Rash on belly and sores in between toes

nikelow

Hello to all fellow Bull Terrier owners. I have a miniature English Bull Terrier bitch who is now 9 years old. Lately she has had what I can only explain as an heat rash on her belly which is red looking with a bit of hair loss. I have tried Unction sulphur cream but this just makes her belly sweat if that makes sense? She also has sores in between her toes, which are like friction sores that are filled with bllod and break when I press them.....again I have applied Unction to these.....Please any ideas off anyone...I live in the U.K.

nikelow

filled with blood, not bllod!

Boyda

Did both of these symptoms pop up at the same time or did she have the belly rash first, then the sore toes?

nikelow

I think the belly rash first as she always curls up and gets really hot.....its like a sweat rash if that makes sense? she has never been a good walker and her feet have always been a cause of concern with me with her long nails, toes pointing in etc....the sores between her toes are recent though

BulliesofNC

Sounds like an allergy problem. What food do you have her on?

nikelow

The same as she has been on for ages....Beta senior

nikelow

Purina Beta senior 7+, turkey and rice....I have also a staffy bull terrier and he is on this food and no problem with him....I have also tried Nu-Stock sulphur cream

BulliesofNC

My guess would be that due to her age (and possibly added stress) her immune system may have weakened leaving her a bit more susceptible to allergies which normally would have never effected her. Have you thought about providing her a supplement to boost her immune system or changed her diet?
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1818/bull-terrier-immunity-problems#Item_6

nikelow

Purina Beta senior 7+, turkey and rice....I have also a staffy bull terrier and he is on this food and no problem with him....I have also tried Nu-Stock sulphur cream....they are both on cod liver oil vitamins and joint care tablets

BulliesofNC

Here's a good discussion on this subject: http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/10/skin-allergies-with-bull-terriers/p1

nikelow

Can you tell me how her age would add to her being stressed?

Boyda

She might have a yeast infection which can explain both her belly rash and feet, but I think she has a bacterial infection which also can explain the rash and feet. I'm pretty positive her feet have a furuncle, which is mostly common in breeds such as ours, with short fur in between the toes. She might need to be out on an antibotic, since I personally don't think it's her food if she's been on it for a while. I would also suggest adding some coconut oil to her mix, you can apply it topically or let her lick it off a spoon, it works great as an anti fungal/antibacterial aid but is very gentle on the skin.

BulliesofNC

@nikelow - It's not her age that adds to her stress. As mentioned earlier it could have something to do with some form of "added stress" in her life. Her age comes into play with when her immune system isn't as strong as it once was. This may seem like common sense if you compare it to a person. It's no mystery that as we get older our immune system isn't as strong as it once was. Our metabolism slows down. The same goes for dogs. When I mentioned her age combined with the possibility of some form "added stress" this combination can effect the immune system thus enhancing the chances of allergies or yeast infections as Boyda mentions. An example would be having a perfectly healthy Bull Terrier be placed at a shelter or Vets office for a prolonged period of time where it was only natural for the dog to sustain some form of stress and anxiety being in a unfamiliar place away from their owner with barking dogs around them while they sit cooped up in a small kennel or crate for hours on end. Stress is the number one cause of immunity problems and even OCD. Obviously an older dog that's system may not be as strong as it once was could in fact project health issues from a situation as I've mentioned. I've heard of many occasions where allergies and other issues sparked up after people returned from a vacation and picked their dog up from being kenneled.
In the event your dealing with a yeast infection normally the pads with a yellowish color, paws will be show bare spots, redness between the toes, and often smell like foul corn chips. 

nikelow

So what do you think i should do???.......a while back she had a course of antibiotics off the vet as her back feet became infected with like a green liquid / puss on her ankles, that when i squeezed it shot out like a waterfall.........the vet thought that she had picked up some sort of allergic reaction to grass maybe as there was no foreign object in her feet....that course lasted for about 4 months and cost me a lot of money, although id did clear up....her front toes are not the same as there is no green liquid, just red blood that comes out of these purple looking sore/skin....her feet have always smelt like popcorn as does the staffy dog i have, and his feet are fine?

nikelow

Boyda you seem to be right....i have looked at pics of furuncles and they seem similar on my dog but not as extreme as the pics...so do i bath in salt water, add coconut to her mix, and change her feed to no grain food????

nikelow

Do you also recommend over the counter treatment before i need to go to the vets....the vets dont deal specifically with an one breed so they try a broad range of treatment that may not work, do you agree??

