stress breakout type stuff?

[robbertbobbert]

Over this summer when we went to Disneyland Elliot got a kind of breakout looking thing on his tummy and inner thighs. Angry looking red marks and scabs. Took him to the vet and they said it was probably just a stress reaction from the travel and such, they gave him a shot (I could've gotten a treatment that was 4 pills a day, but went for the shot instead). It went away and haven't had a problem since.

well, over christmas break while i've been home it's come up again. he's been in the crate A LOT. as in all day except for when he's exercising. We spent a week at my sisters where he can roam free and got a ton of exercise. they went away.

This week he's been back in the crate full time (my grandma died, we've got a lot of stuff to deal with. he still gets plenty of exercise) and they're back full force. I go back to school on Sunday and he's only in the crate when I go to school there. Between the funeral preperations and the service I don't have time or money to take him to the vet.

My current plan is to take him back to school and see if they go away like when we were at my sisters, since I'm assuming it's a stress thing again. If they don't go away, I'll take him to the vet once I get my loan money. Is this okay or should I attempt to get him to a vet right away? He doesn't seem to have any other problems (eyes, ears, mouth and potty are all fine).

[Spectrum]

It may be a mild infection from being crated. If he lays on a crate pad/pillow/blanket all day, it could be holding moisture on his skin, predisposing him to infection. When he's free, it has air flow and dries up. I'm thinking maybe like a heat rash.  I know when Gavroche has been in a crate all day, his belly is sometimes pretty red.

Maybe try putting towels on top of whatever you have in the crate?  Or put baby power on his belly    I have Betagen spray on hand for when my dog's  skin starts getting red and bumpy (not from his crate, but on his neck, mostly in the summer from bugs but occasionally in the winter from who knows what). It's an antibiotic and a steroid in a spray form, so it's easy to use and pretty effective.  It is prescription only, though.

[robbertbobbert]

Thanks, I'll try the baby powder. No matter WHAT i put down, he moves it away. It's rather cute to watch him very carefully wad up the blankies/towels/crate pad delicately into the corner and then lay down on the rest of the crate.

Maybe I'll start sanitizing his crate more often. It'll sure be interesting to put baby powder on his tummy, I see a perplexed puppy expression in my future.

[responsiblek9]

 
mild  antihistamines can help can help even if it is stress. Arrow used to get that as a puppy.

It also works on humans too laugh. I get stress rashes . Ended up living with benadryl lotion on me but worked.

When an animal or human is stressed allergies can crop up . Then go away when the stress is removed.
just a thought . I cant remember which antihistamine I used with Arrow since it is so long ago but bet ya can find that info online somewhere. i keep children's benedryl on hand for my dogs in case of insect sting allergy. 

[responsiblek9]

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionsfaqs/f/FAQ_benedryl.htm

[robbertbobbert]

I think I'll go get some of that cream tomorrow, so he can start to feel better before we get back to school. He doesn't appear to be suffering at all, but it'd make me feel better at least.

 I guess the main part is just to make sure he doesn't lick it, right?

[responsiblek9]

Oatmeal baths might help. Just dont let the little pest eat the  raw oatmeal . Uncooked oatmeal can really swell and make a dog very uncomfortable if they eat too much of it.  This web site has quite a bit of info that might be useful. Has alternatives to steroids for skin issues.
Plus some other info that may be helpful .

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_itch_relief.html

[k1maplewd]

Also what kind of surface is his crate pan?  Plastic or metal?  If one of my dogs (the one with all of the allergies) is on a plastic crate pan or in a plastic crate of any kind (so no vari kennels for him) his allergies break out really badly.  There is something in the plastic that he tends to be allergic to. 

Good luck!

[Spectrum]

If he moves everything out of the way and lays on the crate, and if it's a plastic crate, it could definitely do it. A lot of dogs get irritated from plastic. Many dogs get "acne" on their chins if they eat or dronk out of plastic bowls.

[robbertbobbert]

it's plastic. where can i find a metal tray to replace it?

[BlindMag]

Unless you happen to be using a very common size of crate, chances are you will have to buy a whole new crate with a metal tray in it for him. Or one with a floor grill to keep him off of the tray.  Different companies will have slight differences in sort of standardized crate sizes so that you have to either buy the parts for their exact model, or get a different brand for the features you want. I find this very annoying. Its not all that hard to find websites online with wire crates having metal pans. ; )

[k1maplewd]

The most common company that makes crates with metal pans is General Cage.  They are more expensive than the more common MidWest brand, but they do make a style with a metal pan.  And I prefer their door latches and hinges too, I find they are overall a better made product than the MidWest crates.  Just my .02.

[Spectrum]

My crate has a metal pan. I bought it for $5 off of Craigslist.  You could always try that