dog sores

Question
I have a 13 lb Bichon that has developed 4 small hard blister like sores in various places on his small body. They seem to be quite painful to him, any idea what these may be. He seems to have no other symtoms, please help my vet is out of town.
Connie

Answer
Hi Connie,
Does he have fleas by any chance?  Some dogs are extremely allergic to fleas and just one flea will cause them to have major problems.  Sores such as you describe can appear on their body and they usually bite and scratch at themselves.  Another possibility is that your dog may be allergic to something else. Could he have been stung by a bee or bitten by a spider?  There are so many things it could be, I can only guess.  Until your Vet comes back, you can try giving him a warm bath or warm compresses to see if that eases the pain.  If you see bite marks or if it is swollen like he was stung, you can try giving him some Benadryl, however I strongly stress that you do not give any over the counter meds without speaking to a Veterinarian first.  I will copy and paste the instructions below.  Don't give it unless you are pretty sure that is the problem though.  Please read the instructions carefully.

God bless,
Becky

Benadryl for Dogs or Cats

Benadryl is a brand name for an anti-histamine (diphenhydramine).  Although it is considered fairly safe for use in dogs and cats,  please be aware that it does have potential adverse side effects.  It may interact with other meds that your pet is taking, so do not use it without first consulting your veterinarian. You should also use extreme caution using Benadryl in dogs that have glaucoma, prostatic disease, cardiovascular disease or hyperthyroidism.  

Benadryl is quite effective when used in proper dosages.  
Stops itching
Controls vomiting
Good for motion sickness
Can be used as a mild tranquilizer
Good for snake bites
Useful for vaccination reactions
Good for bee stings and insect bites

Be sure to use only the plain Benadryl formula. Giving benadryl with other combination of meds could be fatal, so be sure to read the box.

Liquid Benadryl is too high in alcohol content to be safely used for animals.  Please use capsule or pill form.  

Dosage every 8 hours
Dogs under 30 lbs and Cats :  10 mg
Dogs 30-50 lbs:  25 mg
Dogs over 50 lbs: 50 mg