Skin issue, staph, parasite, or something else?

[Cha Cha]

I always like to go to my vet knowing what questions to ask or what I might expect. So what does this look like? It is ONLY on her lower abdomen area where the hair is thin. (If it were staph wouldn't I notice it all over?) It starts off tiny and red then grows to a quarter inch black circle. It's flat and flush with the skin but she does lick it a lot so I know it itches. It is not fleas, but I wonder if this is the black fly bite that's been going around. Any input would be appreciated. (the really dark smaller spots are her nipples) Once they turn black/brown they are no longer irritating then they fade away.

[Lovetodream88]

It kind of does look like that fly bite people are talking about. Callie sometimes gets the little red bumps but only a few at a time and after a few days they go away. I just figure it's some kind of bite and keep any eye on it. Hope everything is ok and you figure out what it is.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

I always like to go to my vet knowing what questions to ask or what I might expect. So what does this look like? It is ONLY on her lower abdomen area where the hair is thin. (If it were staph wouldn't I notice it all over?) It starts off tiny and red then grows to a quarter inch black circle. It's flat and flush with the skin but she does lick it a lot so I know it itches. It is not fleas, but I wonder if this is the black fly bite that's been going around. Any input would be appreciated. (the really dark smaller spots are her nipples) Once they turn black/brown they are no longer irritating then they fade away.

My late Lizzie used to get Staph Infections from laying in the grass and it presented looking almost the same way your's is. We would always keep on hand the RX SIMPLICEF for her to take.

[mimimomo]

It looks like allergies...daily tummy/bottom wash might help, along w/the paws.

[Cha Cha]

Thank you all. I just wanted some opinions because from my research, unless a skin scrape is done and it can be definitively diagnosed, like staph, then diagnoses is kind of hit and miss on this kind of irritation/dermatitis. Moka and Mylee are experiencing the same thing so unless staph is contagious I am not convinced this is what we are dealing with. My poor girls have been spoiled as they have never had any kind of skin irritations like allergies, fleas, ticks, etc to deal with.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

I always like to go to my vet knowing what questions to ask or what I might expect. So what does this look like? It is ONLY on her lower abdomen area where the hair is thin. (If it were staph wouldn't I notice it all over?) It starts off tiny and red then grows to a quarter inch black circle. It's flat and flush with the skin but she does lick it a lot so I know it itches. It is not fleas, but I wonder if this is the black fly bite that's been going around. Any input would be appreciated. (the really dark smaller spots are her nipples) Once they turn black/brown they are no longer irritating then they fade away.

This is what staph can look like...and no, you wouldn't necessarily see it all over...it can occur in little local areas, or be more diffuse. A skin scraping would confirm, and Simplicef x 30 days is usually the treatment.

The black ring you mention has me wondering a bit about ring worm, but I kind of doubt that's it...? But it is contagious, and you mentioned the other 2 have something too. To diagnose it, you have to grow out a culture for 10-14 days. The treatment is usually Diflucan x 6 weeks, then re-culture.

I hope you can find out what this is...

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

This is what staph can look like...and no, you wouldn't necessarily see it all over...it can occur in little local areas, or be more diffuse. A skin scraping would confirm, and Simplicef x 30 days is usually the treatment.

The black ring you mention has me wondering a bit about ring worm, but I kind of doubt that's it...? But it is contagious, and you mentioned the other 2 have something too. To diagnose it, you have to grow out a culture for 10-14 days. The treatment is usually Diflucan x 6 weeks, then re-culture.

I hope you can find out what this is...

