shot that didn't work. A dog trainer recommended switching foods so we had her on Natural Balance Potato and Duck which worked for her for 2 years. We then switched to Nutro for skin and stomack Venison and something else still no hot spots. Sometimes I would drop shredded wheats in my chin room and she would eat it then she will get the hot spots again.

 

[Isabella Whateva]

Rusty used to get hot spots when he was younger but he doesn't really get them anymore.
He was being fed Science Diet, but we switched him to Blue Buffalo (senior, large breed) when we moved. As we were told, Blue is supposed to be waaaay better than Science Diet so I don't see how that could have made him worse. Unless we were misinformed, which is plausible. Sorry if I seem like a total idiot. He's my fiance's dog (got him when he was a kid) and we just moved in together so now he's our dog. We're just now learning about all the good/bad things dogs can have, actually because of you guys. Before I came on this forum, we just assumed that everything Petsmart sold was good for animals.
A little off-topic, but when we asked the Petsmart employee about the Science Diet he said, and I quote, "Well there's no way we'd sell something if it were bad for an animal" and I laughed out loud. He walked away before I could say, "Want to walk with me to your chinchilla section?"
Thanks for everybody's help

 

[fanofdmb84]

Blue Buffalo IS a good food...but that doesn't mean its the right food for your dog. Sometimes you have to experiment a little. I fed my dogs Canidae for a while but it gave one of them pretty bad gas, so we switched to Taste of the Wild, and we haven't had any problems with that one. Each dog food brand has a different recipe and often has different protein sources. Your dog may just need a different one. I always try to buy "grain free" since grains have been linked to allergies time and time again. Also, you may have to try a chicken based food, or a venison based food. Some dogs are allergic to red meat, like Alli said; some dogs are allergic to chicken. You can feed the highest quality dog food, but it if has something they are allergic to, then obviously you'll need to find a different one.

Try another grain free dog food. Keep in mind it may take up to a month for his skin to clear up after switching foods.

 

[eroomlorac]

Did you rule out fleas?

 

[RedEarth]

Scratching around the back end is usually anal glands or flea bite dermatitis. I have a dog that is highly allergic and it only takes one to set her off. And since you have moved, it could be something in the area that is aggravating the skin condition. I would bathe in shampoo with Chloroxylenol. I personally use a 4% shampoo through Davis. It does wonders on soothing skin. With my skin issues, I bathe weekly. I've also started my dogs on Comfortis this summer and swear by it. It's a flea treatment and works wonders. My allergic girl has had no hot spots and is keeping her coat.
I feed a medium grade food to all my dogs. I don't supplement often, but during the winter will add fish oil supplements to the dogs food. Biotin is also good for helping to heal the skin. If the dog is still really itchy, I have also used Gold Bond powder in the gold bottle. Smells funny, but takes the redness out of the skin and dries up oozing hot spots just about over night. If you think it might be a food issue, switch to a single grain, single protein food.

 

[Chinwawa]

Just my two cents: my dog is allergic to chicken and has hot spots. First I switched her to a fish based food ( Wellness Core Ocean ). I also add a squirt of high quality flaxseed oil to her food each morning. Her coat is wonderful now and she has no more hot spots. I tried salmon oil but the flaxseed oil did the trick for her.

 

[Isabella Whateva]

There is a possibility it could be fleas. When we moved, we forgot to bring his flea/tick medicine with us and Jay's parents keep forgetting to mail it (we may just have to cave in and buy more.) I haven't visually noticed fleas, but it is possible. I noticed a tick on him the other day so I guess fleas are a big possibility.

Thanks for all the advice. I'd gladly listen to anything else you have to say in addition to that.

What should we do about food? We have this almost full, very expensive bag of Blue Buffalo that may or may not be causing a reaction. Should we exchange it for a different brand? Will pet stores even let you return opened/used dog food? Or should we just stay with the bag to see if the problem persists?

 

[fanofdmb84]

What should we do about food? We have this almost full, very expensive bag of Blue Buffalo that may or may not be causing a reaction. Should we exchange it for a different brand? Will pet stores even let you return opened/used dog food? Or should we just stay with the bag to see if the problem persists?

Go buy a small bag of something else and switch her. If she starts to get better, then decide what to do with the Blue Buffalo. If it doesn't help at all, you can continue to feed the BB until you figure out what it is. Pet stores will occasionally take it back if there is something wrong with it, but not if it's been eaten out of. I recommend donating it to a rescue or a shelter or even a pet food pantry. I donate a lot of food to the local pet pantry, most of it comes from clients who switch to a better quality food or when they find out their dog has allergies. Even if its stale or expired by then, they will gladly take it, and you will be feeding a needy dog or puppy.

 

[Isabella Whateva]

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that Rusty is doing a lot better now
We took him to the groomers and got him a shave down (he had lots of patches of missing fur where he chewed it off, so we figured what the heck)
He seems to be doing SO much better! We had them use an extra moisturizing shampoo. They also check and clean (or whatever they do... haha) his anal glands there so that could have been the problem too. We've been putting hydrocortizone on his sores so they don't dry out while they're healing up.

Thanks so much for your advice everyone!!!

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Good to hear Rusty is doing better! Impacted anal glands can cause them to bite themselves and itch, so hopefully that was the problem! You can also try a wet oatmeal sock to help with the spots he still has, along with the cortisone.