Skin infection and prevention help

Dani

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I know there are lots of dog people here so I figured I would post here asking for help too


Belle is a little setter on the lighter side as far as hair coverage. She does NOT have a nice thick coat to protect her like other setters I have seen. We live in FL so the light coat is good in some ways but not in others. There is NO escaping blackberries down here. Today she went in for her annual and the vet says she has a skin infection on pretty much all of her under body and all over her legs (which was something not totally surprising to me). He suggests some antibiotics to help clear it up, which I am fine with but the overall problem is that this skin infection shows up because we hunt in places that have lots of black berries. Then she wallows in mud and water and the thorns stick in her and I do my best to get them out after each hunt but I am not always successful. She gets little pimples pretty much everywhere that the blackberries stabbed her. My vet suggested that she get a medicated bath after each day hunting. Not ideal but okay, if that helps keep her from getting the infection then I can torture her that way. I don't have any doubts that it comes from hunting areas with lots of black berries because last year I noticed the spots that were the worst as far as pimples were spots that I took lots of blackberry thorns out of. I don't want her on antibiotics all hunting season.

I have ordered a Mendota Skid Plate for her for Christmas so I hope that helps with her chest and belly.

But how about her legs? I don't have pictures today but I can probably get some later. Her front legs especially are bad in a couple of ways. The blackberries really tear up her legs. Also, I have been fighting with her and lick granulomas that were just beginning to clear up totally before hunting season started and then her legs began getting torn up down here and she was back to licking. I know that horse people wrap their horses legs, is there an effective way to wrap dog legs that allow movement but also protect them? I used some vet wrap between her wrist and elbow last time I took her out but she threw it after about 45 minutes. Maybe if I had taped the end, she wouldn't have thrown it?

Any thoughts? Help is definitely appreciated....

Danibeth
 
Dani, when Otto was experiencing his skin infections I was told that Johnson Baby Shampoo has antibacterial properties. It did seem to help. Can't help with the rest of your questions.
 
I used heavy cordura nylon vest type wraps for my old hounds. The ones I got them were blaze orange and open on the top but protected their chests, bellies and flanks.

I think Cabelas had them years back.

Maybe a bath/spray in betadine solution once you get done for the day after a good soak to soften her up.

Are you certain the irritation isn't from being a wet dog for too long? Alex had fungal issues during duck seasons because he never really dried out. He had such a thick undercoat with those really fine hairs... and they were so long.

We had to give him Ketoconazole to clear it up a couple of duck seasons.
 
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Thanks Todd.

I am certain that she isn't staying wet too long. If it were Kenzie or even Drake I would consider that issue as both had thick hair and a thick undercoat (Kenzie was long haired like Alex). But Belle has so little hair on her underbelly you can usually see her pink skin through the hair when she gets wet. She is definitely a FL girl cuz she doesn't have much of an undercoat to keep her warm and doesn't care much for cold weather.

Plus, I've never seen a fungal infection like that (I deal with it myself in the summer because I hate blow driers and have a thick head of hair) end up with little pimples all over the place. Usually a good wash in vinegar clears everything up for me and the few times I had to do the boys.

I think Friday her skid plate should show up so maybe sometime next week we will be able to go out and give a try and see how her belly holds up with it.

I'll be giving her baths after her hunts as much as she will hate it. As much as she loves water you would think I was killing her by giving her a bath.....drama queens all my dogs have been about bath time....
 
I have not heard of this condition that Belle has. I sure wish you the best, Dani and that you can find a good solution for Belle.
Allan
 
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