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Expert: - 6/23/2009


Question

spots like zits
I have a 4 year old shar-pei, we lived in Indiana for most of his life.  Through the years I have changed his food so many times its not funny.  Some foods where worse than others.  He started to have a real bad allergy to Natural Balance licking his front feet constantly to where his feet where raw.  When I got him in Florida I did not notice until I took him to the beach.  I took him to the vet that night.  His fur was malting and his feet where raw and his coat stunk like no tomorrow.  He got a predinson shot and an antibiotic and was given some pills of prednisone and cephelexin for two weeks worth.  He started to look better and I switched his food to a vegitarian meal.  Looked good for about three weeks so I got him fixed and advantage put on him which I have never used before and right when that all happened he started to get welts on his back that turned into round flaky bald spots, feet really red, red spots that looked like zits on is under pits and back leg pits. Took him to the vet again got the same meds as before for about 3 weeks worth I think.  They told me it was allergies with a second infection.  After, taking that he got them back again but now the flaky spots are all over his back with bald spots and his chest and under his front pits and then under his front pit and back pits the zits. I am really at a loss with my dog.  I really don't want him to have to deal with this uncomfortableness.  When I give him a cold back with oatmeal shampoo he is good it goes away for about a day and they come right back.  I cant give him baths every day that will make his skin very dry.  The apartment that we live in has a lot of powder that someone before us used a lot of cause when I vacuum it gets my vacuum to turn white powdery. But this started before in my other place when I got him fixed and used the advantage on him I had no carpet.  I love my dog very much and I have tried everything for him. PLEASE HELP
Heidi  
I have pics of his back but I can only upload one pic

Answer
Allergies can be year round, so treating intermittently will allow the allergies to flare up constantly.  You may need to leave the dog on low dose prednisone for a long period of time. If there is a bacterial pyoderma, which your photo shows, long term antibiotics can also be needed.

In a Shar-pei, I would also want to see several skin scrapings to make sure that it is not demodex mange.  Ask your vet if that is possible.

YOur vet can do allergy tests to see what the dog is allergic to and then they can order allergy shots that you can give to desensitize the dog.

Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf

Expertise

Dermatology and ear diseases of dogs and cats

Experience

I am the author of "Small Animal Ear Diseases; An Illustrated Guide" published by W.B. Saunders. I have over 25 years of clinical experience with a special interest in dermatologic conditions and ear diseases.

Organizations
American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology

Publications
Veterinary Forum
Veterinary Medicine
Waltham Focus

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