Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 8/12/2005

Question
My 10 year old lab mix has had a skin condition for many months that is only getting worse. She has developed dry, scaly, round patches all over her body. The hair falls out and eventually grows back but new patches develop all the time. We have been treating her with KetoChlor shampoo and Malaseb medicated pads, per vet suggestion. This has not helped at all. And now there are so many patches it is impossible to treat them all. What could this be? If this IS fungal, would a systemic medication help? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance!  

Answer
If your vet thinks that this is a fungal infection, then systemic drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole would help, but they take a while to work. If this is a bacterial infection, then antibiotics may be needed.  Has your vet tested her to see if she is allergic, if it is a fungus, if there is seborrhea,if she is hypothyroid, or if it is mange?  If the vet wants to know what disease process is causing these patches, they can take a skin biopsy and send it off to see.