Back from the vet – more skin stuff
March 16, 2010 at 1:21 am 12 comments
Over a week ago, Boogie dragged himself around on the grass and gave himself a rashy red belly. The rashes didn’t go away even after a bath and neosporin so today we were at the vet and unfortunately, Dr. R doesn’t know what exactly the problem is. There are red welts on Boogie’s belly and inner thighs and he has been licking them incessantly. Some of the welts have turned into dry sores… crusty and peeling. Dr. R said that it is some sort of bacterial infection, possibly Staph (like last time) or allergies. He prescribed some cephalexin (to cure the staph infection), and I am to watch for signs of improvement. If by next week the Boogs is still itchy, then we need to return for allergy meds.
The clinic that Boogie goes to is a small place and always insanely busy so we waited around for a LONG time (over 1 hour!!!) to see Dr. R.
When we arrived there were 3 dogs in the shoebox-sized waiting room (yikes) but Boogie stayed close to me and was OK. Boogie is so used to being in this room with other dogs around that it’s not that big a deal…
There was a German Shepherd lying down in the far corner of the room who clearly was not interested in interacting with any dogs…. Boogie was curious, but not threatened at all.
A very regal Doberman sat next to us. Boogie sniffed her and got into playbow position several times… which got him a lot of attention from everyone in the waiting room – “Oh how cute! Look, he wants to play!” But the Doberman GROWLED at Boogie so I led him away. Not that the vet waiting room is an appropriate place for play anyway.
Photos below (because it was so boring just sitting around)
Someone said to me: You should take a photo of him in front of that black and white door…
Boogie: Please, can we go home now?
And while we were waiting for Dr. R to return with the cytology results…
Please please please can we go home now?
Please, mom?
Vet appointment was at 2.30pm. We didn’t get out of there until 5.00pm. And I will have to return again this week because they were out of Comfortis (flea meds) today.
Entry filed under: Skin issues, Vet visit.
Boogie's blog 
1.
Aneil | March 16, 2010 at 1:27 am
I like the pictures you took! Next time I’m at the vet I’ll take a picture of my cowering dog. She’s so brave and tough normally but at the vet she crawls under the seat and hides.
I hope Boogie’s sores get better. Staph infections are nasty.
2.
lili | March 16, 2010 at 2:05 am
Aw. I don’t know any dogs who LIKE being at the vet! Boogie (as you can see) sits by the door and gived me his famous big sad-eyed pouty look.
3.
Barbara and Daisy | March 16, 2010 at 2:02 am
Poor little guy. Skin itches are the pits. I hope Boggie is soon better. I’m presuming you don’t spray the grass.
Barbara, humble servant of the Princess Daisy of Alberni!
4.
lili | March 16, 2010 at 2:06 am
Hi Barbara & Daisy – I live in an apartment so it’s not *my* grass…Ihave no idea what they put on it. Thanks for the good wishes!
5.
Sarah Owings | March 17, 2010 at 3:18 am
Boogie is such an interesting dude. His face doesn’t look all that stressed in these pictures to me and it’s the vet’s office for goodness sake! He’s just so stoic. Cool that he offered friendly signals to the dobe. Did you happen to notice, though, if it was the “I want to play” play bow (side to side) or the “calming signal” (jump back then ignore) play bow?
Sorry about the belly rash though…And you feed such a fantastic diet too. Very odd.
6.
lili | March 17, 2010 at 4:15 am
He is a STRANGE dog, I always thought so!
He wasn’t stressed at all! I always carry him into the vet office … I don’t let him on the ground until he has been on my lap for a while (and appears calm). By then he is no longer stressed so his interest in the other dogs is more curiosity(?) than reactive.
The playbow wasn’t a moving playbow. He stayed in that pose for at least 5 seconds, in front of the seated doberman, until the doberman growled at him.
The belly rash was from the grass … he has sensitive skin, I guess. 😦
7.
Sarah Owings | March 18, 2010 at 3:01 am
I’ll bet that was a calming signal /investigatory bow. Kind of a “Hey…Missy! I’m cool…Are you cool? What’s your name?”
I guess the answer was no. Good that Boogie listened to the warning and didn’t get defensive. I’m curious. Have you noticed if he’s more or less likely to react to female versus male dogs?
8.
Lili | March 18, 2010 at 3:15 am
Hmmm. I don’t think it makes a difference if the other dog is male or female.
9.
dearprudie | March 18, 2010 at 1:42 am
I do hope Mr. Boogie’s rash gets better. Being itchy is such the pits.
He has such an expressive face, it’s quite charming. You can just see the attitude he’s giving in the last set of photos.
10.
Lili | March 18, 2010 at 1:59 am
Ha, yes. Boogie has the POUTY-FACE down pat 🙂
11.
Words and Steel | March 20, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Wow- how great that Boogie could be so close to other dogs on-leash! I’m coming to find out with Orby that he is so much better off-leash than on… finally got the courage to take him to the small dog park by our house, and he’s been doing great! I mean, not perfect, but definitely better than ever and he’s even made some other dog friends.
We were just at the vet with Orby yesterday and almost freaked out when he saw a dog coming in through the glass door. Our vet visit wasn’t great either– they diagnosed him with hip dysplasia! Can you believe it- a 1 year old Boston? I’m beyond heartbroken about it… I wonder if that’s contributed to his fear-aggression, being in that pain this whole time!
12.
Lili | March 20, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I am so sorry about Orby’s hip dysplasia! 😦 Poor little guy and poor you! Will he have surgery? Can it be fixed?
I still don’t let Boogie off-leash with dogs around (for safety) but one thing I know– the more training that I do with him ON LEASH, the better he gets! He responds so much better now than he used to. In general, the training makes him more responsive and attentive towards me so if we meet another dog & if I suspect that things may not go so well, I can call him to me and he comes.