Could Recurring Elbow Sores Be Mange or a Staph Infection?
by rosemary
(brisbane australia)
After much insistence - local council paid for visit to vet..the vet that the pund used- they noticed she had area looked like ringworm ? staph so they shaved it.. said she needed blood tests and skin scarapings but council wouldnt pay for that and they were sure it was staph so gave her injection and antibiotics. She also has crusting callouses which form spots and new small lumps tat bleed slightly ( she still gets these they form crust and bleed slightly and heal over)
She then had another different antibiotic when i insisted she see my vet. My vet took skin scraping first and checked under microscope first. But every time I ask my vetwhy the elbows are still developing sores he brushes it off saying they are normal callouses. I am worried she may have mange or some other ondition.
She has never been a good eater and occasionally vomits.
She was desexed 3 weeks ago and since then has also had a personality change - absolutely terrified of noise ( a paper bag rustling etc she
Thank you for giving her a home after such a rough start. It's good that your vet did a skin scraping. Sore, crusty spots on the elbows are often pressure calluses, which are common in short-coated, muscular dogs that lie on hard floors. Calluses can crack, bleed slightly and get infected, then heal and recur. Soft bedding and padded elbow sleeves can help.
Mange, ringworm and bacterial (staph) infection are all reasonable things to rule out, and a skin scraping is a good start. Sarcoptic mange is easily missed on scrapings, and it's usually very itchy, so mention any scratching. If the sores keep coming back, ask your vet about a fungal culture or a skin biopsy, or a referral to a veterinary dermatologist.
Her fear of noises and other dogs after her surgery and her pound experience is worth discussing too. Pain can affect behavior, and a vet or a veterinary behaviorist can help with fear, so mention it along with her poor appetite and vomiting. Read more about mange and similar skin problems.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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