Boyda

I would wash her feet daily with an antibacterial hand soap you can easy find in a store and let dry completely, followed by rubbing coconut oil on her feet and belly rash. Make sure you get cold pressed or unrefined coconut oil, the refined oil has been heat treated and most of the good stuff destroyed. I would also switch up her diet to grain free, if it is a yeast infection gone crazy that will help fix it. When I was younger, our family dog had similar issues we tried everything the vet recommended, but the underlaying cause was actually cancer. I don't want to scare you, but I would go to a vet if it doesn't show improvements after you applied all the changes. Hopefully this helps and you keep me in the loop on her progress!

nikelow

i have washed her feet in warm salt water and have applied some unction sulphur cream....have ordered coconut oil to put in her feed and also will change her food....she got no lumps and looks really healthy, so i dont think its anything more than a breakout of the yeast infection....the vets will be the next call after these changes

thanks again

philsergeant

The green stuff troubles me, but the yeast/ reddish color is typical... 9 is not really that old, our last Bullie stayed until she was 14, and only really showed signs of aging in the last 18 months/ 2 years. Make up a mix of water, Hydrogen Peroxide and White Vinegar... we just have a Tupperware container and fill it half water, quarter the others... but try dipping your own hand in after and let it dry, if it doesn't sting then you've got the proportions about right... remembering you probably don't have open sores. (unless you're always working in the garden like me)... We dip our kids feet in it after every walkies... and let them dry off on the patio... it'll reduce yeast and combat any other yucky stuff they pick up walking... unless you just walk her on pavement.

nikelow

the green stuff was on her back legs previuosly that the vet cleared up with antibiotics....this problem is in between her toes....she normally walks on concrete......this i think is connected to her red/pinky sweat rash on her belly as its apeared at the same time...the salt water has calmed her down a bit and the sores are not between all her toes, but on each of her feet....she has never been a great walker but i have clipped her toe nails which are all over the place and applied unction sulphur in between her toes

Quinnofhearts

I was going to say it sounded like interdigital cysts, but after googling furuncles (boy am I sorry I did that) it seems Boyda nad I would be saying all the same stuff. Definitely follow her advice!! Coconut oil is a dream...Quinn loves it and I love that Quinn loves it. I have also never heard of "unction sulphur cream." But if it's not helping, maybe stop applying it for a bit? Your best bet would be the epsom salt baths to help her toes. Also...stop squeezing her lumps!

nikelow

thanks

Krienzo

I have a dog with allergies. We feed him nutro for sensitive skin and stomachs. His breakouts get worse when we go on trips or there is any change in his environment but in order to fully resolve the problem we will most likely have to take him to an allergist. Finding the right food did help a lot though.

philsergeant

Forgive me Krienzo... I am sure you have been on before, but what's your dog's history again... How old is he? Nutro is really not great stuff... When he changes environment does his diet and water change....? Or is his nervous system the biggest cause of his skin reaction? What exactly are his skin effects... Can you post photos?

Krienzo

My bull terrier is 7 months. She is on nutro for puppies. I thought it had great reviews. It's actually my pit bull who has allergies like what is described in this thread. We started feeding him nutro for sensitive skin and stomachs and that seemed to help his allergies best. So when I got Mackenzie, my EBT, I got her nutro for puppies since it seemed to be good for my other dog who is almost 4. I've had my suspicions though since Mackenzie has been shedding and it may not be a good fit for a bull terrier. I'm just relating my experience with a pit bull because maybe if a better food was found and possibly stressors were reduced than the allergy might calm down.

philsergeant

There's only one BIG disadvantage to EBT's... unlike other dogs it takes time and many trials to find out what food/ intake suits them best. We have two siblings and even they differ in what the are sensitive towards.

nikelow

Can BulliesofNC and Quinnofhearts and BOYDA and anyone else please take a look at the pics i have just uploaded and again advise me how to treat my bitches yeast infection.....as you can see, there is reddish pink soreness with hair loss on her belly but no where else and the toes have boils in between them and are pinky colour etc....i have today changed to a grain free meal, have washed her feet after every walk in salt water, and have ordered some coconut oil to apply on infection....any other ideas please guys????  if the pics have not uploaded can i send to your email addresses also please

BulliesofNC

Poor girl. I'm confident the warm weather had a lot to do with the skin problems she's experiencing. I don't mean to beat a dead horse on the immunity issue but I know first hand that this breed of canine are notorious for having weaker immune systems than most dogs. I think if you conduct some online research you'll note that most allergies and yeast infections are contributed to weak immune systems. Making it even worse is the fact that once the skin problem begins to cause discomfort for the individual dog it will cause additional stress weakening the immune system further. As Phil mentioned earlier, your Bull Terrier is not old (average life span is 9 or 10). However, she is old enough that she is not fighting off ailments as good as she once was capable of doing.
My advice to you would be to:

