Dogs - Appetite Loss, Extreme Shedding, Bald Spot-Whelp

[Z Car Barbie]

My 2 dogs have been having strange problems lately. I’ve owned dogs for the past 35 years and know of the common problems, but am beginning to get concerned – wondering if there might be some other issue. Here’s what’s going on:

We moved from GA to FL about 18 months ago (they’re both GA dogs). They seemed to adjust to the new FL climate very well. Brittney shed her coat during the Summers, as usual, and Hercules shed just a few hairs, as usual (he’s considered a “non-shedder”). They’ve both been fed in the morning and evening with the same food for the past 16 months, and have always eaten every bite and licked the bowl clean, even with the previous 2 brands of food in the past. Every 2 weeks, I will give them about 1 ounce each of cooked steak or chicken – never caused a problem with bowels or anything. They’ve had their annual vaccinations, and have had absolutely no medical issues. However, over the past 16 days, I starting seeing signs of problems.

Hercules (9 year old Portuguese Water Dog) – 16 days ago, he developed diarrhea, which cleared up about 5 days later. 10 days ago, I bathed him with a more expensive shampoo (Fresh ‘n Clean, Oatmeal ‘n Baking Soda by Lambert Kay), then he started shedding massively – huge lumps of hair have been falling out. This is a “non-shedding dog”. When I’ve brushed him in the past (7 years since I’ve had him), there wasn’t even enough hair to pull out of the brush, but now, I’m having to pull the hair from the brush bristles after 2 strokes and it’s all over the house – coming out in huge clumps (no bald spots – he’s 2 feet wide with hair, so if he does have bald spots, I can’t find them).

Brittney (9 year old Golden Retriever) – She has been doing her usual massive Summer shedding, which is all normal. However, she hasn’t eaten much over the past 10 days. If she does eat, it’s just 2-3 bites, and that’s only because I make her (it’s so sad – I’ve never had to make her eat before and had her since she was 8 weeks old). Just a few minutes ago, I saw a huge bald spot on her butt – it’s a red area with a lump (like a spider bite). She’s never had any bald spots in the past.

I’ve been thinking that they both might be allergic to the Fresh ‘n Clean shampoo. I know I rinsed it off of them thoroughly, so I don’t think residue is the problem. I also took them on a 10-hour trip from Florida to Georgia and Alabama 11 days ago, with another 10-hour trip back to Florida 2 days ago, so I’ve considered that that might have something to do with the problem, but Hercules had major diarrhea and Brittney wasn’t eating regularly prior to the trip and the new shampoo … so, I’m starting to get concerned.

I don’t know what to think anymore. I haven’t seen them scratching or found any fleas on them. If it was the shampoo, I can understand why it’d made my non-shedder shed, but that wouldn’t cause a huge whelp on Brittney’s skin like a spider bite, would it? What about the appetite loss? Brittney stopped eating regularly 3 days before I bathed her with the shampoo, and Hercules had diarrhea several days before the bathing with the Fresh ‘n Clean before I took them on the trip to GA and AL.

I don’t feel that the dog food is the problem because they’ve been eating it for the past 16 months, with no problems. Could it be a combination of an allergic reaction to the shampoo AND they both have fleas, but just aren’t scratching? That still doesn’t explain the appetite loss though. Please give me your thoughts. I'm worried about my babies!

[Leo]

The red spot sounds like a hot spot which usually needs to be seen by the vet for treatment especially if this is the first time for her (I would not buy into ANY home remedies you may get here, because prolonging treatment of a hot spot can make it worse on the animal).

I would rinse both of your pets off really really well... it sounds like the shampoo caused a problem with their skin which would explain the massive shedding and bald spots (the hot spot could be because of the allergic reaction to the shampoo, but even rinsing her off will not make it go away she still needs to see the vet).

I do not think the food/diarrhea issue is related. Did they drink out of any streams, rivers, lakes before you went on your trip or during your trip? It is quite possible they have a parasite or even worms of some sort.. I would also think and look for anything they could have possibly gotten into. The only way the shampoo is causing the issue would be if it contained something toxic that was absorbed through their skin, which if it's a pet shampoo I would think they would be more careful with which chemicals they use.

If your dogs have had diarrhea/lack of appetite, for more than 10 days it is time to get them to the vet to be seen. Call the vet explain everything you have just explained here... and take them in... I think they need to be seen... if it were my animals I would think over 10 days of waiting it out with diarrhea and not eating would be enough to get me to bring them in*. You could actually be getting to a critical point with your pets, where it goes from something easily fixed to them fighting for your pets lives.... waiting any longer with those symptoms (1 with diarrhea and 1 not eating) is not recommended. Make sure you get a Fecal exam done when you take them in so they can check for parasites.

If you had diarrhea or didn't want to eat for over 10 days and were also loosing your hair in massive amounts would you go to the doctor??

[Z Car Barbie]

What exactly is a "hot spot"? I've had 10 dogs over the past 35 years, and none had a bald spot with redness and a lump, so I'm not familiar with the seriousness of this type of condition. Her skin is lumped up - looks just like a spider bite. Also, what would a vet give a dog to treat a Hot Spot?

