Is my puppy sicker than the vet thinks? Could the vet's diagnosis be wrong?

Question

Ok, I have a four month old black lab/blue tick hound mix.

About two weeks ago, I noticed he had a bump on his head and a little open sore. Since my puppy is totally hyper and clumsy (a bad combination), he tends to run into a lot of things... usually head on. I thought he must have hit the corner of the coffee table or something.

Over the period of the two weeks, the bump went away. But the sore got worse, better, worse, etc. The sore would bleed, ooze, crust over, then the cycle would start over. Many times my puppy would make it worse by scatching at it.

So two days ago, I noticed the sore looked worse then ever. So I made an appointment with the vet. An hour or two before the appointment, I was rubbing my puppy's tummy when I noticed a drip of yellow/green puss looking substance coming out of his wee-wee hole. I freaked!

The vet says that my dog has ringworm and the puss substance is because my dog is not cleaning himself properly.

Do you think the vet is correct?
T

The reason I am asking is because the sore doesn't look like any ringworm I have ever seen. Plus, I live in the country where there are a lot of spiders and other critters. My puppy is not shy about sticking his head in small, dark areas and I worry that he might have gotten bitten by something.

What do you all think? Should I get second opinion?

This is my first dog and I am unfamiliar as to the sickness/injuries a dog might get. Have any of you dog owners experienced anything like this with your puppies? Do you think the vet is right and I am worring for nothing?

Thanks for your help...
T.

Hi Harley!

This forum has helped me in many ways since I have gotten my puppy. There seems to be many people on here who are smart and know what they are talking about when it comes to dogs. The last vet trip cost me $300.00. If the vet is right, and the people on the Dog Q&A agree with his diagnosis, then I will have saved $300.00 plus money lost by taking off work. If the people on this forum think I should see another (new) vet for a second diagnosis, then I will heed their advice and spend the money again for the health and happiness of my puppy.
:)

Thanks...
T.

Hi all...

The vet took a sample of skin to check for ringworm, but the results will take a week to come back. The vet did not use a black light to verify.

He did give us some cream though (I guess it is antifungal) to put on the wound once a day for the possible "ringworm". That is all the vet gave us. He did not issue us any antibiotics or anything.

Also, something I forgot to mention. My puppy seems to be drinking a lot. Like he constantly thirsty. Plus, he is not sleeping as well as he use to. He no longer sleeps the whole night. And he has had two pee-pee accidents on my rug in the last three days. This is also unusual.

I am about to call a new vet. Now that I have written it out here, I am even more worried...

:(

Hi Andi B...

You are starting to make me feel better.

The sore on my puppies head is about the size of a dime and it is directly on top of his head. When it bleeds, it bleeds bright red. When it oozes, it is clear. There doesn't seem to be an infection, no puss or anything. It looks more like a circular wound that has had the scab picked off too many times.

It does not smell and there is no green/yellow substance there. However, the scab is very bumpy/bubbily looking. Also, there seems to be little scabs forming around the one major sore... Also bumpy/bubbly looking.

For the last two weeks, I have been petting my pupply, hugging him and holding him, kissing his head, everything. So does my husband. Neither of us have gotten ringworm.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help!

T.

Hi Dawn...

So what diagnosis did the vet give for your puppies skin problems? It sound very close to the problem my puppy is having?

Thanks, T.

Answer 1

The puppies pee-pee is okay. That's icky for sure but it's normal.

It doesn't sound like ringworm on his head. Ringworm doesn't make bumps like that. It sounds like a cyst. Can you give a general idea of the dimensions of the area? I can help you further with a little more info. Like (and I hate to sound gross), but does it smell bad? Has it left a crater when it drained? Is the drainage a mixture of greenish - yellow puss AND blood?

Have you tried Neosporine? It sounds like he needs and antibacterial ointment (even if it was an insect bite) and you can purchase a "cone" to put around his neck to keep him from scratching it. The scratching seems to be impeding the healing process.

Keep the wound clean with peroxide, apply the ointment, and keep him from scratching it (or cone him), don't cover the wound. We need it to dry up at this point.

If you can answer the other questions I had, we can diagnose a little better.

Hi, again. I tried to reply via email but it wouldn't let me. I am sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that what your puppy has is poison ivy or poison oak. You can purchase a soap called Technu from any drugstore to get rid of it. Keep the area clean, don't cover it. It'll take a week or two to see results. If you email me again, I'll give you more of an expaination as to why I am so certain. GOOD LUCK TO YA !!

Answer 2

I have 2- 5 month old black labs, they too had skin issues. Sores that crusted over, not feeling well, blisters, and eventually hair lose. At first, the vet told me that it's just guess work that most vet's do, unless they run many expensive test. Most people don't have thousands or even hundreds to spend on vet bills. It took a visit or two, before the vet gave the right diagnoses. Now, we have the problem under control. You can always take your dog to another vet, but they too, will take at guess a the problem. If you have the money to spend on all the tests, then tell the vet to do whatever tests needed.

Answer 3

Did the vet check for ringworm? Did the vet use a blacklight? Could there possibly be a fly larvae in this wound? This is usually a very round wound, looks like a puncture wound, and oozes, especially when the worm is moving or trying to evacuate. Is the dog on any medication?

The discharge could very well be normal, as normal discharge can happen. If you doubt your vet, try getting another view. You need to trust your vet. Search for pictures of ringworm on dogs. Getting a visual and comparing the two might help.

Answer 4

I maybe consider a second opinion,,, my dog had something like that about 2 weeks ago, I noticed a sore on his cheek that at first I thought it was a ringworm but then it looked like yellow color discharge coming from it, and around the area was also bumpy and it would be red from dried blood.... i took my dog into his vet and I was told it was a hot spot and he was given a shot for it .... now over the last week or two since he has gone to the vet it has dried out some, but its still bumpy and he goes to scratch at it, it then bleeds dries over, it looks better, then he does it again, and same they the cycle starts over, it looks better, he scratches it, it bleeds, very very little ooze still comes out,,, i called my vet again and he said that he really needs to stop the scratching b/c the area needs to dry out and that i may need to put a cone on him,, but i think i am going to just try taping a sock to his foot and see how that works,,,, but good luck and i hope this may be a little help

Answer 5

Well the sore on his head sounds like an abscess. What did the vet do for it? It needs to be cut open, cleaned and given antibiotics. You also have to keep it open and not scab over to let it drain and dry up.(if it is an abscess) If he is drinking more than usual and having accidents he may have a urinary infection. May try another vet if not comfortable with what they told you the first time or ask them to explain so you can understand easier. Good luck but take him to a vet!!

Answer 6

No. He should not have ignored the injury on his head or the puss coming from his "wee-wee hole". Get him to another vet immediately. Sounds like infection is going on in his body. Could be a lot of different types but get a vet that knows what he is doing. Good luck

Answer 7

I'm a believer in trusting your "gut" instincts, and yours seem to be telling you that something is amiss that is more serious than ringworm; from your description, I'd agree - I've never heard of ringworm causing discharge from the urinary tract. If this were my pet, I would definitely seek a second opinion. Good luck, and I hope he is better soon!

Answer 8

Sounds more like an infection on his head, but I have seen ringworm look different than expected. Try treating it like ringworm and see if it gets better.

MAle dogs ALWAYS have discharge from the penis sheath. Gross, YES, but a fact of life.

Answer 9

If you're not comfortable with the vet's diagnosis, follow your instincts and get a second opinion. It may cost you more money but it's worth it for your dog's health and your own piece of mind. Good luck!

Answer 10

Take him to another vet and get a second opinion. I hope the lil guy gets better soon :)
Cheers !