Husky eye crust, red nose bumps: zinc deficiency, fungus, or lupus?

Oh goodness! That does look uncomfortable! It could be just infection, but if it keeps returning then I agree there could likely be an underlying problem such as thyroid disorder, zinc deficiency, pemphigus, or lupus. If I were in charge of his care I would check a thyroid panel and if that came back normal then I would do straight to a skin biopsy. This is the fastest route to a diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer and a resolution soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

A lot of things can cause skin lesions on the face, from allergies to mange, so it's difficult to necessarily pin it on the diet. Zinc deficiency is very uncommon, but is genetic in huskies. It's not the diet that causes it, but rather a problem in how they metabolize zinc. It usually appears in young dogs (1-3 years old). The only way to diagnose it is via biopsy, which is a test your vet can do. If Tonka was doing well on the same diet previously and the only thing that has changed is the amount he's getting I would be surprised that it would cause this, especially if it's a balanced diet. Please do not supplement zinc without talking to your veterinarian, as zinc toxicity can be very dangerous.

Yes, I recommend to call your normal veterinarian and ask about either having Roxy examined or send the vet the photos as a starting point. I suspect the black spots represent a bacterial infection, a yeast infection or ringworm (which people can get). Since she is immune suppressed (due to her autoimmune condition) an infection is more likely and she may not be able to fight the infection as normal. Until she is examined, protect the area form rubbing and she may need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Also, try to keep her skin in optimal health. You can add in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. I hope this helps!

I don't recommend to start this supplement on your pup without speaking with your veterinarian. Yes, arctic breeds can get zinc responsive dermatitis but the condition is rare. More common causes of lip dermatitis are allergies to something in the environment or food. I recommend to explore these options first. Speak with your veterinarian about what to look for first. I hope this helps.

That spot on Briggs could be several things including skin mites, ringworm (which humans can get), allergies to something in the environment, food allergy, Zinc responsive dermatosis or endocrine disease. 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. 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. 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. Mites and ringworm are diagnosed by a few easy skin testes. Zinc issues may need a blood test. I recommend to have him examined to get the treatment process started. 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 Briggs wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to an infection though it could also be due to an immune mediated disease for instance. Most of the time these require a biopsy to determine the origin. Antibiotics can help in these cases though again it depends on what is the actual cause of these lesions. I recommend that you have Max evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

I am so sorry to hear about Drako! It is definitely quite possible given the appearance and his breed that he could be suffering from an autoimmune disease such as lupus. Other possibilities would include bacterial and fungal infections, solar dermatosis (sensitivity to sun) and zinc responsive dermatosis, and less commonly cancer. It looks like if your dog didn't respond to the antibiotics and steroids then some additional testing needs to be done. A biopsy is the fastest way to determine what the problem here could be. I would recommend discussing this with your vet and if they don't feel comfortable asking for a referral to a specialist.