Prednisone Did Not Help Dog Skin Problem

by Jose Flores
(Bronx, NY)

Reader Question Followed by Suggestions From Our Vet: How to Diagnose Dog Skin Problems?

My dog has dry scab like patches on his back and is always scratching and dragging his rear end on the floor.

He has a very bad odor even after a bath. I took him to the vet and he prescribed antibiotics, prednisone, and a shampoo but none of it worked.

What can this be and how can I treat it?

Suggestion From Our Veterinarian on How to Diagnose and Treat Dog Skin Problems

Hello,

The list of health problems that could be causing your bulldog’s skin problems is quite long and includes conditions like environmental allergies (pollen, mold, dust mites, etc.), food allergies, bacterial infections, fungal infections, external parasites, hormonal disorders, and more.

You did not mention if your veterinarian had run any diagnostic tests before prescribing treatment. If he or she has not already done so, it would be reasonable to start with a skin scraping to look for mites, skin cytology to rule out yeast and bacterial infections, and a fungal culture for ringworm. Allergy testing, blood work, or even a skin biopsy might also be necessary.

Getting to the bottom of skin problems in dogs can be difficult. If you find that a general practice veterinarian is unable to help you, the quickest way to get a diagnosis and start appropriate treatment is often to schedule an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist.

Best of luck,


Jennifer Coates, DVM