after many vet visits she still has not gotten any better. I was told fleas and food allergies but it wasn't either. Just wondering what could be the problem. Someone said it looked like mange.
Michael Rader says:
January 03rd, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Great pictures! Skin changes can be due to several reasons. Hair loss/alopecia is often due to folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) due to mange mites, dermatophytes (ringworm), or pyoderma (bacterial skin infection). Itchy dogs often suffer from atopy/environmental/inhaled allergies, food allergies, flea allergies and mange mites. From her profile, it mentions that she is intact (not spayed). Hormones can lead to alot of skin issues. I notice alot of hyperpigmentation (black color change) which is often times suggestive of a yeast dermatitis. The vagina looks a little enlarged with alot of black skin surrounding it which often suggests urine irritation. I would suggest the following tests 1) skin scrape--for mites, 2) skin tape/cytology for identifying bacterial or yeast, 3) +/- blood tests looking for underlying hormone disorders. If she has not been spayed, then I would suggest it as well. If those tests are all negative, more definitive testing should be done including a surgical skin biopsy and a culture and sensitivity of the skin. Skin and/or blood testing for allergies may also be eventually required. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and unfortunately, it often takes a long time with medications, diets, and diagnostics to come up with the true answer. Good luck!
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