Skin problem!!

[Paula]

Bogey now 9 months, has developed a skin problem. Vet wants to do allergy testing. $$$to start and upwards from there. Not finding any new info here regarding this. His skin has nasty bumps the size of  dime  some smaller, some dried up, some active. LOTS OF THEM.  Any suggestions

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We do have a lot of information here on DK about allergies in dogs, much of it in the Health & Medical Group. What you are describing doesn't sound like typical allergy symptoms to me, it sounds more like a contact dermatitis of some kind. Nine months is also very young for an allergy to have developed.

If you do decide to have allergy testing done, I would strongly advise that you have skin scratch testing done by a veterinary dermatology specialist, and not blood tests run by your vet. The latter are notoriously inaccurate, and cost almost as much as the skin testing. GP vets are not usually equipped to run the skin tests, either. 

[Paula]

Thank you Karen, I suppose I don't know my way around here too well.  I was thinking of changing his food for starters. I feed him what Vet suggested, which is the natural Costco food, he loves it. Not sure what to switch too, but will try.  He is so adorable and so sweet.  We are hoping to avoid the thousands of dollars to figure it all out.  I will look into the skin scratch testing. I also think he may have a contact issue. He licks his belly lots,but the dried up scabs are everywhere, patches of them.  Got Cheet grass between toes that festered and had to be removed by vet as well, now on antibiodic and pain meds for that. Poor Bogey!  I wonder if I should wait out the skin issue a little longer?  Thank you so much!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When you start doing some reading about allergies and skin issues, you will find that food rarely has much to do with it, despite what many people think. However, we have researched a lot of dog foods in The Food Group here, and the Costco foods are not on our recommended list, although I'm glad to hear of a vet who recommends anything other than the crap he sells in his office, lol.

You might try a grain-free food, and Omega 3 fatty acid supplements in the form of fish oil. (Capsules are best). 500mg evening primrose oil capsules (human supplement) also helps with skin & coats in general.

Also, it's very important that you get pet insurance for Bogey. We have many. many discussions here about this. One illness or accident can run you thousands of dollars, and many of us here have experienced this with our doodles. Once something has been diagnosed, it won;t be covered, so get the insurance now while Bogey is young and healthy and the premiums will be low. You never want to have to make health care decisions for Bogey based on money. 

[Paula]

Great info thanks.  I am a believer in taking really good care of my dog. We had a Golden Retriever for 13 years..he was the best, but never had health issues at all. So we are new to the health costs etc.  Of course regular visits etc.  I will now do research on Pet Insurance. We are in a place in life where our daughters are in College, we are raising our grandson etc..lots of costs.  I will use all of your advice and see how it comes out.  Do you have a particular insurance thats good?  Thank you so much!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Paula -- Use the search box at the top of doodle kisses and do a search on Pet Insurance.  There are some discussions that do some comparisons.  Some of the most popular ones here are Pet Plan, Healthy Paws, VPI, Trupanion, among others.  On I think it is the Healthy Paws site they actually have a comparison right on the site.  The important thing is to get it early.  Unfortunately if your Vet has noted the file already on allergies that is going to be considered a pre-existing condition for which ever insurance you get.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If in fact the vet has made a notation in Bogey's file about allergies, I would talk to him and insist that it be changed, especially since there is no proof or evidence that he has allergies at all. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe a visit to a dermatologist would help explain the problem. Where is the problem on his skin? Can you put up a picture?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Once you get your insurance, please go to a vet dermatology specialist.  In the long run you will spend less and most likely your dog will get quicker relief.  Our Springer developed sores - some burst - all over his torso last June.  We went to our regular vet (who we love) and as he didn't get better, we saw other vets in his practice.  Gordie lost most of the fur on his torso before we went to the specialist.  We were offered skin testing for allergies and then testing for Cushings (due to his symptoms) but we postponed so because the dermatologist's treatments were successful so far.  Our Springer is definitely allergic to  Prednisone which is a common treatment for an allergy flair up. We give him OTC allergy meds and he was also on antibiotics for 60 days because of the infection that had invaded his skin cells.  Good luck with your pup.  Gordie is not allergic to food per se but his skin really does better with grain-free high quality food.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

so it