If you don’t want to be semi-grossed out, step away from the computer. This ain’t gonna be pretty, y’all.
I think that my little Bindi-boodles has contracted leprosy. Or the mange. Or possibly a parasitic fungal infection of the epidermis of the canine paw. I’m not sure.
A little over two months ago, I started noticing small, red bumps in some areas around Bindi’s hind paws. After a couple of days, the areas increased in size, and she started losing hair in those areas. At first, I thought it was a rash, so I treated the areas with a gentamicin topical spray that is meant for itchy, rash spots on dogs. And social deviants. And when that didn’t work, I took her to the vet.
The vet instantly thought it was the mange. I was mortified in the same kind of way as when the school nurse tells you that your child has lice. Thankfully, after a scrape test, she found no trace of the mange. So, she sent us home with an antibiotic, some helluva-expensive medicated shampoo made especially for social deviants, and a different brand of dog food. And after two weeks, the redness was still there.
After another trip to the befuddled vet, Bindi is now taking a round of steroids (user!) and another round of antibiotics. However, in four days, she will be finished with her meds, but her sweet, baby paws still look like this:
Up close, personal, and painful-looking:
Actually, the funny thing is, I don’t think that these red spots even bother Bindi. She doesn’t limp, nor does she bite or chew at them. The vet said that they kind of look like burn marks, and I’m wondering if she’s gotten them from playing catch with the tennis ball in the back yard. She always seems to skid on her back paws.
Needless to say, next week I’ll be taking her back to the vet who will undoubtedly order some type of $400 test to determine what’s causing this ailment. Unless of course, you, my faithful readers reader has ever seen or experienced anything like this before with your precious mutt and can give me some advice. Because at this point? It’s a medical mystery, y’all.
If you want to participate in Mystery Theater Thursday, just click here to find out how.
I have no idea! Hmmmm. Precarious Tomato had something similar pop up on her dog’s hind parts, but she’s (PT, that is, not the dog) has a new baby and is probably unavailable for consult right now.
Our dog DID have the mange once and they made us bathe her in the stuff that made her extremely sleepy. She would actually go to sleep standing up. Pretty funny to watch!
Madame Queen’s last blog post..Love/Hate
That is such a mystery! Kaya has a weird outbreak on her back and she appears to be losing hair too! But, her symptoms don’t match the ones in the pictures of Bindi…wish I knew!
I realize she’s not scratching the site, but could it be something minor like spider/mosquito/red ant bites?
Mrs.W’s last blog post..Picture Meme
Your poor Bindi!
OK, I have an idea. Are you using anything on your floors at all? Like polish on those beautiful hardwoods of yours, or the sprinkle stuff that makes your carpets smell better? Or, maybe bug spray? She might have an allergy to something she is coming in contact with on the floor. Maybe.
Sophie’s last blog post..Book Review and Giveaway: Mothering Mother
MQ - so funny! I mean sad, but funny.
Big H - poor sweet, little Kaya! Are you sure that you aren’t secretly pullling the hair from her back while she’s sleeping?
Mrs. W - I’m not sure what it could be! But red ants and mosquitos are not really a problem here in GA in the winter.
Sophie - I do occasionally use sprinkle stuff on the carpet! However, it seems that if that were the issue, it would affect her front paws, too. And we only use a vinegar/water combo on the hardwoods. That’s a very good thought, though. Hmm…I’ll check around the yard too to see if there’s anything out there that might be causing this.
I have no clue. Poor doggie.
Tootsie’s last blog post..Mean Girls Suck
Tell Bindi we hope those paws get better…I bet youre right about the tennis ball thing though.
Lauren’s last blog post..TDB
Tootsie & Lauren - thanks for the well wishes! One of my friends said that it might be ringworm! I’ll have the vet check that out…
poor Bindi!
MAYBE IT’S MRSA!!!! OMG! I CAN’T VISIT THIS SITE ANYMORE! I DON’T WANT TO GET MRSA!!!!
btw… I think the floppy eared fella up there may be due for a nail clip… just sayin’.
badkelly’s last blog post..The Many Faces of Crochet
As a faithful reader, I will take a stab of an diagnosis and say allergies. My vet is great and always offers me home advice instead of high priced meds and when he does give meds they’re cheap. Anyway, give him a teaspoon of benedryl. You can give it to dogs (dont know about cats so noone take that advice). It will NOT hurt. See if it helps it, give it a week and a daily (or 2 dose). I have 5 (I know white trash including the 3 kids) and one has severe allergies. I have to dose her up all the time with the stuff and it does seem to help her.
Leigh @eneral Ramblings’s last blog post..Friday’s Know and Tell Meme
I dunno.
Is there something on the back of Bindi’s head just below the hairline? Because I had great luck with that clue last time.
I’m going to snoop about the house and do the Mystery Theatre this Thursday. Tune in!
AlphaDogOohThatLooksPainfulMa’s last blog post..Of yetis, shags and cakes. All manner of good things have come my way.