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.

[Christine & Camus]

This has been one tough summer.  Has Gavin ever reacted to flea bites? I had a dog that was very allergic to fleas and even though I used flea protection on him he would have a reaction every summer.  From the photos, what Gavin has looks similar to Einstein's reaction to fleas.  The only thing that helped him was the vet gave him a cortisone shot and then had me start him on oral pred a few days later.  He was bathed every week to help, but the shot and oral pred was what gave him relief.

[BG and Gavin]

I did give him a good bath to begin with and I gave him his preventitive a few days early just in case it was a flea issue.  It was my very first thought.  I have gone over him and could not find any fleas, but with all that hair...  Thanks for the advice Christine.  I cut down some of his hair so I can keep a better eye on things.

[Christine & Camus]

I never found any fleas on Einstein either, but the vet said that it was a flea allergy (?) and the treatment worked so we were both relieved.

[Rachel and Ollie]

This makes sense with it being a 5 week month (at least for me...I apply Ollie's the first of every month) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I can't tell a thing from the pictures. But Lynda Kamrath's dog gets poison oak and I think dogs can get any of these "poison" plant rashes altouh they don't often. If it is that he sounds like he's in the resolving stages of it. You can always try a little hydrocortisone cream if you don't let him lick til it's absorbed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no idea, but I'm sorry that Gavin is having this itchy problem. I think I'd have the vet take a look, there may be something they can give you that will help it clear up faster.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Say it ain't so! I don't like to think of Gavin being itching and uncomfortable. Hope he feels better soon. I think a trip to the vet is warranted. I had Poison Ivy for the first time ever this year and nothing over the counter helped. I had to go to the Doctor for better stuff. I am sure there has to be something out there that can clear this up. Good luck!

[Donna K & Quincy]

I don't have any advice just sympathy, I hope Gavin feels better soon and gets some relief from the itching.

[Gail and Bailey]

No advice here either but, I hope Gavin feels better soon!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

No knowledge, no ideas, no advice - but lots of sympathy for you both!!  Hope it all clears up soon... 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh this does look miserable. I know it's a holiday weekend, so seeing your regular vet might be hard. Hate to have it go another day without some relief though. Poor Gavin. I sure hope he gets better soon.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for the sympathy and suggestions thus far.  I will keep you posted.  He has not been too itchy this afternoon (touch wood).  I will address it with my home vet on Tuesday if no improvements.