Expert: Delores Beck - 6/2/2010

Question
Tiffany is a happy 16 year old american cocker. She eats Iams senior formula. About a year ago she began to develop sores that ooze and sometimes bleed. She tends to lick them frequently. I've had 2 removed by a vet, but feel she is too old to withstand surgery (cost is an issue too). What can I do to dry up the sores and help them heal?

Answer
Did your vet not give you any medicated shampoo?  Or anything to use topically?  Did he tell you what they were?  Give her any antibiotics for the infection?  Has he ever taken some skin cells and analyzed them to see if it's bacterial or yeast?

How many does she have?  Where are they?  Do they eventually go away or once she has one, does it stay?  How big are they?  Does she scratch or just lick them?  How much do they seem to bother her?

These definitely need to be kept clean and you can do that by using a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol - peroxide or witch hazel several times a day.

I would recommend using Vet Solutions "Universal" medicated shampoo at least once a week and put some Zymox non-hydrocortisone topical cream on them daily.  Both can be ordered online.  I know EntirelyPets.com has both as does AbsolutelyPets.com (cheaper).  The Zymox non-hydrocortisone is safe if she licks it.
Delores