My dog has a severe rash & scabs despite Apoquel. Is it allergies?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Millie. I would start by placing an E-collar on her to prevent any further self trauma to her skin. Bathing her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula can help to soothe the skin. She will need to see her veterinarian though for more longterm management of skin. There are prescription medications to control the itching and help keep her more comfortable. Apoquel and Cytopoint are two options to control the itching if it is due to allergies. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Millie is having skin issues. Skin lesions like you are describing can be due to a variety of causes, including allergies, contact irritation, heat, an infection, or another underlying issue. While I do think a diet trial may be helpful, dogs typically are allergic or sensitive to proteins in food, not grains, so a switch in the protein basis of the diet (including all treats!) may be beneficial. I would recommend having it re-evaluated by a veterinarian, and further diagnostics (such as a cytology, which examines the skin under the microscope) done to determine what may be causing it, so a long-term plan can be made. Good luck!

It sounds like Milo is getting a skin infection secondary to his allergies, which is very common. Apoquel works very well for controlling itch but doesn't treat infections. He may need an antibiotic to treat the pimples and crusts in addition to the apoquel, or a medicated shampoo.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! While apoquel is a great drug to stop scratching and to help atopic dermatitis it doesn't do anything in the face of a skin infection. Coco should be checked to see if she now has a yeast and or bacterial skin infection. There is also the option of doing an injection for scratching called cytopoint, which lasts 30-60 days (dog dependent). I would also consider adding Omega 3 fish oils and changing her diet to a non-chicken based novel protein diet (try venison, lamb, fish). Claritin, benadryl and zyrtec can be sued in dogs, see links below: https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/ https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/claritin/ https://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/ https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15235

It could be an allergy or an infection. Hard to say without an exam and some testing. You can try using this medicated spray on the affected area . If after a week or so of treating her the skin doesn't look much better then she should see a vet. You would use one spray every day to every other day until the lesions have resolved. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6677-douxo-chlorhexidine-micro-emulsion-spray-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo+Auto )

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. From your picture it appears that Raven has a skin infection. This usually occurs secondary to allergies as they lick and scratch leaving the skin more susceptible to yeast and bacteria. I would recommend a vet visit to get her on appropriate antibiotics and possible a medication for allergies. There are many treatment options to try for an itchy dog.