Why does my American Bulldog have spreading, bloody skin sores?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Christie Long, DVM

  Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

  Published on July 27th, 2017

  Couple of things right off the bat: if you've cut those ingredients out of his diet without using a true hypoallergenic diet (i.e. something like Royal Canin's limited ingredient diets or Hill's z/d, which is hydrolyzed) you can't say for sure at this point that it's not a food allergy. Dallas would need a strict 8 week trial of hypoallergenic food only, and if the symptoms are still occurring after THAT, you can pretty surely say it's not food allergies.
  
  Environmental allergies are way more common than food allergies, and unfortunately while antibiotics may help with the infection that is secondary to the allergies, you need to treat the primary disease, which is the allergic reaction. Drugs like Apoquel and Atopica have revolutionalized the way we treat allergies, and can help these dogs tremendously, If you haven't talked with your vet about trying these, please do so.
  
  You've treated for fleas, but you need to be sure that your vet also rules out mange and ringworm as well, as these are also skin conditions that look very similar to allergies.
  
  If Dallas doesn't resolve with any of these therapies, and mange, ringworm and fleas have been ruled out, it's time to get a skin biopsy for a definitive diagnosis and treat based on that information.

  

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• Answered By Chad Brown, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 7th, 2018

  Thank you very much for being such a wonderful pet advocate for Cage. I realize that skin conditions in English bulldogs can be very frustrating. Here are some recommendations that I have for you:
  
  1. You may want to make sure that the veterinarian has performed a skin scraping as well as done a full course of scabies treatments. Even mainly in-door pure breed dogs can get this condition and it is often overlooked.
  2. Has your general veterinarian recommended a complete food trial of 8 to 10 weeks with a prescription hypoallergenic diet. Wow on this diet, you cannot give any over-the-counter dog foods, treats, anything other than the prescription dog food.
  3. Has your general veterinarian diagnosed your dogs condition as environmental allergies or generalized atopy? If so, you may want to ask about treatments such as immunotherapy,apoquel, or cytopoint injections.
  4. Cage needs to be on prescription strength flea preventative every month, every year no matter how cold or hot.
  5. Lastly, if you feel like your regular veterinarian is not equipped or has the experience to properly diagnose your dogs condition, ask to be referred to a veterinary dermatologist.
  
  Thanks a lot for your question. I hope you get The answers is you deserve.
  

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful