The Dreaded Cone Is Back....Poor Murph

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well just when I thought that I was free of the weekly Vet visits with Murphy, we found a Hot Spot on his tail.  DH spotted it first and told me earlier this week that Murph was lapping his tail.  He's done that before right up at the base by his "butt" and I have spray for that....so for the past few days I've been spraying him down.  What he didn't tell me was that when he spotted him lapping it was half way down his tail....since I had not seen this myself I was "clueless" about what was going on.  Yesterday I did notice it and when I really looked through all that hair on his tail I saw what reminded me of the hot spots my Lab used to get.  Of course with Labs they're much easier to notice.  So this morning we were off to the Vet (yet again) with Murph.  Here's the outcome...

Yes, this poor guy is back in that awful cone.  We resurrected it from his neuter surgery. 

They shaved his beautiful tail...this is what his hot spot looks like.

Well, I felt awful for him.  He was such a good boy at the Vet.  He laid there calmly while they shaved him and picked off all the scabs.  The Vet Tech actually said that she had never considered a Labradoodle for herself because she always thought they were so "hyper", but after getting to know Murph (very well) she now realizes that they can be very calm dogs...hahaha!  I said that I hadn't seen a hot spot with either of them...but our Lab used to have them.  She said "oh yes, its very common in Labs....it's the Lab in Murphy... that's probably why he's susceptible. Holy Doodles, " the Lab in Murphy....what Lab?"  So I'm thinking apparently he has inherited all the bad Lab genes...why didn't he get that Lab cast iron stomach?  She put him on antibiotics and steroids....and the cone. 

So I felt really awful that poor Murph now has to go through all this.  He just got all those Irish bandages off his poor paw pads, and now this.  So my DS, my DGD and I headed to the pet store to get some surprises to cheer him up.  I found some great new gluten free "cookies" and (are you ready) a RABBIT!  The minute I saw this rabbit I knew it was perfect.....especially after all our discussions this week.  So we brought it home...we were all excited.  "Alpha Guinness" decided it must be for him since he's now "king of the world".  Here he is, and doesn't he look proud!

Here's poor Murph saying....get this d@#m thing off me!

Here are the boys guarding the immobilized rabbit.

Here's a close up of the rabbit...it looks strangely similar to the one on F Parker's porch.  Creepy.

So, here's my question.  Has anyone had issues with hot spots?  The Vet explained that it starts often as an environmental allergic response....and it's right at the spot on his tail where he would be sitting.  He has quite a few bumps that clearly look like a skin allergy.  Once they start licking it becomes infected.  I'm thinking back to when we had this with our Lab....things were really different back then.  I think all I did was clean it up and cover it up with a topical antibiotic ointment.  I know I didn't do antibiotics....I don't think I ever even went to the Vet.  Anyway, I just feel awful for my poor guy.  He seems to get all the tough breaks.  The sad thing right now is that he can't rest his head on my lap like he loves to do with the cone.  I'm hoping that he'll only have to wear it for a couple of days.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

When my Lhasa got hot spots I put Sulfadene on it.  That yellow liquid that smells horrible and can be bought over the counter.  The spots healed up quickly.  I never took her to the vet either.  How did dogs survive 30 years ago!!  Poor Murph...the cone, the tail.  Bless his little heart.  I love the rabbit.  It really does look dead!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Poor Murphy! he really does seem to get all the tough breaks.

The fact that the hot spot is right where he would be sitting doesn't have much to do with the initial cause being an environmental allergy. "Environmental" in this case is interchangable with "inhalant"...it isn't a question of contact with an allergen, it's inhaling pollen, dust, molds, etc. that causes the allergic reaction. There are contact allergies (contact dermatitis), but that's not what your vet means when she says it often starts as an environmental allergy. It's that the dog starts to bite or lick some part of his body because it itches, and it itches because of a histamine reaction to an inhaled or ingested allergen. The biting and licking at the spot creates a moist dermatitis, which is what hot spots are; they can then also get infected. this is what happens to JD's feet when he has an allergic flare. The feet are the most common location for this, but the base of the tail is right up there, too.

I recall that Murphy had some allergy symptoms in the spring when the pollen from a certain type of tree or evergreen in your area was very heavy. It's sounding increasingly like he does have seasonal allergies, and I take absolutely no pleasure in saying that, believe me.

When JD had his flares, prior to his immunotherapy, antibiotics and steroids were the treatment of choice. If their use can be limited to less than 4 months of the year, it's usually not a problem.

Here we go with the digestive issues again, though, Jane. Sigh.

Murph, please get better soon! Hugs to you and your mom from JD and me.

 

[Allen and Pamela Kerstetter]

Murphy can even make a cone a fashion statement.

 We have dealt with hot spots or lickanoma on another dog we had in the past and wish there was a holistic approach to it.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

No issues with hot spots. And that was a squirrel on my porch but the "corpse" is similar. Maybe if you can catch them early you can get by with topicals for the hot spots. Anyway I think the clue is keeping things dry, not so easy in this heat and humidity. He should start getting better soon and surely he could have supervised visits for head on lap time : )

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

OMD, F.  You would think I would be able to tell the difference between a squirrel and a rabbit!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Except for the tail issues, he looks great--love the haircut! I hope he feels better really soon--the cone must be a pain in this heat.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I don't have any good information, just wanted to say sorry for Murph and his cone....The rabbit is adorable

[Donna K & Quincy]

Guiness looks pretty pleased with that rabbit, sad to say Murphy does not look nearly as pleased with his cone. Quincy is so lucky he just got by with wearing boxers. Murphy we hope you are all better in no time.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Poor Murphy!! Bandit is having a bad day too, he isn't feeling good from is K9 Advantix dose and I think he may have just got stung by a bee... trying to dig thru his stache to find out:(  He probably would love a bunny about now.. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh no, did someone say common on feet.  Spud has been licking something on his feet which is now red and discolored.  His feet are Always wet. Interesting for sure.

Murphy, I'm so sorry.  But my thoughts are that as rough as this is, last year at this time was so much worse.  This one will pass soon with all the good care you are getting. 

Jane, your floors are so clean and beautiful!  Geesh.  My wood floors are full of mud.  You are inspiring. 

Get well soon, Murphy.  I see another toy in your future.

[cheryl & oliver]

Oh Jane I feel your pain, Oliver gets them everytime we go away.   he  starts licking, and the itching and then he has a hot spot.  We were at the vet two weeks ago for this, and I had antibiotics, a spray, and the dreaded prednisone pills.  Oliver just pees and doesn't even know he is doing it when he on on the prednisone.  Of course he drinks a lot too with it,a nd he is walked umpteen times, but invariably he pees in the house, and when he pees, it is not a little puddle.  He is better now, but he knows that dreaded cone, but doesn't give me any hassle anymore with it, he is used to it.  I will call him to me to tell him it is medicine time and he tuns to let me spray and use this powder, Neo-predef, is the name I think, I call it magic powder, it works so well, but my heart goes out to you and Murph, I hate those hot spots!!!...I tell him he has to wear his hat, and he sits while I put it on.  He eats and drinks and plays and sleeps with it on, doesn't seem to bother him, but I am bruised all over my legs from him bumping in to me...Hugs to all of you....

[Linda and Murphy]

Murph, even with the cone you are incredibly handsome.

We met a labradoodle today that has a hot spot. Gryffindor had been shaved down but I don't know what they are treating it with.