Red tummy and sores

[craigminah]

Hi, been awhile since I've posted here but my 2 year old English Springer Spaniel, Tira, has had a tummy rash and small sores off and on the the last two weeks. There are a couple of things that happened around that time: the floor was cleaned with Orange Glo Hardwood Cleaner, I dumped a bag of cheap fill soil to fill a low spot in my lawn, and I changed her food from Royal Canine to Avoderm. I mixed her food in a 1:4 ratio (new to old) to slowly adjust her to the new food. Along this time I watered my lawn extensively in order to make it green.

Once I saw her tummy get a rash I went back to her original food. The rash seemed to clear somewhat but it comes and goes where it's not so bad in the morning then worse at lunch and finally bad after work. This led me to think it's something outside or possibly the floor. The MSDS on Orange Glo wasn't too alarming but I've noticed a weed has grown like, uh, a weed, ever since I watered. Here's a scan of it http://www.craigminah.com/suspectplant.jpg and here's the MSDS for Orange Glo: http://www.craigminah.com/orangeglomsds.pdf

I have a few ideas what it could be but is there anything I should do other than keep an eye on her? Are there tests that could find out what is causing it? Could she be allergic to grass or that plant (she eats it when its spikey seeds stick in her hair)? What is that plant?

Sorry for the long post with a bunch of questions but I'm worried for her.

Thank you!

[tiffers]

...there is allergy testing. It could be any one of the three changes in her life...then again...it could be something totally unrelated. If she's been itching and scratching at it...you may also be dealing with a skin infection, which will need antibiotics. Do you have a picture of this rash?

[craigminah]

Originally Posted by TIFFERS

...there is allergy testing. It could be any one of the three changes in her life...then again...it could be something totally unrelated. If she's been itching and scratching at it...you may also be dealing with a skin infection, which will need antibiotics. Do you have a picture of this rash?

Just took one, of course it's not too bad right now but it's red with some bumps and a couple spots that look worse (may be from her licking them).

A much larger version of the picture below is: http://www.craigminah.com/tiratummyrash.jpg

[tiffers]

Hmm, definitely a reaction to something. Don't let her lick or chew or scratch...she'll only make the situation worse. If you take her to a vet, they can of course give you something to help prevent this. But, you might try giving Benadryl to her. 1-2mg/lb is the dose.

[lovecoton's]

Hi,
Well sure is nice to get pictures of a problem. Feel sorry for her. With several problems looming to be the cause it does make things more difficult to figure out. Good luck Peggy

[craigminah]

Her tummy has returned to normal but she scratched a sore under her eye (she was itchy). I think she's been eating that plant in my first post. Other than get her a cone head from the petstore I don't know how to stop her from scratching her face. She's better but she's rubbed her skin raw and it bleeds a little.

[craigminah]

Just wanted to let everyone know my dog is doing better. I took her to the vet and she was diagnosed with mites (I forget the specific variety). The vet said that particular flavor of mites is present in all soil and figures my dog was stressed out while a friend watched her, her immune system got strained, and she was susceptible to the mites.

Anyways, she was put on Clavomox, eye ointment, Benadryl (50mg), and an off-label Frontline to help with the mites.

Other than a slowly healing patch of missing hair under her eye (from being itchy and scratching incessantly) she's much better. Still has tummy sores but they come and go so I figure something in the yard's bothering her (probably the clovers that grew like crazy after I watered the lawn a bunch).

Thanks for the help!

[tiffers]

I'm glad she's doing better. It sounds like your describing Demodex Mites...is that what the vet said?

[Julia423]

It's nice to get an update...thank you for that! Glad she's feeling better.

[craigminah]

Originally Posted by TIFFERS

I'm glad she's doing better. It sounds like your describing Demodex Mites...is that what the vet said?

Yup, it was demodex mites. Tira's eye is getting better and her tummy is fine, sure takes a long time to heal and regrow hair...

[craigminah]

Wanted to update everyone. Tira has nearly healed, her tummy looks perfect and her eyes is close. I was lying in our backyard and I got a rash on my arms just like her tummy. It itched a lot. Looks like the cause was the lawn, thought it's never bothered us before. I guess a weed was in bloom?

We're all fine now, thanks.

[Julia423]

Glad to hear from you and that Tira is doing well. Maybe there is something changing in the "cosmos" because I've had itchy rash each time I've worked in my yard this fall!

[wishbone]

What a relief, thanks Craig for very informative updates. Our dog likes to sniff on grasses and plants and sometimes he got some itchiness on his body and face but also disappear after few hours. I was kinda worry if he get some serious allergy, we're planning to totally clean the backyard this coming weekend.