Hello,
Primary issue: Increased itching/ biting at his skin in various areas throughout his body since 6/28. Have tried several baths and tried different shampoos. Previously skin issues were soothed by baths and now baths aren’t helping. Also around that time (when increased itching started) he was stepping on to the seat in the car and his front L leg slipped off He was ok afterwards (walking normally) and has been walking and running to chase balls without any issues since so doesn’t appear to have an orthopedic injury from that. He was biting a lot at his “armpit” area on the L front leg. That area became red and hot and he was sensitive to touch there. Within the last 2 weeks I’ve been putting a CBD salve on that area a few times a day. The redness in that area is less; it is still hotter than other areas in his body and he does still have some sensitivity to touch there, but it’s less since I’ve been putting the CBD salve on.
Secondary issues:
Increase muscle tension along spine / muscle flickering at times with brushing and/ or touch
When I touch certain areas of his body (mainly around his neck, shoulders), he’s also having more of a scratch reflex than he had prior to when all the symptoms started in late June.
Prior to starting the CBD salve, I took him to the vet because in addition to the itching he was also having pain with touch along his L and R sides of his ribcage and I was really concerned about what was going on. I was also feeling something in that area that I thought could be a mass so I wanted to get it checked out. The vet told me he was itching due to not being on a conventional flea and tick meds (I’ve been using essential oils topically) and didn’t assess the pain he was having at all. She recommended Apoquel. I’ve been giving him the apoquel because it does help decrease the itching, but I feel really frustrated because my main concern about the pain he was having wasn't addressed and i’m not sure where to go now.
I really don’t feel that this is a skin issue at the root. I understand his skin is involved because he’s itchy, but what I’m more concerned about is the area that seems painful and inflamed and wondering if what’s going on there is putting additional stress on his body and causing increased irritation in his system overall therefore causing more itching.
For the past few weeks I’ve been focused on putting the CBD salve on the areas that seemed painful to him. That has helped and he’s less painful in areas along his ribcage now. Next week I have an appointment with a vet specializing in internal medicine. That appointment was set up a while ago as a consult for further assessment of the clear nasal drainage that’s been going on since April and didn’t respond to other treatments. When I called the vet’s office to let them know the more acute symptoms Jude was having (the heat and inflammation in area of his L chest/ “armpit”, sensitivity to touch in that area, increased itching, and the potential mass I’m feeling) they said they may not be able to assess that since that’s not the vet’s speciality. I was really surprised at that response and now I don’t know what to do.
Jude gets stressed with vet appointments so I don’t want to put him through multiple vet appointments and I don’t want to take him to an appointment for a chronic issue when a more acute and pressing issue may be overlooked.
I want to advocate for him in getting the care he needs, but I don’t know where to turn. The vet I took him to a few weeks ago dismissed my concerns about pain. Now I’ve found out that the specialist may not be the right vet to assess it or may not even be willing to look at it, so I”m not sure whether to go through with that appointment or not. Other vet clinics in the area don’t have great reviews and I’ve even looked outside of this area and haven’t been able to find anyone else I feel comfortable taking him to. Also, I feel like I need to get this assessed soon rather than waiting to establish care somewhere new.
Is there a better way to navigate this situation?
Are there questions I can ask or requests I can make of the vet specialist to make sure Jude gets the care he needs?
Is there anything I should request as far as diagnostic testing, etc to determine what may be causing the excessive itching that seemed to start all of a sudden?
- My dog’s name is Jude, age 10, male
- Neutered
- German Shepherd
- 80 lbs
- BEAM - this is my first post, so I’m not sure if this BEAM is rated on a numerical scale, but all BEAM areas are good at this time although I can tell sometimes he is exasperated by the itching and his energy and mood and can be affected by that. But other times he is playful when outside, loves to go on walks, eating well, etc.
