Illusion
Illinois
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THis is my last resort....maybe should have been my first knowing how great this forum is! Hopefully someone can help 
Our 6 month old puppy developed bumps...large bumps over a week ago. I thought it may be some allergic reaction to the adult frontline I had put on her the day before - and took her into the vet. The owner of the clinic consulted with another vet and they came up with hives. THey did not feel it had anyting to do with the frontline. Put her on Temaril....sent us home. Nothing has changed in our home or yard...no food that she isn't accustomed to...no different laundry detergent....well, they started to scab up and the breeder said it is now a staph infection. Back to the vet; they put her on Cephlexan. It has now been 9 days; breeder looked at her again last night - did not feel she should have been put on the temail because it is a steriod and gave her a shot of Benedryl. Also recommended that I give her benedyl pills till they go down - she thought they were bug bites. So today we gave her a medicated bath - husband poisened the yard with a chigger/all bug killer and we are keeping both dogs out of the yard. Just went on a walk and noticed that these things are huge and she has more. I am dispondant (?) and don't know where to turn. She has had 6 benedryl pills today - had that shot last night....they look like boils....they are big and make her hair stand up. Any ideas?????????
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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Can they culture what is in the bump/boil and determine the bacteria involved, if it is a bacteria?
I would go to another vet for a consultation. . . a vet school maybe if you have one nearby. I would be really careful about mixing meds at that young age, but you need to continue to be proactive in your quest for diagnosis.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
PS: I can't use frontline on my dogs; makes them sick. I use the new Comfortis for fleas and I just check them religiously for ticks.
Dale
Dale Pace
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Poor baby! I can only imagine how miserable your dog is and how worried you are! Did you recently vaccinate your pet? Some dogs have a variety of reactions to being vaccinated..... Have you used a new household cleaner? Air freshner? Are there ANY changed to her environment that you can think of? I know you've listed some things.... but please think carefully, it may be helpful in her diagnosis. What kind of "medicated bath" did you use? Something your vet recommended? It could be an allergic reaction to the "Frontline", although rare it does happen. There are so many "could be's" it may take some careful consideration to figure it out. Honestly, even that much Benedryl could be causing it to get worse.... that seems like a large dosage. How big is your dog?
A trip to your local Emergency Vet Clinic may be in order, since they are the only ones open this late on a Saturday. As for me, I would much rather have a qualified vet make the determination about what kind of medicine to give any of our pets. As well meaning as breeders can be, they typically are not qualified to diagnose a health problem such as you describe.
Please let us know what you find out!
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle....
Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
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Illusion
Illinois
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She is a 51 pound Doberman...the breeder seems to be extremly knowledgable; she has been breeding these dogs for 15 years and has 9 of her own...she is also our trainer - has a nice facility - works all her dogs. I like the idea of getting a culture - she had her rabies shot back in May - I have racked my brain about anything new in the house....can't think of a thing! Is she suddenly allergic to us??? I am going to get another opinion....don't care for the emergancy vets in the area - been there done that many many times with other animals. Thanks for the support....
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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I think a culture is a good idea. That's what they do with humans to find the specific bug you are fighting. I do think the Frontline could be suspect. Dogs, like people, can react to different things. Like I said, my one dog gets sick from Frontline so my vet said don't use it, we will use something else.
You aren't by any chance using Bounce in the dryer for the dog's bedding, are you? Dogs have been known to react to that.
I think when Dr. Doug sees this, he will have some ideas, too.
Dale
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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I think it was good to touch base with your breeder, but I would stick with one person treating your dog. I know we get really anxious about our animals and are desperate to get them help immediately, but we do have to be careful as I know you are.
Dobe's are wonderful dogs. I had one and she was my protector and best friend.
Dale
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JCWWBT
Georgia
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first as an ex vet tech (had to quit to raise my children) I would say it seems like an allergic reaction to the frontline. If that is the only thing that has changed in her world. Generally (depending on the breed of dog) you might have one that whelps up easily, and is more sensitive. So for your reference, 1mg per lb of body weight of benadryl. ie 25lb dog gets 25mg of benadryl. 
I kind of get aggravated when a breeder diagnoses a dog. I know they see alot and are around the dogs alot, but a vet spends 8 years in school for what they do.
Now off of my soap box. Use a shampoo that has peroxide in it. It will help to get the frontline out of her skin. hth
eta those sound like they are hives by the way. as the benadryl gets in her system they should improve. What kind of puppy is she?
1996 Itasca Suncruiser 37RW
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JCWWBT
Georgia
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another poster said her dogs are allergic to frontline, frontline stopped working on my dogs, we had fleas everywhere!!! it was horrible. finally we switched to advantix. we live in a heavily wooded area and need the tick meds as well. there is another oral medication called capstar. My dogs have had a couple doses in the past of that and it worked well.
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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There are just too many environmental things to consider. While the Frontline is suspect, the combination of other "treatments" could be causing more harm than good. Perhaps a case of overtreatment? Of course, you & your breeder didn't mean to... but it could happen.
I think a culture of the "welts" as well as some bloodwork will help determine what the cause of them are... but only a vet is capable of doing that. While I understand your hesitancy to go to the ER I honestly think the course of action thus far could have aggravated the symptoms. A qualified vet would be my next stop.
I am hopeful that our resident vet, Dr. Doug will add his vast knowledge and experience to this thread soon.
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corgi-traveler
Bakersfield, CA
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If I've read correctly, you've had the opinions of two vets, and still her condition is getting worse. If it were my dog I'd high-tail it to a good vet school or a specialist.
What was in the medicated bath you gave her?
At this late hour on a weekend, an emergency vet may be your only alternative. I wouldn't expect them to cure her, just stabilize her and keep the condition in check until Monday.
Samantha (the poster)
Tim, spouse and driver of the Corgi-Bus
Beth, Buddy, and Pippin - Pembroke Welsh Corgis
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