Expert: Shelley Davis - 8/22/2007

Question
My lab has big red bumps on her snout and her bottom lip around her mouth..some are big some are small.  But there are at least 20.  In the beginning of the summer she had a few and someone told me to give her benedryl...which I did and they went away.  But now they are back worse than ever.  HELP.  She looks so pitiful but she is eating, drinking etc the same.

Answer
Hi Rebekah,

Thank you for writing to me about your Lab's skin problems.  I appreciate your patience regarding the delay in repsonding.

It appears that your dog may be suffering from allergies but let me present a broad spectrum of possibilities.

The first thing I would like to address is vaccinations!  Many vets have been over vaccinating which can cause allergies and auto immune disease.  What is the relationship between when your dog was last vaccinated and the start of his symptoms?   Even if the vaccinations didn't directly cause this problem, I would refrain from vaccinating except for a three year rabies shot.   Go to the following page and follow the links:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=vaccinations%2C+dogs%2C+dange...

It is possible that the food she is eating could be causing your dog's bumps. You would want to explore all the cleaning agents you use, the lawn care
products, new carpets, etc.   I personally only use Dr. Bronners and vinegar to clean with.  Spraying with vinegar followed by peroxide spray is far more effective in killing germs than straight chlorox.

Addressing the possibility of food allergies:

Food May Be the Cause of Your Dog's Skin Problems.
Food allergies or sensitivities are usually the last suspect in detecting the cause of a dog's skin problems. Most dogs are fed the same type of dog food for years, so the food is rarely suspected. Dogs, like humans, can
develop a sensitivity to any food or additive at any time.

It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of all allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats is caused by food allergy.

Dog food is made up of a combination of ingredients. The most common ingredients that can cause problems in a dog include:

beef
chicken
corn
eggs
fish
lamb
milk
preservatives
pork
soy
wheat
whey

Symptoms

Itchy skin is the primary symptom a dog suffers from food sensitivities.

Other symptoms may include:

anal itching
ear inflammations
hair loss
licking front paws
loss of appetite
face rubbing
head shaking
hot spots

These following symptoms may manifest but are rare:

asthma like symptoms
behavioral changes
diarrhea
flatulence
seizures
sneezing
vomiting

Steps of Prevention

Be sure to eliminate all the foods in your dog's diet that match the list above, and feed your dog a commericial or homemade diet consisting of ingredients he has never eaten before.

The homemade diet should consist of two parts starch and one part protein.  Although duck, salmon, soy, venison, and rabbit are suggested for the  protein; and rice and potatoes for the starch; soy and rice are not always
safe substitutes.

It is generally recommended to start with duck and potato
based foods in the beginning.

You may be able to select a special commercial dog food blend that suits your dog's needs.

Whatever diet you choose for your dog, it should be the only food he ingests during the elimination period.
This means no table scraps, dog biscuits, dog bones, rawhide chews, vitamins, minerals or chewable heartworm pills.This elimination diet is only temporary and once you find out what your dog is allergic to you can start to add other ingredients to make a complete meal for your dog.

If symptoms begin to improve during the elimination period, you can then reintroduce each of the eliminated food items one at a time. Each food should be tested for a week before another is introduced. This will allow you to pinpoint which foods may be causing problems if symptoms resurface.
Once the offensive food is discovered, then reading dog food labels should help you pinpoint a food that meets the needs of your dog. Although there are many hypoallergenic dog foods on the market, be sure to read the
labels carefully.  Foods like Solid Gold Fish and Potato might work wonders for your dog.  You can also try Spot's Stew, Avoderm, Venison, Rabbit, Paul Newman etc, or continue to make your own food at home.  At
least that way the food is fresh and you know what has gone into it.  A helpful book is Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Dr. Pitcairn.

There is a site on dog health which includes great information about allergies and the best way to feed your dog.  I urge you to spend some time studying the information that this wonderful site has to offer.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/animals.htm

There are some conditions that can resemble flea allergy, including hypersensitivity to anal sac secretions, food allergy and sometimes inhalant allergies. Almost all allergic conditions respond to treatment.

If your vet is unable to resolve the problem after several visits, it might be a good idea to ask for referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Most of the time, if you work with your vet and you both are patient, skin problems can be resolved.

Some dogs develop areas of hairloss and itching over vaccination sites. I have seen this problem and the skin appeared irritated and thickened at the site in addition to the hairloss. I think that a skin biopsy could be very informative if the problem persists. You might want to discuss this option with your vet.

Almost all other causes of itching and hair loss in dogs should be considered, so it is important to eliminate mites, anal sac irritation, flea allergy, flea infestation, etc. I'm sure your vet has probably been eliminating those problems as in examining your dog. If you wish to have a second opinion from a specialist, there are veterinary dermatologists and your vet can probably arrange to refer you to one.

The ITCHY SKIN DISEASES are characterized by constant scratching, biting at the skin and rubbing up against objects to relieve the itch.

Allergic contact dermatitis: Same as contact dermatitis, but rash may spread beyond area of contact. Requires repeated or continuous exposure to allergen (such as wearing a flea collar).

Canine atopy: Severe itching that occurs in young dogs and begins in late summer and fall. Caused by seasonal pollens. Occurs in mixed breeds as well as purebreds.Common.