You scared me for a second, but I am confident it is not ring worm. I have tons of experience with that nasty stuff. But yes, they are both somewhat irritated in the same way, however Mylee seems more sensitive to it. Now that you mention it maybe it just started in this area and is spreading outward, as I first noticed it on the inside of the back legs. She'll be going to have it scraped so I know for sure. I don't think it's going away without some help.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

You scared me for a second, but I am confident it is not ring worm. I have tons of experience with that nasty stuff. But yes, they are both somewhat irritated in the same way, however Mylee seems more sensitive to it. Now that you mention it maybe it just started in this area and is spreading outward, as I first noticed it on the inside of the back legs. She'll be going to have it scraped so I know for sure. I don't think it's going away without some help.

Could it be something odd like was your yard sprayed recently, and maybe the chemical is irritating to them...or have you taken any walks into new areas that have different plants?

It's def odd that they both have this . Glad it's not ring worm, UGH! Been there with Marcel!

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Could it be something odd like was your yard sprayed recently, and maybe the chemical is irritating to them...or have you taken any walks into new areas that have different plants?

It's def odd that they both have this . Glad it's not ring worm, UGH! Been there with Marcel!

Yes! It definitely could be. I'll have to ask him if he has recently done anything in the back yard. We did just put down some cedar mulch. We have always used cypress. Could it have a mite in it or could they be sensitive to it? They don't eat it, but they do walk through it often. She's got an appointment to see her vet early next week.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Yes! It definitely could be. I'll have to ask him if he has recently done anything in the back yard. We did just put down some cedar mulch. We have always used cypress. Could it have a mite in it or could they be sensitive to it? They don't eat it, but they do walk through it often. She's got an appointment to see her vet early next week.

Yeah, ya never know with the mulch stuff...whether or not there is something in there, or if it's been treated w/ something. In the meantime, feel free to put on some antibiotic cream and hydrocortisone cream...just rub it in really good so it's not lickable .

[ladyjane]

Looks like staph to me. Antibiotics will clear it right up! I usually opt to get the Convenia injection...one shot and its gone.

[Lisa and Pic]

Aww, poor little thing. Such a good mom getting this taken care of quickly. Sounds like you are getting some good suggestions from those much more knowledgeable than me.

[Cha Cha]

Well, my vet said it is chigger bites. That leads me back to being suspicious of the new mulch we put down. I'm not convinced, really, because I am generally pretty sensitive to chiggers too and I have not been bothered by anything, but she did put Mylee on a round of antibiotics to help speed healing of the spots she's been licking. Moka's spots have all cleared up, and my daughter's dog has not been bothered by anything so go figure.

On a positive note, her bloodwork was perfectly normal. She's cleared for her dental in a couple of weeks. (Mylee is the one that got so sick last Sept., came home, then got pancreatitis and we about lost her.) We're both nervous about the dental, but she's going to use a different anesthesia and for sure an IV during the procedure.

[Maximo]

Very happy to hear the girls' skin issue is clearing and that Mylee's labs were good. I will keep her and you in my thoughts for all to go smoothly with her dental.

Max had similar black spots on his undercarriage a few years ago. Only 3 or 4 spots. He had antibiotics twice in one year for the spots and both times his skin cleared up right away. Then he got the spots a 3rd time, but they went away when we stopped going to the park that has Bermuda grass fields. I think his problem was related to the grass. His spots were not itchy and he didn't lick though.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Well, my vet said it is chigger bites. That leads me back to being suspicious of the new mulch we put down. I'm not convinced, really, because I am generally pretty sensitive to chiggers too and I have not been bothered by anything, but she did put Mylee on a round of antibiotics to help speed healing of the spots she's been licking. Moka's spots have all cleared up, and my daughter's dog has not been bothered by anything so go figure.

On a positive note, her bloodwork was perfectly normal. She's cleared for her dental in a couple of weeks. (Mylee is the one that got so sick last Sept., came home, then got pancreatitis and we about lost her.) We're both nervous about the dental, but she's going to use a different anesthesia and for sure an IV during the procedure.

So glad things are looking better, but weird on the unsure diagnosis...ugh...I'd want to know for sure too.

I will keep Mylee in my thoughts for her dental - I'm sure she will do just wonderfully!