• Bath her with a good medicated shampoo
• Minimize her time outdoors in the heat until her condition improves
  
• Ask your Vet to look at her and possibly prescribe her Fluconazole which treats all fungus infections
• Start her on a good supplement that will boost her immune system and dramatically help minimize future skin related problems - http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1818/bull-terrier-immunity-problems#Item_6

nikelow

thanks again my friend....booked the vets for this Friday

Boyda

It won't clear up right away, so I wouldn't worry to much!

nikelow

Hello again Boyda, BulliesofNC, Philsergeant, Quinnofhearts

Just taken Billie to the vets and not too sure if he agreed with all what I had to tell him about all the great advice you have given me, although I am going to follow all what you said

He did not think it was a yeast infection as he could not smell her when i tookher in...apparantly its a musty smell???.....he thinks that its an allergy but could come from anything-grass, pollen, house mites etc....he did not think the feet were connected to her belly rash, and never herd of treating with cocunut oil, although he did agree with bathing her feet in epson salts and also that evening primrose oil was good for her

when i mentioned the grain free meal that i put her on now he said that the reason people change to this is due to too much protein in the dogs diet, and not to comat the yeast infections.....i realise that the vet is not specialised in one breed of animal and would never try to undermine his ability as a vet, but surely he cant be right on everything????.....for instance, he pointed out that breeders/owners of dogs in the USA had different conditions to deal with such as weather, different species of insects and allergies etc

he prescribed her with Prednidale tablets to ease the itching....any ideas again please

nikelow

combat the yeast infection, NOT comat!!

BulliesofNC

Damn spell Check.  #-o

You know that you can edit your posts right?

nikelow

only now realised my friend....any ideas on my post?

BulliesofNC

Sounds like your Vet has no familiarity with the breed. His advice was horrible and that's not why most people switch to grain free kibble. Actually the grain free foods I recommend are high in protein not low in protein. Yeast infection of the feet smell more like corn chips than a musty smell and yeast problems can definitely cause red spots on the stomach just like allergies.
Looks like the only thing he did for you was provide your Bullie with a prescription drug to help ease the itching. Well done Doc.
Anyhow, being that he didn't prescribe you Fluconazole I'd still recommend you following my other 3 recommendations.

nikelow

yes i will my friend...he would not prescibe that as he said its not the first course of attack and is actually prescribed for humans and not animals????.......

nikelow

BulliesofNC can you please tell me whats the difference between KETOCONAZOLE and FLUCONAZOLE and where would i get these from and would you advise me to use it myself on the bitch?

BulliesofNC

It's prescribed for dogs all the time. Provide your Vet with this link: http://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/fluconazole-for-veterinary-use/

nikelow

Many thanks again my friend.....Boyda seemed to think that Ketoconazole would be better for a yeast infection so whats your views on this and again could you send me a link to show my vet....I knew he was not right with what he was saying...he was just out to get more money out of me as per usual!!!

BulliesofNC

Ketoconazole is a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections. Due to its side-effect profile, it has been superseded by newer antifungals, such as fluconazole and itraconazole. Ketoconazole is sold commercially as an anti-dandruff shampoo, branded Nizoral®, by Janssen Pharmaceutica.


Ketoconazole is very lipophilic, which leads to accumulation in fatty tissues. The less toxic and more effective triazole compounds fluconazole and itraconazole have largely replaced ketoconazole for internal use.

nikelow

thanks again for the great help my friend

nikelow

Hello my friends

You mentioned bathing Billies feet in an Epsom salt bath....how much do I put in and how much water etc....I just bathed her feet in a dishbowl of warm water with about half a tub of epsom salts in....a bit too much I think????......also how often do I do this.....many thanks

Quinnofhearts

Hi there nikelow, I responded to this same post via message, hope you got it.

Your vet really did give you some poor advice... It looks like a textbook yeast infection to me, and seeing as I've had a bull terrier with a yeast infection I feel like I can speak on that. Yeast infections left untreated can be made worse by allergies and vice versa, so it's possible your bullie could be experiencing both. The reason for the suggestion of grain-free is because yeast infections can feed on the grains and other starches like sweet potato, making the infections worse. Typically that's only in concern for severe cases.

