Back from the vet....

[CraziNate]

So I ended up taking Enzo to the vet for these "bumps" today.

When the vet tech/nurse(not sure what they are called) came in to look at Enzo first, she said the "bumps" look like an allergic reaction to something. I told her the only thing that has been changed since the bumps started to show was his dog food with the introduction of Kirkland with his Iams and then the last time that I did his crate laundry I used powdered Gain instead of the normal liquid Tide that I usually use.

Then the vet comes in looks at the "bumps" and says that it is a Staph Infection that Enzo has. He suggested that I get him this antibiotic that I would use on Enzo for 3-4 weeks and also this antibiotic shampoo that I would use 1-2 times a week. Both of these came to a total of $77:eek:. I told him right now I do not have the money until Friday since that is when I get paid (I do have the money but I wanted to do a lil more research first LOL). He said that Staph Infections are common in pitbulls.

Now from what I have found on the interwebz about Staph Infection in dogs is that it is a crusty skin lesion, frequently on the belly area. More advanced cases of staph infection will manifest draining areas and cause severe itching. From what I have seen from these "bumps" on Enzo is they are not red but they just look like a dried out area of the skin and I did see one today that did have a scab on it. Also from what I have noticied is that Enzo has been not sctraching these areas and they really dont seem to bother him, and I dont see any in his belly region.

For right now I'm going to go ahead and wash his blanket and pillow in his crate with the normal Tide liquid soap and put him on Benadryl and see if this will clear it up. If it does not clear up then I will go ahead and introduce Taste of The Wild to him and hopefully that will be it. Now if it gets worse than what it is now I will go ahead and go with the doctors seggestion and go with the antibiotics

Melissa (the girlfriend) picked up some Childrens Benadryl Allergy for Enzo that is 12.5mg tablets that are grape flavored LOL. She said these are the only ones that they has at the store. This is probably common sense but I wanted to make sure before I do it but....

1mg is to 1lb. He is 49lbs so pretty much 50mg. Now since they are 12.5mg tablets that is 4 tablets I should be giving him. For some reason to me it seems like too much to give him but I wanted a 2nd opinion before I gave them to him.

[Leon]

Good luck man, 77 is not uncommon, vets rip you off waay too much, Czar had a slight ear infection, 80$, he had diarrhea, 120 bucks, for a few digestion pills, and checking stool samples.

[CraziNate]

Good luck man, 77 is not uncommon, vets rip you off waay too much, Czar had a slight ear infection, 80$, he had diarrhea, 120 bucks, for a few digestion pills, and checking stool samples.

$77 isnt that bad but I didnt want to spend the money before I know for 100% that it is a staph infection and that I'm not wasting my money cause it ending up being the dog food or the laundry soap

[infinity]

50mg will be fine for him. how much did they get you for the office visit. And did you get the name of meds?

Did they take a tissue sample.

And you can't allways go by the vet techs words. Last time we went to the vet, Brian had something growing on his foot. As soon as the vet tech seen it she said oh thats going to need surgery to remove it. Then the Dr. came in did his thing and said it's an infected hair folical and gave me a bottle of pills and said to keep him on them for 2 weeks.

I did just that and 2 weeks latter it was gone.

True story.

[APBTMOMMY]

$77 isnt that bad but I didnt want to spend the money before I know for 100% that it is a staph infection and that I'm not wasting my money cause it ending up being the dog food or the laundry soap

Soap... they sale fragrance free laundry soap... might want to invest in some of it to wash dogs bedding or blanks in,and $77.00 isn't that bad , Hell every time we have taken Brian to the vet its at least 100 to 200 bucks by the time we walk out the door, and that's for minor stuff. Check out this link....http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/staph.html

Something else to ponder on is... the stuff your dog was eating on your walks might have irritated something in the dog as well.

[CraziNate]

50mg will be fine for him. how much did they get you for the office visit. And did you get the name of meds?

Did they take a tissue sample.

And you can't allways go by the vet techs words. Last time we went to the vet, Brian had something growing on his foot. As soon as the vet tech seen it she said oh thats going to need surgery to remove it. Then the Dr. came in did his thing and said it's an infected hair folical and gave me a bottle of pills and said to keep him on them for 2 weeks.

I did just that and 2 weeks latter it was gone.

True story.

Vet office was free since I have the puppy plan at banfield. I had the name of the meds in my head and forgot when I got home LOL.

No tissue sample was done. He looked at him for 30-45sec and said thats what it is.

I'm gonna try benadryl for a couple of days to see if that will clear it up and it not I'm going to go ahead and buy the antibiotics. I just gave him 4 of the 12.5mg grape tablets and he ate them like they were candy LOL.

[Dansgrizz]

Grizz had a skin infection, looked exactly the same as you describe, they are very common. $77 is cheap. You can always find out what antibiotics they will use and buy them from Jeffers or KV Vet.... You'll have to find the right dosage too though. Spend the $77 I say.

[CraziNate]

Soap... they sale fragrance free laundry soap... might want to invest in some of it to wash dogs bedding or blanks in,and $77.00 isn't that bad , Hell every time we have taken Brian to the vet its at least 100 to 200 bucks by the time we walk out the door, and that's for minor stuff. Check out this link....http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/staph.html

Something else to ponder on is... the stuff your dog was eating on your walks might have irritated something in the dog as well.

