A Spreading Crusty Rash on an Older Lab
by A reader
A crusting rash that spreads from the belly to the ears, chin, nose and around the eyes, and doesn't respond to antibiotics, needs a more specific diagnosis. Possibilities include an autoimmune skin disease such as pemphigus, a deep or unusual fungal or bacterial infection, a drug reaction, and, in an older dog, a type of skin lymphoma that starts in the skin and can look like a stubborn rash.
The test that usually gives the answer is a skin biopsy, taken from fresh crusted areas, along with a culture. Please ask about this at your upcoming visit, and ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist if the biopsy isn't done or doesn't give a clear answer.
Before the visit, try not to remove crusts from a few fresh areas, because the crusts themselves are useful for testing. Seek care sooner if her legs swell again, she stops eating, gets a fever, or the area around her eyes becomes swollen or painful. Check with your vet that the antihistamine is safe for her.
See dog skin conditions and skin lesions and scabs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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