Expert: Laura Murphy - 8/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a 4mth old Weimraner, every now and then she will have a bump about one inch above where she urinates.  The bump will get bigger and eventually rupture a clear fluid.  Very small amount of fluid.  Last time at the vet, I asked what it could be.  Dr. really wasn't sure.  Maybe a clogged hair folicol??  He could stick a needle and draw some cells, but it really wasn't bothering her AND, they seem to go away in 1 or 2 days, so, I didn't have him do it.  Well, its a week later and it seems like she has several more bumps.  They get bigger then rupture.  Have you heard of anything like this? They don't seem to bother her.  But what is it?  I hate to have needles stuck in her needlessly.  Any suggestions?

ANSWER: Hi Nancy,

If they keep coming back, I doubt it's a hair follicle. The skin is the largest organ and the first to show problems in the overall health of an animal. Since your weimeraner is 4 months old, I think that this may be a reaction to vaccinations and/or dietary related.

The first thing I would do is make sure she is getting the best diet you can give her. I am a raw feeder and believe a natural diet of raw meat and bones promotes the best health, but even if you just bump up her food to a better formula, it could help. There's a site called www.dogfoodanalysis.com that does an excellent job rating dog foods based solely on their ingredients. If you could select from one of their 5-star or 6-star foods, that would be a good start.

Other than that, if she's not in any discomfort, I would go for a homeopathic approach. Most natural pharmacies now sell homeopathic remedies, but you might have to go online to get the various potencies. A good site is www.abchomeopathy.com (I like the Boiron brand) but there are many other good ones, as well.

Here are some suggestions for homeopathic remedies that might help her with the skin condition. Find the one that is the best match and give it a try. Homeopathics are inexpensive and easy to administer. (You can get them in pellet form or liquid.) They're also perfectly safe and won't negatively interact with any other medications or foods. I've used them very successfully for many conditions both in my pets and in my human family. Don't be too stuck on the potencies recommended here - if you can find it in another potency, it's still safe to administer. I go as high as 30C for my pets.

Homeopathic Skin Remedies, boil and abscess medicines:
Belladonna 8x: (animal potency) for early stages of any localized boil or abscess. If it appears to be painful, red, hot and swelling. If belladonna doesn't help or if treatment has begun more than 24 hours after symptoms set in, choose from the following:

Hepar Sulph 8x: (animal potency) Often helps heal inflammation by absorbing the boil. If boil is painful to touch, Hepar is an excellent choice. Hepar boils are tender to the slightest touch and sensitive too cold. Hepar and Silica are good medicines for boils that are slow to heal. Avoid taking these two remedies together since they cancel each other out when taken at the same time.

Silica 8x: (animal potency) should be take 2 or 3 times a day after a boil has been lanced and drained. Silica is indicated when a boil comes on slowly or red and swelling persist for days without developing pus. Firm red lumps that persist after a boil has mostly healed is relieved by a dose or two of Silica 36c or Silica 8x take twice daily for a week or two. Silica 8x, helps reduce pimples and washes toxins out of the body. It gives hair a shine helps nails grow strong and makes pimples disappear.

Lachesis 8x (animal potency): is indicated if the abscess is bluish or purplish, the pus may be dark and thin and the abscess tender. Take care to discontinue this medicine the minute improvement begins.

Arsenicum 4x (animal potency): for itching, burning, swellings, eruptions which are dry, rough, scaly, worse from cold and scratching. Helps with Psoriasis.

Sulphur 2x (animal potency): for dry scaly unhealthy skin, freckles, itching and burning , made worse from scratching. Pimply eruptions in the uterus.

Echinacca 2x (animal potency): boils, ulcers, erysipelas, gangrene, venus, puerperal infections. Afflictions from insect bites and poisonous plants.

Berberis 3x (animal potency): pimply, dry, rough and scaly skin. psoriasis, acne, dry eczema.

Graphites 8x (animal potency): pimples, acne, eruptions, rough, hard, dryness, unhealthy skin.

Ferr. Phos. 8x (animal potency): for abscess, heat and pain.

Aconite 8x (animal potency): for; red, hot, swollen, dry, burning, rash like measles, goose flesh.

Sulphur 8x (animal potency): The master skin remedy. When in doubt of what to give or if other remedies are not working Sulphur will either heal or prepare the way. Use it for dry, scaly, unhealthy, itching, burning, hard hair and skin.

Hope this helps.

Laura Murphy
Pets by Nature
www.petsbynature.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Laura,
Thank you for responding to my question.  I am glad you believe in a more "natural" approach.  You say you like to feed raw meet and bones?  Exactly what kinds of bones  and how much meat?  I am feeding her Dog lovers gold dog food. I just recently switched her to that. (about 3 weeks ago).  It is supposed to be a "all natural food".  Is there any was I can attach a picture to this email so maybe you can see exactly what  I am talking about?  As of right now, her bumps look pretty good.  But, who knows, tomorrow she could have several.   Thanks for your input, Nancy Jo Foor

Answer
Hi Nancy,

You can send me a pic at laura@petsbynature.com. For more information on the type of food I feed, check out my web site at www.petsbynature.com and go to Natural Diets.

You can feed many types of bones - chicken necks, backs, frames, wings, turkey bones, pork neck bones, small beef bones, etc. I used to feed whole bones, but now grind them up with organ meat and vegetables for a "hamburger-like" concoction. There are some great raw feeding groups on the internet. If you want to research it a little more, let me know at the above address and I'll give you some links.

Laura Murphy