Why is my German Shepherd sick and scared after dog boarding?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like we may have two separate problems- a skin problem and a GI problem. The skin itching could be related to food but is more likely related to environmental allergies (which can develope at any age). Another possibility is that it’s actually pain- she is the right age for arthritis and other problems. This may be especially true if it’s over a joint. A foreign body like a thorn stuck in the skin is also possible. For the vomiting, there are many many possibilities. Acid reflux is more common with age. A trial of small frequent meals and Pepcid AC (famotidine) can help. Other possibilities include long-term foreign material (cloth or object swallowed long ago), organ disease (kidney disease, pancreatitis) cancer, and more. Abdominal xrays, full blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and sometimes even an upper GI scope or exploratory surgery may be needed to figure it out. This is a complicated and involved case and we could definitely talk more about it via text or call if you’d like. I believe there is a link below if you’d like a more in dept consultation. Best wishes to you and Hope!

If her ears are bothering her, there is certainly a problem with them so the ointment should make a difference. Antibiotics will help if there is concurrent bacterial infection and prednisolone has an anti inflammatory effect. So you have medications that should help against a few symptoms and conditions. Perhaps she will feel better today. The other thing I would keep in mind is if she could have inhaled something like a grass seed. These are very commmon where I live at this time of the year. So if she seems to be getting better continue with treatment, if she is getting worse or not improving have her reassessed. All the best and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

This presentation is likely to be caused by a bilateral severe bacterial infection of the ear canals. Possibly an underlying allergy (especially if Jack is scratching all over his body) could be present. Antibiotic ear drops and possibly systemic treatment (anti-inflammatory medications and oral antibiotics) are most likely required. A check up is essential to determine underlying cause and treat appropriately. 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.

It doesn't sound like a bacterial infection is for sure the cause, so recommending just treating this with an antibiotic (which usually has to be prescribed by your vet) is not the best course of action here. Also a picture of the area would help somewhat. However, I can understand your financial situation. I would recommend reposting your question with a picture of the testicles first. Odors can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections in pets. You can try washing him with an aloe based or oatmeal based shampoo (from your local pet store) and then applying a thin layer of Neosporin to the testicles once every 12 hrs. However, if the area does not improve, then a vet visit is the next best course of action. He likely will need to have this area tested with a skin impression to collect cells from the surface. This will help determine what kind of infection is present (bacterial or fungal) so that we know what course of treatment is needed to clear things up. Also most skin infections will require oral antibiotics only available through a licensed veterinarian. Here is a website link with some financial resources that may be able to help if you ultimately have to take him in to your vet. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html Best wishes with Duke and his skin issues. I hope he gets this cleared up soon. Take care.

I'm not sure why you think stray dogs don't get skin infections, and if they do, it cures itself. That's not true. I have seen numerous stray dogs with horrendous skin problems, and some have had to be put to sleep due to the severity of the infection. Others needed to be treated to have it cleared up. Now some breeds of dogs are more prone to certain health conditions such as skin infections caused by allergies, and unfortunately GSDs are one of those breeds. I hope this helps.

Hi and thanks for your post! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Ben's skin lesions may be due to without examining Ben first, but some possibilities may include a fungal infection, bacterial infection, mites, a food or environmental allergy, or evidence of an underlying endocrine disorder such as Cushing's disease or a thyroid problem. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with a fungal culture, skin scraping, and some blood work. I would recommend Ben visit another veterinarian or perhaps a board certified veterinary dermatologist soon to have the possibilities above ruled out and a definitive diagnosis made so he can get the most appropriate treatment. Best to you and Ben and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. With the description you have provided I would recommend having her see n by your veterinarian to have testing done such as blood work to see why she is lethargic and vomiting. The skin condition would likely not cause the vomiting. Your vet may recommend a course of an oral antibiotic and topical therapy for the skin condition. I would also have the cysts tested to see what they are. Your vet can insert a small needle into the cysts and see what the cells are under a microscope to help determine what they could be. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.