Mini schnauzer skin problem - need help to id

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what this skin condition may be? Please see pictures in my next post - need to switch to my laptop.

Vet keeps saying this is an allergy and recommended to give Benadryl. We consulted twice with our vet as there was no change after the first consultation and Benadryl!

Well, we have been giving Benadryl for more than a week now and see no improvement. The dog is not itchy and does not seem uncomfortable but this skin is kind of like screaming help…

Pictures show the skin after the bath, when the problem is the most visible.

We also switched to completely different food as this must be the source… while the vet did not identify or suggest the source…
We used to use the target’s 4 in one shampoo and conditioner but stopped using it today, and started on special pethonesty shampoo (as we don’t know what else to do…) which states it’s anti fungus and soothing.

We have been also using hot spot and itch relief spray by veterinary formula — not sure it’s helping as I don’t have a counter-factual …

We will appreciate any advice.

Will take him back to our vet on Monday but I’m now getting very disappointed with them…

Apologies for the broken English (- my second language)
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[Anonymous]

Can’t see any pictures.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I can't figure out how to import/insert own pictures...

Found this web-site, and the first picture (on top) looks exactly like my dog's condition.
https://www.asgoodasgold.org/food-allergies-in-dogs/

However, my poor dog has it allover his body including legs - poor thing... patches range in size...the biggest ones are 1.5 cm...

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I have been feeding him purina pro focus plan - checken kibble.
stopped that one and switching to the same but salmon kibble. But maybe I should change the brand all-together?

This is an almost-two year old doggie, and the first-timer skin problem for the past two weeks...

I think what I am looking for is suggestions for good food brands for allergic skin conditions...

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

* chicken [of course]

[Anonymous]

Oh poor little guy, hope you are able to find the answer soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh poor little guy, hope you are able to find the answer soon.

Thanks. He is seems fine and playful. Licking his paws lots though... If I did not give him weekly bath (I do rinse him thoroughly and the water is warm, not too hot), I would not know he has these patches that spread like crazy in two weeks. It all started with a few red spots like bites and now it is allover my baby.

[Anonymous]

See if you can get a consult with a dermatologist. Rashes are so hard to diagnose.

[Anonymous]

Figured out how to upload pics... sorry for tmi but this how he looks... we are sending this to our vet too... so far, the vet was super-nice so i am surprised for the advice which included benadryl and that's it...

[Anonymous]

Yes, he is black and white - very rare-color-pattern-mini-schnauzer... in case you were surprised to see these colors...

[Anonymous]

I would go see a dermatologist.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a vet, but I do have decades of experience with terriers and Miniature Schnauzers specifically (breeding, showing, etc, my mom was an AKC Breeder of Merit). Terriers, of which your Schnauzer is one, are notoriously prone to skin problems associated with allergies. Since this sounds like it's sudden onset, I would suspect something environmental, like bug bites or a grass/pollen allergy rather than food - although you are right to suspect a food allergy. For dry food allergies it's usually not the animal protein that's the problem, it's the grain protein used to bind it (corn, rice, potato, pea, etc).

First thing - unless your dog is doing earth dog work and going to ground getting varmints and getting filthy, your dog does not need a weekly bath. Bathing that often dries out the skin and that could be the cause of the irritations you see now. Schnauzers at most need a monthly appointment with a groomer for a Schnauzer cut, and since you aren't showing, the dog does not need to be "stripped" which is how show terriers keep their wire/rough coat.

If cutting down the bathing to once a month doesn't stop the red spots, then I would move to suspect food. I would back the dog down to a limited ingredient dog food, there are several good brands on the market. You may want to go to just a bland diet to start of chicken and white rice you can make in your insta-pot. Authority makes a good canned version that can settle an immune system, or you could ask your vet for a script for prescription food just to get that immune response under control.

Your vet is probably going to move from the daily benadryl suggestion to prescribing a steroid, like prednisone, which will knock that immune response down. It doesn't look severe enough for a shot of Dexamethasone or an Apoquel script but your vet could decide otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go see a dermatologist.

Thanks, we will schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a vet, but I do have decades of experience with terriers and Miniature Schnauzers specifically (breeding, showing, etc, my mom was an AKC Breeder of Merit). Terriers, of which your Schnauzer is one, are notoriously prone to skin problems associated with allergies. Since this sounds like it's sudden onset, I would suspect something environmental, like bug bites or a grass/pollen allergy rather than food - although you are right to suspect a food allergy. For dry food allergies it's usually not the animal protein that's the problem, it's the grain protein used to bind it (corn, rice, potato, pea, etc).

First thing - unless your dog is doing earth dog work and going to ground getting varmints and getting filthy, your dog does not need a weekly bath. Bathing that often dries out the skin and that could be the cause of the irritations you see now. Schnauzers at most need a monthly appointment with a groomer for a Schnauzer cut, and since you aren't showing, the dog does not need to be "stripped" which is how show terriers keep their wire/rough coat.

If cutting down the bathing to once a month doesn't stop the red spots, then I would move to suspect food. I would back the dog down to a limited ingredient dog food, there are several good brands on the market. You may want to go to just a bland diet to start of chicken and white rice you can make in your insta-pot. Authority makes a good canned version that can settle an immune system, or you could ask your vet for a script for prescription food just to get that immune response under control.

Your vet is probably going to move from the daily benadryl suggestion to prescribing a steroid, like prednisone, which will knock that immune response down. It doesn't look severe enough for a shot of Dexamethasone or an Apoquel script but your vet could decide otherwise.

Thanks so much for your reply.
I take him to the dog park once a week - he gets pretty dirty, which is why bathing once a week.
After seeing these flare ups yesterday, I’m considering a break from the park too…
Then we could maybe do bath every two weeks … else he gets quite smelly.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to thank 8:24 poster again for your reply and sharing your experience.

We live next to wooded area and walk there lots. There are areas covered with thick vine bed on the ground - the doggie loves to go in there and jump around - I was thinking that’s risky too because of bugs. I will stop those walks too and stick to pavement.

A few months ago, he had similar breakouts on tummy but very few - like 4 spots and that’s it. It cured with over the counter cortisone based spray so fast.
This time, the spray is not working or maybe it would be much worse without the spray.

Thanks again for your response.

I will give an update when we cure our pup.