Rash/Bites/Poison Ivy? on Gavin

[BG and Gavin]

Need some advice on a skin issue with Gavin.  He has had it for about a week and I was thinking it was poison ivy.  He is in it all the time on the trails as I was under the mistaken thought that dogs could not get it.  It seemed to behave as poison ivy.  A small rash that kinda blistered and discharged a small bit of clear liquid, then dried up and scabbed over.  It has been itchy too; some licking going on.  It is on the tops of 3 out of 4 paws just above the ankle and he also has a spot inside one hip.  Some of the scabs have been shed and are caught in the fur.  Some spots are only one or two scabs, others have a few more.  Treatment so far is cleaning with a disinfecting shampoo from the vet and benedryl.  Two benadryl do not seem to touch the itching too much and it makes him super sleepy so I stopped with that.  He is also pretty good about stopping when told, but he does sneak off and hide to lick sometimes.  Does anyone have any idea what it may be?  My pictures not great, but the best I could do.  They show the worst spot on his body.  Thanks in advance.

[Charlie Bear]

My goldendoodle had something almost the same three weeks ago. At first they started out to look like little mosquito bites then got bigger, red and bloody with some drainage. I took her to the vet. She said she had never seen anything like it. My dog had 6 on her belly and chest one on her hip and a couple on her paws. We decided to give Charlie a high dose antibiotic and steroid injection. Ten days later they were still not any better. We took her back to the vet and she peeled one of the scabs off and sent some slides with the exudate on it to purdue. She was wanting to do a biopsy which would have been really expensive. We decided to wait a few more days and they actually started to get better. My vet called the other day and said purdue university said it was some type of inflammatory response I am so glad Charlie is better I was so scarred. We were never able to narrow it down as to what caused the allergic reaction. My vet said it could be a bug bite, spider bite, fertilizer from someone's yard. We did do Benadryl to help with the itching. I also put a tshirt on Charlie so she would not lick at them. I can not believe how similar your pictures look to what Charlie had. Hope your doodle feels better soon!

[BG and Gavin]

Charlie Bears experience does sound similar.  I am glad he is healed up now. Spider bites would not be out of the question as we are lousy with spiders here at the cottage. It seems like it is always something to cause worry right? 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What you describe sounds just like poison ivy in humans.  My DH is very susceptible and has had it quite a few times.  I think bathing to remove any of the oil from the plant was perfect.  If the benadryl makes Gave sleepy you might try Claritin instead.  I hope the poor guy feels better....the "itchies" are no fun.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm sorry Gavin. This looks miserable and painful.   I do wonder about dogs and PI.

Spud  has been licking some paws lately too, but nothing like this.  Get well, Buddy

[BG and Gavin]

We were out last night and Gavin took the opportunity to go to town on the licking of one paw and his hip.  He groomed away all os the dried up scabs and it actually looks really good.  Just a couple of tiny little pink spots that look like fresh healed skin.  Maybe it has run its course and is in the resolving stage as F. suggested.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad it looks better, but you don't want him licking it; that's how hot spots start, when the area is constantly moist. Especially on the paws. Try to keep the area dry; OTC anti-itch sprays help.

[BG and Gavin]

I will look for the spray - thanks Karen.  The LAST thing I want is a hot spot.  Are we talking spray that is available at a pet store or is it for humans at a drug store?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pet supply store. I've had good luck with them for temporary itching. The best part is that they dry quickly, so you don't have to worry about greasy ointment getting all over your house, and you don't have to cover it.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I'm thinking a bite of some sort.  I looked up poison ivy a while ago, and a few places said that dogs actually don't get a skin rash from poison ivy (they don't have the allergy to it like we do).  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Some sites say that dogs do not get poison ivy others do say they can and describe it. I think they get it infrequently since the fur protects the skin but they can get it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Off the wall... but sunburn?  

[BG and Gavin]

Update: so things seemed to have pretty much resolved themselves.  I used the spray that Karen recommended.  Still a bit of licking and scratching - could be just a normal amount, but I am hyper-vigilent so I notice more.