cocker spaniel open skin sores

Question
QUESTION: My cocker has small skin sores she gets.  When she gets one on her leg she bits it off and then continues to lick it causing it to become a red open sore.  We have an E-collar on her but her nose is too long and she can still reach it.  I"ve tried wrapping it and she just chews it off.  We've also tried bitter tasting stuff, anti-itch cream, liquid bandaid, hot spot meds.  You name it we've probably tried it.  We even have made an extension on the E-collar so she can't get at it but she just bends it down and reaches the edge of the sore.  Please help.  I'm willing to try anything at this point.

ANSWER: Hi Katy,
I need more information.
Has she seen the vet about this?
How old is she?
What are you feeding her?
Do the sores eventually go away?
Do they come in the same areas?
How long has this been happening?

This dog is obviously in distress and this could be seborrhea.  By just trying to prevent chewing, you're not addressing the real problem.

If this were my own dog, I'd make an appt. with a Veterinary Dermatologist asap.  This is going nowhere good and will get worse.   Open sores indicate infection and she may need an anti-biotic.  Hopefully your vet won't give prednisone (which for some vets is the first thing they reach for).  If that is suggested you CAN say you'd prefer to avoid steroids (there are good alternatives).

Bottom line - your dog is miserable and it's time for some action to address the underlying problem.  This isn't going to go away.  A Dermatologist is your best bet.
Delores

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

QUESTION: Yes she has and they are telling me it's common for cocker's to get these sores and that she is bitting on her leg because she can reach this one.  She is about 10 years old.  We are feeding her purina dry dog food for sensitive systems.  It was previously suggested by our vet to help with her skin allergies.  The sores do eventually go away.  She makes them worse and bigger by licking them. This has been going on for the past couple of years.  We take her in to get depomedral shots to help with her skin allergy. She has bad dry skin and scratches all the time if we don't.  If we could just find a way to keep her from licking the sore it would go away.  The last sore she had was on the same leg just higher up.

Answer
Okay...first of all, Purina kibble is crap and that's part of the problem.  Cockers do NOT do well on kibble.

Change her to canned food and I highly recommend Canidae All Life Stages.  Switch over slowly by adding a bit more of the new food every day.

The shots aren't helping...obviously.  

Cockers have a rare condition called "Vitamin A Responsive
Dermatosis" and skin issues can many times clear up dramatically by giving the following supplements:

Vitamin A - 10,000 IU daily for 6 to 8 weeks
Salmon Oil - 2,000 mg. daily
Vit E - 200 IU daily
Evening Primrose Oil - 1,000 mg. daily

Buy a Vitamin A with NO soy/yeast/wheat/sugar/corn/milk products in it.  Any good health food store should have this.

The food is making things worse..too many carbs, not enough fat.

She also needs weekly bathing with a gentle oatmeal based shampoo and to alleviate itching...a soak in Aveeno Powdered Oatmeal (mix one packet in bathtub in warmish water and keep her in it for 10 minutes).

I still recommend a Dermatologist.  Most vets know squat about skin conditions.
Delores