Boxer puppy hind legs bleeding

Question

Boxer Hind leg   QUESTION: I have a 14 week old boxer puppy that has spots of hair missing from her hind
legs. She also has areas that are bleeding as well as a black wound on the corner
of her hind paw. My vet says that its some sort of mange. But everything I found
online doesn't mention anything about mange causing sores on the dogs paws.
Can you help?

ANSWER: First, a vet that "tells" you it is "some sort" of mange, and does not do a skin scraping and testing it, to diagnose the "mange" and treat it accordingly, is not the vet to continue seeing. Get a new vet.


The picture looks as though the puppy has been biting and chewing his paw.

The black wound on the corner of her paw could be serious, as she could have sliced part of the pad off and is not infected and/or growing back incorrectly. But she's probably chewing at it because it bothers her.

I recommend keeping all those area clean using Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine Gluconate) antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleaner, and get her to a new vet ASAP.

Get a scraping done and testing to diagnose what it is to treat properly.

You don't want any more infection and blood poisoning.

Let me know what it is, please, and how she's doing.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for the quick response. I had to repost this question and
it appears that I left out a portion of my initial question. The vet did perform
a skin scrap of the back of her hind leg but said he didn't find anything unusual after observing it under a microscope. He then gave her an ivermectin injection and mentioned that she might have a allergic to
something we are feeding her. We feed her Pet Promise (petpromiseinc.com)  
Being that tomorrow is Thanksgiving I don't think we'll be able to get to a vet
again until Friday. Should she be ok till then? I guess I'm the most worried
about the black wound on her paw. Thanks for all your help.

ANSWER: Did the vet see the black wound, or did that appear after?

I would use the Hibiclens on the wound until she can see a vet about it. Discourage her from chewing or nipping at the wound, and change her diet.

Take her off the Pet Promise, and until you can get to a pet store to select a new brand- feed her cooked white rice mixed with cooked cut up carrot pieces and small cut up pieces of skinned chicken. This is a chicken and rice home cooked style.

Get some baby electrolyte" Pediloyte or the grocery store generic, in the baby food isle, and feed her that mixed in her water. That is to keep her balanced and hydrated. That medicine can dehydrate her easy.

Also, mix on her home made food mentioned above, some Plain Whole, Unflavored Yogurt.

I always recommend mixing it in their food at least once a week minimum.

Ask your vet about Benydryl too, as it's great for allergies and itching. But she is so young, I'd ask the dosage amount first. I keep it on hand when my girl has a skin outbreak.

Your pup is probably allergic to something in the Pet Promise. I don't know its ingredients, but IF it has corn and corn meals in it- that will be it for sure. Boxers are sensitive to corn and most are allergic, so pick a new puppy food that's all natural and no corn or bi-products.

Look at Blue puppy.dog food and imitate its ingredients in a brand that you can afford. Blue is EXREMELY expensive, but its ingredients are pure and perfect.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I specifically pointed out the black wound while at the vets and he said it was
related to the allergy. I also looked up the ingredients in Pet Promise and its
3rd listed ingredient is corn gluten meal. I don't know if that is the same as
corn meal, but it was the most expensive food recommended by the vet. I
buy it from my grocery store. I don't mind spending the money if Abby is
going to get better. Its cheaper than taking her to the vet often. I'll pick up
some blue puppy tomorrow. Thanks again for your help.

Answer
Corn gluten meal, is exactly what you DON'T want them to have.

That is the exact ingredient YOU DO NOT WANT/

The cost is irrelevant- Iams cost a lot, etc, and is junk.

Blue is the best, but there is others as good that's more inexpensive.