need help with my dog's symptoms of illness.?

Question

She is a lab/rot mix and recently started acting lazy and tired. She also is losing patches of hair on her chest and she also has a patch missing on the top of her neck that looks like an open sore. She is usually very active running everywhere hunting and playing. I don't want the expenses of going to the vet, but I wondered if anyone knew what she might have and how I could treat her over the counter. I will take her to the vet if need be, but looking for alternative. Closes thing I could find for her symptoms was mange. We lost a cat 1 year ago to these same kind of symptoms because we just asumed he had gotten in a fight with another animal, but now that my dog is showing the same symptoms, I don't want to lose her too. Thanks

Answer 1

Mange can cause hair loss, but usually not lethargic behavior. Other alternatives might be Lyme Disease (carried by ticks), heartworms, distemper, or intestinal parasites. These are just a few I could come up with- the sypmtoms you are describing could be ascribed to many different illnesses.

I think this is a serious enough condition that a visit to the vet is in order. Explain your financial situation to the vet, and I'm sure they will do the best they can to work within your budget. No one likes to talk about money when it comes to caring for a loved member of the family, but it is a practical issue that no doubt the vet has helped clients with before. They can help you narrow down the possibilities based on the dog's vaccination and behavior history, and diseases/parasites that are common in your area.

Knowing what is causing the dog's symptoms will actually save you money in the long run, becuase you're not wasting money on over-the-counter remedies that were cures for a disease the dog didn't actually have. (Example: buying a mange treatment when the dog actually has ringworm would be useless).

Answer 2

This definately sounds like mange although i'm not sure which type. If you are worried about the cost this might be at the vets, just call them and ask questions, tell them your problem, or do some research.
Here is some info:
Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as canine scabies is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites can invade the skin of healthy dogs or puppies and create a variety of skin problems, the most common of which is hair loss and severe itching. Fortunately, there are several good treatments for this parasite and the disease can be easily controlled.

The symptoms are varied but usually include hair loss and severe itching on the elbows, ears, armpits, hocks, chest, and ventral abdomen (belly). The mites prefer to live on areas of the skin that have less hair. As the infection worsens it can spread over the entire body. Small red pustules often develop along with yellow crust on the skin. Because of the severe itching and resultant scratching from the dog, the skin soon becomes traumatized and a variety of sores and infections can develop as a result. The itching seems to be much worse in warm conditions such as indoors or near a stove or heat vent. If the infection goes on untreated or is mistakenly treated as an allergy, the skin may darken due to the constant irritation, and the surrounding lymph nodes may become enlarged.

Good luck!
(i would seriously consult a vet for this condition your dog is in can get worse.)

Answer 3

There are many tgxic agents that can cause these signs from organophosphates (found in old flea control preparations or on farms to control ectoparasites) to strychnine (very unlikely) to eating mouldy substances (like bread from the garbage or off a compost pile) or lots of chocolate. There are also a range of diseases that can cause similar signs such as neurological diseases like meningitis. Many owners never know what the source of a toxin is and it is just a matter of clearing the toxin from the system. In some cases this is relatively easy in others it may not be possible but if your vet is optimistic that is a good sign. Ideally when you get your dog back, keep her in a confined area so she doesn't have access to anything bad. Rest assured, your dog is at the right place. Your vet will continually reassess your dogs condition and I'm sure has run appropriate tests to determine what is going on. Good luck with it all.

Answer 4

Since I am a dog groomer and work with a vet, I see dogs with skin patches often especially with very bad matted hair.
I would suggest that you change her diet. Don't feed her filler food such as Pedigree. I would use Dick Van Pattons Natural Balance food and get her a sample of the Lamb Formula sausage. Cut it in pieces and give it to her gradually. When you get home, I advise you to grill chicken breast, chop them of course, and mix them with brown rice. Do not add too much salt because she will get dehydrated and retain too much water, as a result making her symptoms worst.

When you bath her, I strongly suggest that you use rubber gloves, and apply any Coal Tar Shampoo. Leave it on her for about ten minutes and rinse off.

If you can, try to express her anal glands.

http://www.bullwrinkle.com/index.html?Assets/Health%20Topics/anal.htm~indexmain

If she is somewhat aggressive use a muzzle. It won't hurt her. Expressing the anal glands can also help you determine if she is really sick. If the stool is bloody or thick pasty, seek a vet immediately because may have a disease.

Afterwards:

Use Oatmeal shampoo to rewash her, then use a natural oatmeal or remoisturizing (Do not use human shampoo--too strong) conditioner, you can purchase these at any pet store, such as Petco or PetSmart. Use a cool blow dryer to dry her coat, and keep soft bedding in her sleeping headquarters.

Spoiling your dog for the time being is essential and most of all the most humane. Good luck with your lab/rot mix and many healthy doggie days to go running.

Answer 5

I can't diagnose your dog but no one can either without seeing her. Plus, if it is mange you can't treat it without veterinary care. If you don't want to spend money on finding out what is wrong with your dog from a licensed vet then perhaps you shouldn't have a dog.

Not sure why there is a question if you already lost a pet because you didn't want to spend money at the vet.

Your dog definitely sounds like it needs veterinary care! Get to the vet!

Answer 6

There are many disease that can present themselves like this from Cushings disease even the start of diabetes or a thyroid problem. I am sorry to say that you will not be able to treat this at home and no-one can say for sure what is wrong with your pet but a veterinarian plus diagnostics tests need to be done -which can be anything from a skin scraping for mange(mites) or blood tests or x-rays to see how the internal organs are working.It is worth your while because if you can catch a problem early it really is not going to run you as much money as later plus in some cases you can put your pet on meds and you and them can have a quality life for many more years.

Answer 7

Mange is a tiny little mite that causes all kinds or problems and they spread! so odds are, since most dog/cat diseases are not transferrable, and the mange is - you could have mange. Some mange can transfer to humans, so you REALLY need to have this checked out forl your own health and safety. Think about it - if the cat died a year ago, has the dog been suffering all this time? Run don't walk to your vet.

Answer 8

You should take her to the vet. She may have something as minor as allergies but if she has an open sore she runs the risk of developing a staph infection which could lead to serious sickness. Take her to the vet and let them know you can't spend a great deal of money and they can do minimal testing and help her.

Answer 9

it sounds like your dog has pemphigus.This is a non-contagious skin condition related to an abnormal immune response. If it is pemphigus, no cure exists, however it can be so well controlled through medication, you wouldn't even know the disease was present.if your dog is getting lazy it could be age or heart problems

Answer 10

I have a cat that did that lost hair and wound'nt eat I tood it to the vet they did test on her and come to find out she is allergic to something outside the Vet gave me antibiotic and a cream I kept her inside for 2weeks and she is fine