Two Dogs Suddenly Itching With Round Scabs at the Same Time
by Laure
(ADAMS NEW YORK)
Reader Question
HI MY NAME IS LAURE. I HAVE AN OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG AND A COCKE SPANIEL . BOTH AROUND AGES 6AND 7. SUDDENLY THEY BOTH CAME DOWN WITH SEVERE ITCHING AND RASH ES . TOOK TO VETS 3 TIMES . ALL THREE TIMES TREATING THEM FOR ALLERGIES . MY HOME IS VERY CLEAN SO NOT POSSIBLE FOR SCABIES , I GUESS BUT THE DOGS GO OUT SEPERATE AREAS OF YARD MY COCKER GOES OUT FRONT WITH A FENCHED IN AREA AND THE SHEEP DOG GOES OUT BACK YARD. THEY DO NOT STAY OUTSIDE THEY DO THEIR BUSINESS AND BACK IN HOUSE. I HAVE NOTICED THEIR SHIN SPOTS . THEY ARE ROUND AND VERY SCABIE.BUT ALSO ON UNDERBELLY RED RASH WICH GETS REDDER WITH THEM CHEWING ON THEM SELVESWE HAVE BEEN TREATING THEM WITH A MED SHAMPOO FROM OUR VET 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK PLUS CORTIZONE FOR ITCHING AND AN ANTI BIOTIC . BUT IT JUST WONT GO AWAY . THE CIRCULAR SCAB SPOTS ARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR. THEY SEEM TO BE IN SAME AREAS UNDERBELLY CHEST BACK SIDE NEAR TAIL AND UNDER ARM PIT AREA WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS VERY MUCH AND TAKE EXTRA CARE FOR THEM . ITS VERY FUSTRATING TO SEE THEM SUFFER . OUR VET KEEPS TELLING US ITS ALLERGIES . I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND HOW 2 DOGS DIFFERENT BREEDS COME DOWN WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AT SAME TIME. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US ON THIS MATTER . SHOULD WE GO FOR SECOND OPIONION . THEY ALSO DID SKIN SCRAPPINGS. THEY DONT HAVE ANY FLEAS . NEVER HAVE ALWAYS TOOK PRECAUTIONS FOR THAT AS WELL . PLEASE HELP.
Answer from Our Team
When two dogs develop severe itching at the same time, a contagious cause such as sarcoptic mange (scabies), ringworm or fleas should be ruled out before blaming allergies, even in a clean home. Scabies is often missed on skin scrapings, so vets sometimes treat for it as a trial.
Ask your vet about a scabies treatment trial for both dogs, or seek a second opinion. Round scabs can also be a bacterial infection or ringworm, which a culture can rule out.
See itchy skin in dogs and scabies in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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