My dog has muzzle sores & licks paws: Is it heartworm related?

Heartworm parasites live in the blood vessels adjacent to the heart. Most of the time we thankfully diagnose heartworm disease before symptoms develop, by doing a simple blood test. However, symptoms of heartworm infection are similar to symptoms of heart disease, since heartworm parasites put a strain on the heart by obstructing blood flow. We can see shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, weight loss, and lethargy. Scratching is not a typical sign of heartworm but could indicate topical parasites such as fleas or skin mites. Since Mason is having issues with his itching and sounds like he hasn't had a good wellness exam from a vet (if the previous family didn't care for him very well), I recommend bringing him in to the vet. They'll be able to do a thorough exam and make sure he doesn't have any health concerns that should be addressed, and they can run a heartworm test and a fecal test to make sure he is not infected with parasites. Then you can get him started on a heartworm preventative medication to make sure he stays heartworm free. Hope this helps!

Sores on the paws can occurr for many reasons. If it is a chronic issue, underlying allergies or a thyroid disorder are likely the issue. These conditions weaken the skin’s natural defenses and allow bacteria and yeast to set up opportunistic infections. The photo of Sammy‘s foot shows a round, pink lesion. It almost looks like some sort of a mass from the picture. I recommend to have Sammy visit his veterinarian to check that area out. If it is a mass, it should be aspirated as skin masses that look this way are suspicious for a cancerous skin growth called a mast cell tumor. However there are benign skin masses that look very similar as well. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That rash may or may not be related to the dirty water and the bugs. I recommend to discuss appropriate deworming protocols for Scooby to avoid parasite infections. Different medications can kill different worms and your local veterinarian will be able to give you the best guidance. Common deworming medicatuons include pyrantel and fenbendazole. Other types of skin parasites heartworms need ivermectin. Regarding his lips, those spots on Scooby could be several things including allergies, skin mites, autoimmune conditions, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets, 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. You can use a pet wipe and gently cleanse the area once a day. Protect the areas from licking or scratching and he may need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Wist with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveale an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the chewing and repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. There is also a nice topical spray available if the problem remains on the paws only, it's called Cortavance and you can get it at the vets. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor guy. These are classic signs of allergic dermatitis: licking/chewing at the feet and redness/irritation of the paws and lower limbs. Sherlock likely has an lallergy to something in the environment or certain ingredients in his food. Often-times it is a process to determine what the underlying cause is, but here is some information on how to get started. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952662 https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952600 While determining the cause of your pets allergies, it is best to get him on allergy medication to help control his symptoms (licking of the feet). The two most commonly used treatments for dog allergies are Apoquel or Cytopoint. Ask your vet about them to gain more information and develop a regimen that works best for Sherlock. In addition, you should look into a medicated shampoo for topical relief. Duoxo calm shampoo is available online and works really well. I hope that Shelock is able to manage his allergies well soon! Best wishes and take care.

Sometimes these lesions can occur from rubbing the muzzle on cages doors, carpets...etc. Sometimes they can also be from infection and less commonly from an autoimmune disease. I would recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian who will likely prescribe medication orally. Treating this area topically can be difficult as most dogs will lick off any medication you apply to the area so oral medications are generally best. You should also protect the area from further rubbing with an elizabethan collar which should be worn at all times. You can try gently washing the ears with an antibacterial hand soap (rinse well) once daily if he tolerate it. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.