Coconut oil has natural anfi-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which makes it ideal for yeast infections. The anti-fungal stuff is really what you want. I don't know what Prednidale is, but if it's anything like Prednisone, which is a steroid, I would advise against giving it to your bullie for a yeast infection. In some cases steroids do more harm than good, and they most certainly will not cure your dog of the yeast infection. Medicated topical wipes are what should have been prescribed...

I think you've got a good start. I'd say you could do salt baths every other day, soaking for 10 minutes. Do coconut oil every day. You can apply to the skin or give a teaspoon by mouth. And BulliesofNC has also given some great advice in the bullet points. Also try to keep your bull terrier dry - moisture helps the infection breed.

Best of luck! Hope to see your girl better soon.

nikelow

The rash has healed up now and also her toes are a lot better but she is losing loads of her under her back hind legs and between her inner thigh....it comes out in clumps but only her and not anywhere else on her????

nikelow

that should have read she is losing loads of hair under her rear inner thighs and inside of her back legs....it would all come out if i pulled on it etc....thats the only place its coming out on her body but i am worried she be go completely bald underneath....any advice please my friends

philsergeant

Chris, glad to hear that the rash and toe infections have abated somewhat....
1) did she have the hair loss before, or only since those other two got treated?
2) is there rash/bumps or other skin ailment where she is losing the hair ? Or does the skin there look normal?
3) how often does she get dirty?, only to ask the question, how often does she get bathed?... And what do you use to shampoo her?
4) also does she get really well dried after her bath? ( we throw ours in the spin drier :-))
Lastly, I you may have told us before, but exactly what does she get to eat... Meals and treats.

BulliesofNC

I’m sorry to hear about your bull terrier which is apparently going through some bad spells of skin problems. It’s so difficult for me to pin point her dilemma when I don’t know her daily lifestyle and exact nutrition. It sounds as though you’re making good strides at resolving the issue but still have some signs of distress due to her losing some hair. Keep in mind your battling this problem at the worst possible time of year when the weather is against you. Heat itself poses a problem and usually at this time of year many dogs shed their fur. Your Bull Terrier may be getting affected by several factors which are causing problems. I would minimize the exposure in the heat right now until you can get this skin problem in check. Give a little time too in order to get used to the adjustments you’ve made within her diet, bathing, meds, and other things that you’ve been providing her. It’s going to take a little time for her immune system to adjust to the elements she faced with right now. As long as you’re providing her with a good diet, tending to her skin and coat, minimizing heat and sun, and keeping her stress free and comfortable she will improve with every day. I’m not sure whether or not you looked into providing her with a supplement to boost her immune system but if not you may wish to consider it. She isn’t the young Bullie she used to be and her defenses towards ailments have weakened with age. Try not to bath her too much because by doing so you’re removing the natural oils she needs to keep a healthy coat. The bare spots she showing now due to hair loss resemble signs of Hot Spots. I know you wish to get her as healthy as possible and get her coat back to normal but if you overdue it with too much attention you might be making matters worse. Let some time go by and keep an eye on her for improvement. Keep her well hydrated too. She will improve with the attention your providing her. Once she is simply maintain it and allow her to be her happy self. A strong, happy, and healthy dog is your best cure to these type of ailments. Please keep us posted on her progress.

nikelow

she has only had the hair loss since the rash and toe issue this year...she is nearly 10 now. the skin under the hair looks ok, but the hair is just falling out. her food is now wainrights grain free meal, she has dental sticks and pigs years as treats. she gets washed in medicated shampoo 3-4 times a year and dried tidy. She has a habit of always lying in the sun so I need to sort this out. As for the hair loss, its not like hot spots as my other Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog has always had that on his tail....her hair is simply falling out when its pulled lightly kind of like alopecia if that makes any sense, although its only where she had the rash and where I applied the coconut oil? I use sulphur blocks in her water etc and also I have use Nu-Vet sulphur cream on the Staffys tail which worked a bit but again he has always had it due I guess down to his bad nerves? What supplements do you suggest....I use cod liver oil etc now but will change to evening primrose oil as her coat is better when she has this

Quinnofhearts

Hi nikelow, responded to your message, sounds like you're doing a lot of things right. I'm not whether dogs can have allergies to coconut oil or not. I'm sure they can have allergies to anything, but I've never read one allergic to coconut oil. Are you able to post a picture of this hair loss?

nikelow

will take some pics for you.........i am really worried that she will go completely bald, although I am positive it is not mange as the other dog is fine and Billie has always been given Frontline on a regular basis

nikelow

files attached