Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 2/15/2008

Question
I have English Springer Spaniel, 15 years old but in very good health for his
age.  He tends to get crusty scabs on his skin at the base of hair/fur shafts.  
He does not scratch or bite these, but if I touch them they do itch him.  If I
pull off the scabs, they will pull a tuft of hair with the scab.  These tend to
come and go, and move around his body - but I can't seem to eliminate them
with diet, shampoo, vitamins or the like.  Help Please

Answer
This could be a bacterial (Staph) infection.  Antibiotics shouls clear this up.  But it could also be a disease called sebaceous adenitis, for which there is no cure.  Your vet can  differentiate these lesions for you with a skin biopsy if the antibiotics do not help.