- Diet - currently part commercial (dry and canned) with some home cooking and working on transitioning to all home cooked
- I adopted him at age 9. He had a series of vaccinations at the shelter (rabies, parvo, I think lepto as well). No vaccinations since
- See info below on the problem / health concerns
- I’ve noticed worse with emotional upset (mainly he itches more with stress or even when he senses stress in me).
- Although I don’t know his full history since I adopted him as a senior and history was unknown prior to that, he was diagnosed with pyoderma while at the shelter, but that had resolved and his skin completely healed with medicated baths and diet change once I adopted him.
Primary issue: Increased itching/ biting at his skin in various areas throughout his body since 6/28. Have tried several baths and tried different shampoos. Previously skin issues were soothed by baths and now baths aren’t helping. Also around that time (when increased itching started) he was stepping on to the seat in the car and his front L leg slipped off He was ok afterwards (walking normally) and has been walking and running to chase balls without any issues since so doesn’t appear to have an orthopedic injury from that. He was biting a lot at his “armpit” area on the L front leg. That area became red and hot and he was sensitive to touch there. Within the last 2 weeks I’ve been putting a CBD salve on that area a few times a day. The redness in that area is less; it is still hotter than other areas in his body and he does still have some sensitivity to touch there, but it’s less since I’ve been putting the CBD salve on.
Secondary issues:
Increase muscle tension along spine / muscle flickering at times with brushing and/ or touch
When I touch certain areas of his body (mainly around his neck, shoulders), he’s also having more of a scratch reflex than he had prior to when all the symptoms started in late June.
Prior to starting the CBD salve, I took him to the vet because in addition to the itching he was also having pain with touch along his L and R sides of his ribcage and I was really concerned about what was going on. I was also feeling something in that area that I thought could be a mass so I wanted to get it checked out. The vet told me he was itching due to not being on a conventional flea and tick meds (I’ve been using essential oils topically) and didn’t assess the pain he was having at all. She recommended Apoquel. I’ve been giving him the apoquel because it does help decrease the itching, but I feel really frustrated because my main concern about the pain he was having wasn't addressed and i’m not sure where to go now.
I really don’t feel that this is a skin issue at the root. I understand his skin is involved because he’s itchy, but what I’m more concerned about is the area that seems painful and inflamed and wondering if what’s going on there is putting additional stress on his body and causing increased irritation in his system overall therefore causing more itching.
For the past few weeks I’ve been focused on putting the CBD salve on the areas that seemed painful to him. That has helped and he’s less painful in areas along his ribcage now. Next week I have an appointment with a vet specializing in internal medicine. That appointment was set up a while ago as a consult for further assessment of the clear nasal drainage that’s been going on since April and didn’t respond to other treatments. When I called the vet’s office to let them know the more acute symptoms Jude was having (the heat and inflammation in area of his L chest/ “armpit”, sensitivity to touch in that area, increased itching, and the potential mass I’m feeling) they said they may not be able to assess that since that’s not the vet’s speciality. I was really surprised at that response and now I don’t know what to do.
Jude gets stressed with vet appointments so I don’t want to put him through multiple vet appointments and I don’t want to take him to an appointment for a chronic issue when a more acute and pressing issue may be overlooked.
I want to advocate for him in getting the care he needs, but I don’t know where to turn. The vet I took him to a few weeks ago dismissed my concerns about pain. Now I’ve found out that the specialist may not be the right vet to assess it or may not even be willing to look at it, so I”m not sure whether to go through with that appointment or not. Other vet clinics in the area don’t have great reviews and I’ve even looked outside of this area and haven’t been able to find anyone else I feel comfortable taking him to. Also, I feel like I need to get this assessed soon rather than waiting to establish care somewhere new.
Is there a better way to navigate this situation?
Are there questions I can ask or requests I can make of the vet specialist to make sure Jude gets the care he needs?
Is there anything I should request as far as diagnostic testing, etc to determine what may be causing the excessive itching that seemed to start all of a sudden?