Yeah, I was thinking the shampoo might be playing a part in their hair and skin issues. As far as drinking anything other than the triple-filtered water in their bowls, I always keep them on leashes when they're outside. They could've drunk out of the toilets during our trip to GA & FL though, but there were no chemicals in the toilets (I made sure to ask in each house we stayed with my family in case someone left the lid up).

No, it hasn't been 10 days that they've had diarrhea or not eaten. I would never go that long without taking them to a vet if that was the case. They’re my children – human beings to me. Hercules is the one who had diarrhea - lasted about 5 days, but he's fine now. I've been checking their poop and saw no worms, but that doesn't mean there's no parasites.

Hercules is eating, but Brittney only eats when I demand her to do so - only eating 2-3 bites of dog food. She won’t hesitate to eat people food though. I buried 3 French Fries under her dog food, and she dug them out - ate only the fries. They eat about 1 ounce of people food every 2 weeks - any more than that, they develop diarrhea cuz they're not used to it, so that's their limit. For Brittney to replace 3 fries with 2 cups of dog food is quite unusual though. Maybe she’s just tired of the dog food. I’ll buy the brand I fed them 17 months ago, and see if that helps.

I’ve spent thousands of dollars in vet bills over the past 9 years on them – only to be told there’s nothing wrong. That’s why I’m trying to avoid the vet right now. If the problems continue for another 4 days (a consistent 9 days total), then I’ll take them in. I’m having to pay for law school right now, so I really don’t have another $400 for a vet to tell me there’s nothing wrong with them again.

Thanks for your input! It did help! I'll try the home remedies for the next 4 days and keep a close eye on them.

[Leo]

Do the spots look similar to the ones pictured in this article? Dog Hot Spots Article From AllergicPet.com
Two other articles on hot spots:One Two

Quote: I’ve spent thousands of dollars in vet bills over the past 9 years on them – only to be told there’s nothing wrong. That’s why I’m trying to avoid the vet right now. If the problems continue for another 4 days (a consistent 9 days total), then I’ll take them in. I’m having to pay for law school right now, so I really don’t have another $400 for a vet to tell me there’s nothing wrong with them again.

A phone call to the vet will be free, ask to speak with the vet or one of the vet assistants/tecs. They should be able to somewhat assist you over the phone and might be able to tell you what to do at home until you can afford to bring them in.... They are far more reliable that home remedies given out by people over the internet, and can give you more accurate dosage information plus they know their past medical history.
I would call my vet over stuff like this... If they think I need to come in they will have me come in, but more times than not they just tell me what to do at home. My vets office is not one that tries to get you to come in for nothing and they won't do unnecessary procedures on my pet, they are in it to help animals not the money... If your vet is not like this I suggest looking for a different vet.... good vets do exist.

You should be able to just bring in their fecal matter to be tested... most vets charge between $10 and 25 per fecal test... so that will be at the most $50 to test both of them... I think it would be worth it to test, and rule out worms, parasites... You would not be able to see parasites and with most worm cycles unless you are closely examining their fecal matter everyday you might not be able to see them... also some worms are too small to be seen unless on a slide under a microscope.

[Dragonrain]

I hope your doggie babies feel better soon!

If you look up hot spots and you think that's what your babies have, take them to the vet right away. I know it can get expensive, but there really is no definate at home cure for hot spots, it's caused by bacteria and if left untreated it can get very bad! I've see dogs with horrable hot spots all over them and the poor things looked so uncomfortable.

Good luck!

[Z Car Barbie]

Thank you Ally and Michelle! Gosh, that picture of the hot spot looks painful. I really think Brittney has a spider bite – no lesion, and she’s not trying to lick it or anything.

You must have an established business relationship with your vet. I wish I did, but when a vet sees my profession on the forms for my dogs, it’s an automatic, “Don’t do or say anything, or she might sue us. Make her come in so we can see the dogs and try to avoid a malpractice suit”. I’ve even been turned down by 2 groomers just because I’m in the legal profession. So, that’s my dilemma. I either don’t get service at all or have to pay out the blow-hole just to have them tell me nothing is wrong. Believe it or not, there’s nothing I can do about it legally. I’d actually get better service if I was a cashier at McDonald’s. LOL!

Anyway, I think I'll do what you suggested and have their fecal sample tested (I'll get urine samples also), and that will hopefully rule out worms, parasites and bladder and kidney infections. I’m wondering if they’ll even do that without seeing my dogs though and charging me an office visit. I’ll try it and see what happens. Thanks for your input!

[Riddick]

Do you mind me asking what brand of food you are feeding?

I only ask this because my basset/lab mix ate Solid Gold Hund N Flocken for 2 years straight with absolutely no problems, then one day he had explosive diaherria, constant puking and was itching like mad, this lasted for two days and then I took him to the vet. It turns out SG changed the formulas of their food and didn't tell anybody about it and my bassador ended up being extremely allergic to their new formula...

[HappyDancer]

poor babies...my only advice would be to go to a vets...I know its what everyone else says, but its all the advice I have...sorry...but I do hope your dogs get better soon...keep us informed on how they are doing...and I will send ya some get well soon vibes