Dog has recurrent skin infection (please read details and tell me if it sounds familiar at all)?

I have a small dog (part dachsund, part fox terrier). When I take her walking, I put a typical harness on her. It is the right size, and is adjusted properly.





She got a skin infection on her chest 3 months ago. Two pus-filled knots the size of dimes. Took her to vet. He didn't drain them, but did giver her a shot and some antibiotic pills. Gave meds as directed, and infection almost cleared up. When antibiotics ran out, infected area got bad again. I drained the 2 swellings; lots of bloody pus. I then swabbed area with antiseptic, chopped up some raw garlic, put it in a bandage and taped bandage over infected areas. Left it on for a couple of hours, then put different bandage on with only OTC antibiotic ointment on it. Did the same every following day for four days. Infection cleared and area healed. Left a barely noticeable scar. (I know that garlic can be bad for dogs if they eat it.)





3 months of clear skin, and the infection is back. Parasite? Viral infection?

Dog has recurrent skin infection (please read details and tell me if it sounds familiar at all)?
One thing I would do is to have the infections cultured and sensitivities run. You need to find out EXACTLY what kind of infection is there. It may indeed be an autoimmune thing going on. BUT an infection can SEEMINGLY go away for months - only to pop up again. Making it LOOK like a cure, but not really. If the harness (even the brand new one) has come into contact with the area, no amount of washing will get rid of the bacteria. You have to get a new one and make sure it doesn't come into contact with the area. Bacteria transfer is very easy.
Reply:Actually it DOES sound familar to me. On one of the forums i frequent a poster has a dog with a similar condition... Let me see if I can find some linkage





http://www.ourdogsonline.com/ubbthreads....





I know it's a scary thought but it sounds like an immune deficiency. I would serisoulsy consider finding another vet, perhaps one that is comfortable with homeopathic treatments as well as standard treatments if that is what you are comfortable with. Get a new vet. Get some tests done. And go from there. The immune system can be improved with diet and supplements as well as prescribed medications.





Good luck! I hope you get your pup feeling better
Reply:Obviously your home remedy didn't work. When the antibiotics ran out and the infection almost cleared up you should have taken her back. Have the vet do a slide on the infection to see what it is.
Reply:I have a 15 year old Dachshund who has the exact same problem and it is associated with the harness, which he wears only when we walk. He has this skin infection mostly in the winter and when it rains. He used to have to have predisone shots and antibiotics for about 6 months out of the year and he was miserable. He was diagnosed with a skin infection caused by an autoimmune disease. He is allergic to his own skin oils.





I have stopped getting him the shots due to the obvious health issues and adjusted his food to some success. It is also imperative that he is bathed every week to keep the oils in his skin from attacking him and causing these sores. I use Epi soothe by Virbac but any good shampoo really works well as long as I rinse thoroughly.





I feed him a mixture of raw meat, Innova kibble and he gets about 3 tablespoons of flax seed oil to help boost his immune system daily. The change in diet has really improved the situation.





While he is doing better, it is a constant battle to keep him clean and when the sores appear, so he doesn't get a secondary skin infection from the allergic reaction.





We love the little guy dearly and wish he didn't have to go through this, but he does. I hope this information is helpful to you and that you are able to help your little one.
Reply:I THINK YOU NEED TO GO AND SEE A DIFFERENT VET. TALK TO HIM ABOUT THIS CASE. MAY BE YOU NEED TO DO A CULTURE MIC. AND GIVE MEDICATIONS FOR A LONG TERM. MAYBE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS GOING ON AND THE INFECTION IS A SECONDARY REACTION. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT LIKE SKIN BIOPSY IF IT DOESN'T RESOLVE WITH ANTIBIOTICS.