Why are my dog's skin lumps returning after steroid treatment?

If the medications helped and it came back after 2-3 weeks of stopping the treatment, it is probably an allergy, this means he will probably need to take those medications long term at least until the cause of the allergy is detected. this could be a food allergy, environmental allergies or flea allergy, this is the hard part- to discover what is the cause.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

These do indeed look like part of an allergic reaction (wheals/hives) and generally settle down after 12-24hours. Monitor closely for any internal complications such as vomiting, diarhhea, panting or weakness from an increased heart rate which may require hospitalisation and intravenous fluid drip. It can be difficult to identify the original trigger allergy bloods and a hydrolyzed diet such as royal canin anallergenic should be considered if recurring often

That is odd. It may mean that she needs a longer course of steroids and antihistamines. I also recommend to check her for ANY skin masses (both above and below the skin). There is a skin cancer called Mast Cell Tumor which can cause hives. You may also want to discuss checking a CBC with your vet to see if any of her blood cells are abnormal. Have Scout examined again by the vet and discuss next steps. I hope this helps.

Those spots on Brody could be several things including an allergic reaction (like hives), allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or skin mites (like scabies). Unfortunately, all these conditions look alike. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Allergic reactions are treated with steroids and antihistamines. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the lesions should not come back. I recommend to call your veterinarian and have Brody examined again. When pets don't respond as expected to treatment, it can mean that the real diagnosis has not been discovered. For skin health in general, there are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not 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 Brody wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This certainly sounds like some type of allergic reaction. Has your veterinarian recommended using any of the allergy medications available now? Apoquel, a pill, & Cytopoint, an injection that lasts 1-2 months are the newest we have to prevent allergic responses. I would also consider adding a good fish oil to Timmy's diet. There are many available, but any that provide 20 mg/pound EFA are the best. Hope this helps. Take care.