Rash, itching, missing fur???

[Larka]

I'm SO confused and in need of help.

I posted a while back that Lucy had been attacked by a Boxer/Mastiff and some fur had been ripped out from around her throat. She was itching really bad while it healed and was worried about that. But that healed up. But I have a new issue in more or less the same area and don't know if it's connected or not.

Lucy has a patch on her neck where she is missing fur. It has gotten a LOT bigger, and itches badly. She's always scratching at it. I first noticed it because she had blood on her. She didn't seem to be itching at it at first, almost like she'd rubbed against something and cut herself. But now the spot is getting bigger and she wants to itch at it all the time.

Around her neck-

A close up of missing skin-

A missing piece of fur on her face, don't know if that's part of this or not…

I'm worried almost out of my mind. Since Lucy is on "house arrest" I can't take her to the vet unless it's an emergency and I don't know if this is an emergency. I've washed it off and put doggy anti-infection cream stuff on it. After that dried, I've been putting hydrocortisone on it. It's been clearing up, but she still scratches at it and makes it worse all over again.

[tanza]

The problem seems to be that she is scratching it… there by reopening anything that has healed. Could be that it itches while healing (and my guess it might be a flea reaction).... You could try Benadryl for a couple of days and see if that helps with any itch that might be going on... main thing is to stop her from scatching...

[dash]

It is in a really bad area to keep her from scratching. Normally, I would say try an e-collar of some sort. I am pretty sure you can buy them at a vet clinic or pet store. It looks like a plastic neck brace but it may prevent her from getting to it long enough for it to heal.

Definately check for fleas. If she has them, it must be treated or she will just continue to scratch.

[Larka]

She doesn't have fleas, that's one of the reasons why I'm so freaked out that she's scratching at it like that. I have Benadryl, so I guess I could try that. Every time she goes to scratch it I either give her a "no" or grab her paw, but I don't see her ALL the time and I'm worried that she's going to make it bleed again or get it infected.

[tanza]

@Larka:

She doesn't have fleas, that's one of the reasons why I'm so freaked out that she's scratching at it like that. I have Benadryl, so I guess I could try that. Every time she goes to scratch it I either give her a "no" or grab her paw, but I don't see her ALL the time and I'm worried that she's going to make it bleed again or get it infected.

You don't have to see fleas to have just one bite… and they don't have to "have" fleas to get one bite.. and one is all you need.... Many years ago my mentors had a boy that had a reaction to a rabie shot... he scratched it raw over and over. They wrapped his foot with Vet Wrap so that even is he tried to scratch, the nails couldn't get to the spot

[Larka]

I put little booties on her back paws so she can try to scratch, but the nails won't get to it… I'm hoping it clears up with her not being able to scratch it and some meds that I already have.

So just one little flea bite can make them scratch that bad? I've seen dogs covered in fleas that just scratch a little or bite at the spot, but never like this. Could she be allergic to fleas/their bites? Or would it be more for scratching it bad the first time and now it itching from healing?

[tanza]

@Larka:

I put little booties on her back paws so she can try to scratch, but the nails won't get to it… I'm hoping it clears up with her not being able to scratch it and some meds that I already have.

So just one little flea bite can make them scratch that bad? I've seen dogs covered in fleas that just scratch a little or bite at the spot, but never like this. Could she be allergic to fleas/their bites? Or would it be more for scratching it bad the first time and now it itching from healing?

Yes, one flea can do that especially if she has a flea allergy… many dogs are allergic to flea bites... very common....

[Quercus]

It looks like a hotspot to me. And yes, they can definitely be triggered by a mild to severe flea allergy. Blondie will get one every now and then in a BAD flea year (which this year is for us). I usally apply Frontline if I see her starting to get itchy. Once the hotspot is open, the dog just cannot seem to leave it alone. Sometimes I will put something like Neosporin on it, and then spray bitter apple on. IMPORTANT: you must totally cover the raw area with a barrier type cream before you spray on the Bitter Apple because it will REALLY hurt if you don't…..think rubbing alcohol on open wound yeouch!

It most likely will resolve itself quickly if you can keep her from licking it. But you might call your vet, explain the situation and they might able to perscribe some cortisone cream without seeing her.

Also, the benedryl idea is a good one, as it should alleviate the itching.

[dmcarty]

Get thee to a Walmart or a beauty supply store and get something called: Sulfa8. It typically is around the ethnic hair/scalp products. It is a sulpher based vasoline looking kind of stuff used hundreds (ok not that long ago) of years ago in Beauty/Barber shops for skin irritations, ringworm etc. Works great on hotspots. It's what folks used before topical antibiotics.

Otherwise if she starts missing hair around her face and ears - you may want to check for Mange.

[senji]

Just putting in my two cent…I thought hotspot right away also.