H*lp! Weird hairless patch on my dog's back

[Dar]

Yesterday I noticed that Keithie (our very old chocolate lab) had some loose fur on this backside. I went over to brush it off and a whole big ring of it came up - it was like the hair was very shallowly rooted and the upper layer of skin was just flaking off. It made a ring around an area of very short new fur that was firmly rooted. Here are a couple of photos:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ithiespot2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ithiespot1.jpg

He has always had dry, dull fur there... he used to have dry, dull fur all over, when we rescued him, but now he's mostly looking better, except on his backside and tail. he's arthritic so we try not to touch him there much, so he probably hadn't been brushed for a while. He is on synthroid for a low thyroid and has been for over a year, and he recently had a t1 test and they adjusted the dosage a bit (it was a little high). He was at the vet a couple of weks ago for his ears and the vet did a once-over and didn't seem to notice anything off...

The spot doesn't seem to bother him. It was a little red after I picked off all the dead skin, but it's not at all red this morning.

TIA for any asvice...

dar

[EVC]

Could it be a hot spot?

[Dar]

Well, I've never seen him licking at it... actually, considering how stiff his hips are, I don't think he could physically reach it with his tongue...

dar

[MamaAllNatural]

The way it looks a little scaley and has come off in a ring like that makes me think ringworm?

I found these:

http://www.thepetprofessor.com/artic...le.aspx?id=211

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

http://www.newmanveterinary.com/Fact...0Ringworm.html

[QueenOfThePride]

I'd bet a million $$$ that's ringworm.


(Ok, so I don't have a million$$$)

Do a google search for ringworm and dogs. Your vet can give you a cream to put on it, or maybe you can find a natural treatment online. Ringworm is extremely contagious to people and other animals, so you need to clean everything in your house really well and wash your hands a lot.

[thekimballs]

I want in on the million. Ringworm is my diagnosis too. If you have a black light it will glow in the dark if it's ringworm.

[shannon0218]

yep, looks like ringworm to me too.
check you and rain and the other animals for any lesions as well.

[Dar]

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

Ringworm is extremely contagious to people and other animals, so you need to clean everything in your house really well and wash your hands a lot.

O joy... just how I wanted to spend my weekend...

And now I feel itchy all over, like I'm about to break out in ringworm.

So, I'm seeing lots of options if I choose the "pay the vet more big bucks" route... and considering how much the vet has made on him lately I'd rather not try that first. I'm thinking maybe an anti-fungal OTC thing, like for athlete's food, and a betadine, and a bath. I don't see any lesions on any of the rest of us, and he's the only one in poor overall health. I also read that most cases clear up on their own within 4 months. Keithie seems unbothered. Anyone think this is a bad plan? Obviosuly if it doesn't ever clear up or it if gets worse I'll take him in...

dar

[shannon0218]

Nope, not a bad plan, when I was at the referral clinic still I worked with a dermatoligist (I loved her rotation....not exactly a lot of derm emergencies!) Anyway, her first step if the animal was not covered in ring worm was to use betadine and tea tree oil, leave that combo on for 24 hrs. Then bath dog in Nizerol (human anti fungal shampoo) leaving it on the skin for 15 minutes. Follow with betadine and then a topical over top of that of anti fungal cream. If there was just a couple lesions this was her standard treatment (after you paid $115.00 for the consult) Use the betadine and topical AF 4 x a day for 2 weeks.

[Dar]

Thanks... I got the stuff and put on the betadine and tea tree oil. Poor Rain was napping and came out to see me leaning over Keith holding a big wad of cotton soaked with red liquid, and she thought it was blood.

I think I'll bathe both dogs with the antifungal stuff tomorrow, just to be sure... so far it just looks like the one spot, so I'm hopeful.

dar