Eye Problem

[latopla]

So, no worries, we are going to the vet tomorrow morning...just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas about what this is because I don't recognize it...and I used to work at a vet's office so I saw lots of health issues.

It took a while to develop into something we were sure was actually there...Sheriff began to appear like he had lost a little hair around his eye.  But it was such a small change that we couldn't tell if it was just the hair sitting differently or our eyes tricking us.  I kept suspecting it but I would look and there was never a cut or sore or even redness...it just seemed bare.  I looked yesterday and we both agreed that it definitely looked like hair was missing...but still not an extreme amount or anything.  Tonight we looked and actually put a light on it (poor Sheriff was not a fan) and there was a brown scab (but there was never a sore or cut) about a centimeter above his eye and further really tiny brown scabs/spots (couldn't tell they were so small) around the other scab.  Where he still has hair, there are a few of these tiny brown things as well.

My guess is that this is some sort of parasite or fungal thing...I just can't figure out what.  I've never seen a case of either type of mange that began in such a small location and Sheriff certainly hasn't had contact with a mangy dog.  It doesn't look like ringworm because the brown things wouldn't fit and there is no flaky skin.  I know that being a service dog, he comes in contact with plenty of things that other dogs are less likely to encounter.  I'm really hoping this isn't a staff infection.  Its been a long time since I've seen one and I don't really remember what they look like or even originate from...its been about two years since I worked at the vet office and even while I worked there an animal never came in with staff.  I only saw that in cats when I volunteered at the Humane Society when I was a kid.  So yeah, I was just wondering if anyone else could take a guess because I'm gonna be worrying about this until we go to the vet in the morning.  Actually, I doubt that guesses will help my anxiety on the issue but it would help to know if someone has seen anything like this before I think.  Thanks!

[Kirsten]

How old is he?  Could be demodex if he's young.

[springingpups]

Demodex can also flare up in older dogs when under a lot of stress.

[Kirsten]

Yeah, that's just most likely to be my first guess in a young dog and unlikely to be first guess in an older dog.

[Spectrum]

I think demodex is a pretty good guess. It's possible in an older dog as well as a younger dog, though less likely in an older dog. If he's been stressed more than usual lately, it can cause a flare up of demodex. It does usually start near the eyes or on the legs.

I have seen some very strange presentations of demodex, so nothing is impossibe    There was one dog that had a chronic infection in his toe, and when we did biopsies it came back as demodex and staph. Then there were a couple shar peis that had ringworm-like lesions, and they came back as demodex and some other strange fungus  I never heard of before. I don't remember the name right now.

Demodex is not contagious, so it does't matter if he's been in contact with other dogs or not.

And of course, it could just be a little spot that's irritated, and he's been rubbing it.

[latopla]

Okay, just back from the vet. 

Not demodex luckily.  The vet thought it was an allergy and we figured that the prime suspect is the food dyes in the Christmas rawhide that Sheriff was getting last month.  Usually, Sheriff is fed natural/organic/holistic food and natural treats so he doesn't encounter dyes very often.  He also has a corn allergy so that also limits his food and treat options.  Sooo...no more dyed rawhide.  The vet said if the eye problem continues or gets better after treatment then returns and Sheriff still hasn't had any dyed stuff...we will look at more suspects for the allergy issue.  And he noticed it around the right eye as well so yeah. 

Not bad news I suppose, just another thing to make sure we watch out for when picking out treats.