I just washed his stuff with what I usually use.

See I was thinking about that too, but I wasnt too sure. There is so much that happened within the time they started to show its almost impossible to pin point what was the actual cause. Its so frustrating!!!:confused:

[kumhomomma]

staph can kill a human..im sure it could kill a dog

[CraziNate]

Grizz had a skin infection, looked exactly the same as you describe, they are very common. $77 is cheap. You can always find out what antibiotics they will use and buy them from Jeffers or KV Vet.... You'll have to find the right dosage too though. Spend the $77 I say.

Do you think I should go ahead and go with the shampoo too?

staph can kill a human..im sure it could kill a dog

I hope not! Dont scare me!!:(

[PackMom]

staph can kill a human..im sure it could kill a dog

I second that one, although it's wierd that they didn't do a lab test on it.

On the laundry soap- we found this stuff called 'Dropps' that's got no fragrance, etc. We've been using it for about a month and it even does fine on the dog blankets.

[Dansgrizz]

Does the dog sme? Bacteria infections often are accompanied by a sweet funky smling odor, hard to catch if your dog is bathed alot. I think for my antibiotics at the vet last time was $125!! Where's your vet? I'll start going! Lmfao

Tip: don't wash your dogs too much with anti bacterial soap they may build an immunity to anti bacterial soap!!

[CraziNate]

Does the dog sme? Bacteria infections often are accompanied by a sweet funky smling odor, hard to catch if your dog is bathed alot. I think for my antibiotics at the vet last time was $125!! Where's your vet? I'll start going! Lmfao

Tip: don't wash your dogs too much with anti bacterial soap they may build an immunity to anti bacterial soap!!

No smell to him at all, atleast no funky smell to him. I only use oatmeal shampoo on him and I try to give him a bath once every month or so.

[CASH]

The anti biotics will more then likelly be Clavamox, its a generall antibotic. 3-4 weeks sounds a bit long to me. A week maybe 2 then a re check to see if they are making a differance.
I would have thought a skin scraping would be done just to rule out parasites. Yes pits are prone to staff but more over then just have skin problems. Food could be the problem but you would see more then likely see hair/ skin problems developing around his mouth first. I would still switch his food to TOTW.
Have there been any new bugs on the property?

[CraziNate]

The anti biotics will more then likelly be Clavamox, its a generall antibotic. 3-4 weeks sounds a bit long to me. A week maybe 2 then a re check to see if they are making a differance.
I would have thought a skin scraping would be done just to rule out parasites. Yes pits are prone to staff but more over then just have skin problems. Food could be the problem but you would see more then likely see hair/ skin problems developing around his mouth first. I would still switch his food to TOTW.
Have there been any new bugs on the property?

Thanks, I first started to see the bumps on his sides none on his mouth region and I only felt one on his throat region.

Im just suprised that he didnt do a skin scrapping and came to he conclusion that it was staph so quickly. Seriously within 30-45sec of seeing him.

I have not seen any bugs on the property as get our yard sprayed bi-monthly. Also nothing in the house as we also spray in the house. The only thing I can really think is either the food or the laundry soap and I switched both around the same time. It could have been those Rabies vaccines that have been laying around where we walk that he got ahold of because humans get lesions if they do touch it with their bare hands. Not sure about dogs tho.

[SMThe]

Im just suprised that he didnt do a skin scrapping and came to he conclusion that it was staph so quickly. Seriously within 30-45sec of seeing him.

He must have "special powers" . Seriously, I wouldn't trust him

[christySYK]

We all learn pretty quick that the vet really isn't there for our best interest lol I love my vet don't get me wrong but i ONLY go to him for rabies and serious matters.

Most of the time they won't do a skin scraping unless you ask for one and then they have to charge you for the lab fee to look at it and sometimes they charge to you 'dispose' of the dead skin its crazy.

Keep him on the childrens benedryl and if you have some Amoxacillan (sp) laying around it would hurt to give him some of that too its just penicillan. Oatmeal shampoos are great too I use them.

It might be a reaccuring problem too. Bomber's neck swells up and gets all fluid filled every once in a while in the summer. I assume he's allergic to some weed. So I keep benedryl and amox around clears it up every time.

Did you take him walking somewhere new? through some weeds? or did he get into a ditch?

He should be fine in no time! :)

[CraziNate]

I havent taken him anywhere new. He pretty much goes to the same place. I did take him to my friends farm which he has been there a millions times before but they showed up a lil after taking him the last time.

[CraziNate]

So I think its the Kirkland that is causing these bumps. When I got home from work it looked like the bumps were starting to go away. They werent as visible as before and as soon as Enzo ate its almost as if they flarred up. I wanna say that the food is the cause but I'm not 100% positive. Tomorrw morning I will be going to Tractor Supply to pick up a bag of TOTW High Prairie.

[CraziNate]

Wow so I found some reviews on Kirkland and this shit is going in the garbage tonight!!

http://www.rateitall.com/i-863920-kirkland-super-premium-chicken-and-rice.aspx