Dog licking fur raw, bleeding, warm skin. Vets can't diagnose. What to do?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

  Licensed Veterinary Technician

  Published on January 3rd, 2017

  Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking or chewing. Have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose skin infection, allergies or external parasites such as mites. Lice are typically species or host specific meaning dog lice stick to dogs and human lice stick to humans.

  

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• Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

  Licensed Veterinary Technician

  Published on July 11th, 2018

  Place an e-collar (cone) on Buddy to prevent further licking. If the skin is broken or inflamed, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. Your vet can check Buddy over for fleas or mites and can test for bacterial or fungal infection. Another potential cause may be allergies. Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since they have many causes (flea bite, contact allergy, inhaled allergy and food sensitivity). Discuss allergy testing, antihistamine use, hydrolyzed diets and food elimination trials with your vet.
  Do not medicate Buddy without the advice of your vet. Anything you apply will likely be licked off and ingested which may cause stomach upset or worse.

  

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• Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 24th, 2019

  These issues for Wilf could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Without knowing further information, it's hard to know how best to advise.
  Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a proper diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein diet. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. If your normal veterinarian cannot determine the underlying cause, I recommend referral to a dermatologist. Wilf may need a blood or intradermal testing to look for environmental allergies since not all dogs respond to antihistamines, some need immunotherapy. Also, if you have not conducted a proper diet trial with the hydrolyzed protein, this would be a good idea.
  There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they are unlikely to address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having Wilf wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

  

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