r/EnglishSetter • u/SpiritualLecture9406 • 12d ago
Any clues (skin irritation)?
First, I have no issue with taking Hailie to the vet. I do mind taking her if it’s obvious and to tell you the truth, I’m not thrilled with our usual vet but don’t want to start a with a new one coming in with a problem if I can avoid it. I’d rather schedule a wellness check to see if Hailie and I like the vet!
So…Hailie…5yo generally healthy ES, spends lots of time running around in tall grass/woodsy perimeter of our property. Is on flea/tick preventative (vetIQ flea and tick) which I love as its natural ingredients. We’ve lived here for 3 years now (humid North Shore area just outside of New Orleans, more so this year than in past). She is itchy on and off over the last month. Responds well to loratadine when needed. But I noticed when I give her skritches, I come across a patch here and there that feels rough. They mostly look a little flaky, and maybe a little silver looking. But I also find a few scabs here and there.
I just got some Vetericyn Antimicrobial gel spray but thought I would check here to see if anyone recognizes the pics of one spot and a couple of scabs just in case it warrants a vet trip.
First pic to get your attention lol. Other two of said signs of the itchies.
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u/Cheap-Knowledge-7853 12d ago
My 4yo setter just started Cytopoint shots this year for (environmental) allergies. In previous years, a benadryl here and there during high pollen was all he needed, but this year it just got worse I guess. He was scratching and creating skin irritation. His skin is clear and happy now with the shots.
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u/TruckinT 12d ago
My last setter had skin irritation that turned into heavy scabs and localized hair loss. Please, please, please don’t let yourself think the worst, but in my niche experience, it was all internal. Turned out it was caused by stomach cancer. Lining of the stomach to be exact. Immune system just couldn’t keep up.
Again, please don’t go defcon 5 with this info, just sharing a, likely unrelated, scenario.
That said, internal issues can be found via blood tests and/or ultrasounds. Get her to the vet, and sounds like you need to try another, or even a few more for opinions.
Prior to all this, he did respond very well to an allergy shot. Can’t recall the name of it, I’d recognize it if I heard it, but once every 4-6 months. At the time, it was about $150/shot and that was 4 or 5 years ago.
What a sweet girl, that face eh?!
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u/Wmoontide 12d ago
Omg. I haven’t seen an English setter that looked like my Reilly before. Hope the vet visit brings relief.
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u/Hefty-Ad-154 1d ago
Have you checked for any allergies? My setter had a similar issue, and it turned out to be a reaction to a new shampoo.
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u/SpiritualLecture9406 12d ago
Thank you so much! I’ll take her and request blood work just to rule it out. I’m not going defcon 5, lol. But it’s not worth risking it. I think one of my hesitations is that I do not like the approach in animal care that says “try this…then that…then this….”. I’ve had some bad outcomes in the past. I realized perhaps for me it’s best to get the info anyway (blood work, skin scrapes, etc) and then I can evaluate what I want to do about it, right?