Chiggers: Itching and severe skin irritation between toes, and around the ears and mouth. Look for barely visible red, yellow or orange chiggers.

Contact dermatitis: Red, itchy bumps and inflamed skin at the site of contact with chemical, detergent, paint or other irritant. Affects feet and hairless parts of the body.

Flea allergy dermatitis: Red, itchy pimplelike bumps over the base of the tail, back of rear legs and inner thighs. Scratching continues after fleas have been killed.

Fleas: Itching and scratching along the back, around the tail and hindquarters. Look for fleas, or black and white gritty specks in hair (flea feces and eggs).

Fly-bite dermatitis: Painful bites at tips of erect ears and bent surfaces of floppy ears. Bites become scabbed, crusty-black and bleed easily.

Grubs: Inch-long fly larvae that form cystlike lumps beneath the skin with a hole in the center for the insect to breathe. Often found beneath chin or along abdomen. Lice: Two-millimeter-long insects, or white grains of "sand" (nits) attached to hair. Not common. Found in dogs with matted coats. May have bare spots where hair has been rubbed off.

Lick granuloma (acral pruritic dermatitis): Red, shiny skin ulcer caused by continuous licking at wrist or ankle. Usually seen occuring in large, short-coated breeds.(See Intructions for Yeast Problems).  

My best suggestion is to work with your vet, as itching and hair loss can indicate a more serious problem. The first thing I would do is check for thyroid disease and food allergies. You vet will hopefully have some idea about what is causing the problem and if he doesn't then he should refer you to a specilist.

Treatment of Hot Spots:

-Trim the hair around the sore to prevent further spread of the infection and expose the edges of the lesion;
-Wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or antiseptic;
-Be prepared to use antibiotics if the washing does not give results. Some vets recommend against the use of ointments or creams because they can seal in the infection and hinder recovery. In severe cases, a veterinarian may suggest the use of an Elizabethan collar to prevent mutilation and give the spot a chance to heal.

Rejuva Spray
Azmira's Rejuva Spray is an excellent topical spray for skin eruptions, hot spots, prickly heat, pimples, scrapes, and burns. Reduces inflammation, promotes healing and has anti-bacterial properties to help prevent the spread of infection. Rejuva Spray contains Fresh, Organic Extracts of Witch Hazel, Calendula, Yucca, Golden Seal Root and Grapefruit.

You can also try applying yogurt to sooth the skin.

If the underlying cause is matted hair or trapped dead hair, put your dog on a regular grooming schedule either at home or at a grooming salon.  Clip mats if you cannot easily comb them out, and make an appointment for professional grooming every four-to-six weeks if you cannot keep your dog mat-free on your own.

If the underlying cause is allergies, begin an aggressive campaign to rid your home and yard of fleas and work with your veterinarian on a plan to reduce allergy triggers for your pet. Household dust, plant pollen, lawn chemicals, and diet can all cause allergies or can build to a crescendo of allergies if the dog's sensitivities cross a threshhold. Frequent vacuuming, supplements to keep the skin and coat healthy, air purifiers, and baths in skin-soothing herbal or medicated shampoos with aloe, oatmeal, jojoba, or eucalyptus can help.

Next step is over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl or Atarax — with a veterinarian's approval.

I am not aware of what you've been feeding, but my recommendation in general would be to move to a human grade food that is as pure as possible.

Cook up a bit of boiled egg, chicken fish, turkey (although your dog may have an allergy to chicken/turkey so lean toward the egg and fish for awhile).  You might also consider venison, rabbit,canned salmon, macarel,
sardines etc.  You would have to find these at a speciality shop or on line.  Add in some yogurt (live culture), canned plain pumpkin or cook up some squash or sweet potato(not white). Move to this new diet slowly.  You can also buy prepared foods such as Nature's Logic, Fish & Potato, Spot's Stew, Avoderm, etc.

Nutrients to add to the mix:  Missing Link and Prozyme (J&B Wholesale Pet Supplies), Probiotics (B-Naturals), Flax oil, Green Stuff, Vit C powder, a fish oil/avocado/olive oil rotation and mix well.  You can add lightly steamed veggies such as carrots, zuccini, broccoli etc (make a mash out of them) and some apple (no grapes or raisins).

I would stay away from commercial medicated (and toxic) shampoos.  Stick to more natural oatmeal baths and products that contain tea tree oil but be sure to rinse thoroughly as tea tree should not be ingested by a dog.

Have a complete thyroid panel done and don't accept a high or low normal reading, as normal.  If it is not right in the middle, then ask for medication to bring it there.

You might want to do some detective work around your house and grounds. Dogs, are especially sensitive to cleaning agents and outgassing from carpets and lawn care
products.   

Vaccinations may cause skin problems:

Dr. Jean Dodds protocol is now being adopted by ALL 27 North American  veterinary schools. I highly recommend that you read this.  Copy and save it to your files. Print it and pass it out at dog fairs, cat shows, kennel club meetings, dog parks, give a copy to your veterinarian and
groomer, etc., etc. Get the word out. ~~~~

          Vaccination NEWSFLASH
          I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats. Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics.
          Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects.Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well being should not be a factor in medical decision.

The fact that the bumps responded to Benedryl, leads me to conclude that this is of an allergic nature.  Now the detective work must begin.

I wish you the best of luck.

Regards,
Shelley Davis