Bumps all over my Boxer

19 15:49:45

Question

Bumps all over his sid My 6 month old Boxer, Bruno, started developing bumps on his skin today at about 2 pm. You can see them because his hair is raised on those areas. It is now 10pm and they are everywhere except his face and underside. He is acting normally, eating, drinking, playing, etc. He has begun to itch them quite often though. I called the vet and she said to give him 25mg of Benadryl now and 25 more mg tomorrow morning. They havent dissapeared or even diminished in quantity. I have done research but am unsure what it is.

Answer
HI Andrew,

There are 3 main things that I would be considered:

1. hives,
2. folliculitis, and
3. pyoderma.

1. What you are describing at the moment with lumps all over his body sounds like he may possibly have hives. This is an allergic reaction that causes these swellings. Probably food allergies, or environmental if he's been in areas of woods he hasn't been before...

I recommend BENADRYL (diphenhydramine) too. The dose that one generally gives is 1mg/lb. Is he about 50lbs? It comes as 25 mg tablets, and if he is 50lbs, then the appropriate dose for a dog of that size would be 2 tablets. This can be repeated every 8 hours for 24-36h. Or use the liquid form.

Here is more about Benadryl:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1303&articleid=1400
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/diphenhydramine-benadryl/page1.aspx

In the meantime, apply cool compresses (a small towel dipped in cold water and wrung out) to the affected areas. An oatmeal bath takes the itch away. Aveeno Oatmeal bath is good.

Here is more about allergic reactions in dogs:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/allergic-reaction-from-an-unknown-cause-in-dogs/pag...

If the swelling is increasing in size or starting to include other areas such as around his face or nose, I suggest you take him to your veterinarian immediately. Please stay with him until it starts to come down because if it starts to cause swelling in the airways this could be serious. If it comes down with the Benadryl, it raises the index of suspicion that this is an allergic reaction. Probably food.

2. If your Boxer does NOT respond to the Benadryl that would suggest that this is not hives, but instead is something called folliculitis, which is an inflammation of the hair follicle. There is even a name for it: "Short Coat Folliculitis."

It is generally caused by a bacterial infection in the hair follicle. These bacteria are just the normal ones that are present on normal skin, but can invade into the hair follicles. Short haired dogs are prone to this. But, this is more rare.

About folliculitis:

http://www.medi-vet.com/Canine-Pyoderma.html
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1593&articleid=423 (mentioned in the chart)

example of Shampoo: http://www.allivet.com/DermaPet-Benzoyl-Peroxide-Plus-Shampoo-p/26935.htm

example of Conditioner: http://www.calvetsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=373

3. Small, red spots on the hairless areas could be pyoderma - which literally means "pus-skin."

Pyoderma is a bacterial skin infection that is seen as red flat or pimple-like lesions usually found in the groin area, and the armpit area. The little red spots may look like flat or like tiny pimples and they are filled with bacteria and pus. When they fill up larger they can look like blisters. But since it's all over him, it might not be Pyoderma.

There are normally small numbers of bacteria living on the skin surface, but when they invade the skin like this it is called pyoderma. If there is just one patch, you may be able to treat it by washing the area with an antibacterial soap. One example would be chlorhexidine scrub (which you can get at pharmacies off the shelf. I recommend washing the small areas of pyoderma 3 times daily for 3 days. Rinse well. Pat dry. Then continue to wash twice daily for 4 more days. Watch VERY closely that there are no more patches coming up.

If this rash is in more than one small area your dog will need to go on oral antibiotics to get it under control. Oral antibiotics for skin infections are often given for 4 weeks in order to resolve the problem.

Here is more information:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/70900.htm
http://www.isabellevets.co.uk/health_advice/dog/info/pyodermadog.htm
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/pyoderma-in-dogs-bacterial-skin-infection-pus-in-th...
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2714

From what you are describing, I am very suspicious that your dog has folliculitis and pyoderma. This is more common in short haired dogs, and particularly in puppies as their immune systems are busy dealing with protecting them from other things, and these bacteria get a chance to invade. A vet would probably put him on the antibiotic cephalexin for 4 weeks, then re-evaluate and determine if he needed another 2 to 4 weeks to completely resolve it.

I would tend to think it is allergies to food and/or fleas though. My own Boxers have had this, and when I changed to an all natural dog food with no corn and no corn glutens, it went away and hasn't returned. Check your local PetSmart for foods and read the ingredients.

Take him to your vet if it doesn't go away within a week.

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