# Help diagnose my dog - maybe skin condition **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835 "2011-07-13T04:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/21 "2011-07-14T07:01:20Z")
Did you get a good flea control product for all the critters yet? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/22 "2011-07-14T07:08:37Z")
Not yet. I ran out of time today before the vet closed. How do those things work, anyway? Flea drinks poisoned blood & dies? ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/23 "2011-07-14T07:22:24Z")
If there’s a Banfield clinic in your area, odds are good that they are open until 7 or 8pm. They’ll sell First Shield (their version of Advantage which works just as well) without an office visit. Plus, they’ll sell single doses if you need to budget. Just be sure to get enough doses for all the critters in the house at the same time and plan on keeping this going every month for the next 5-6 months. Also, Advantage is available at major pet stores like Petsmart or PetCo, which are generally open until 9pm. And, yeah, that’s essentially how they work. The product soaks into the skin with the help of body oils. The product gets redistributed by the blood stream and settles out in the skin all over the body. As soon as the flea bites your critter, they get the active ingredient and die. I am suspicious that you have some sort of other concern about getting a high quality flea control product that you haven’t voiced yet. What is bothering you? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/24 "2011-07-14T19:33:16Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > If there’s a Banfield clinic in your area, odds are good that they are open until 7 or 8pm. They’ll sell First Shield (their version of Advantage which works just as well) without an office visit. Plus, they’ll sell single doses if you need to budget. Just be sure to get enough doses for all the critters in the house at the same time and plan on keeping this going every month for the next 5-6 months. > > Also, Advantage is available at major pet stores like Petsmart or PetCo, which are generally open until 9pm. > > And, yeah, that’s essentially how they work. The product soaks into the skin with the help of body oils. The product gets redistributed by the blood stream and settles out in the skin all over the body. As soon as the flea bites your critter, they get the active ingredient and die. > > I am suspicious that you have some sort of other concern about getting a high quality flea control product that you haven’t voiced yet. What is bothering you? Thanks for the input. Nothing is bothering me. My daughter has a [serious high maintenance condition](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=571282) and is [recovering from acute illness](http://gettyowl.com/), which is why the dog was at the in-laws, so it’s hard to get out of the house to do errands. Advantage is certainly on the list and I think my wife is going to pick some up today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/25 "2011-07-15T03:45:45Z")
OK, got the goods. Now to apply it. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/26 "2011-07-15T06:24:12Z")
Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/27 "2011-07-15T06:28:20Z")
He got very itchy when applied and for a while afterward. I gave him Benadryl to help knock him out so he wouldn’t try to lick it off. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/28 "2011-07-15T06:33:48Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > He got very itchy when applied and for a while afterward. I gave him Benadryl to help knock him out so he wouldn’t try to lick it off. A lot of dogs are bothered by the oil sensation on their skin. They get a twitchy and flinch around. It should dry in an hour or so. Next time, putting it on right before a walk will probably keep him distracted long enough that he’s not bothered by it until it dries. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/29 "2011-07-15T06:47:53Z")
When he arises from his nap, I hope to see a pile of flea carcases on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/30 "2011-07-15T07:31:48Z")
Hopefully, there weren’t many to begin with. And hopefully, this will be the beginning of a very long stretch of comfort and peace in your home! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/31 "2011-07-15T07:41:31Z")
IN the dog nail clipping thread, I saw reference to “skin infection.” When will I know whether the cause is fleas or time to check for another cause? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/32 "2011-07-17T07:36:46Z")
He’s doing much better with Advantage. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/33 "2011-07-17T17:56:15Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > He’s doing much better with Advantage. Thanks! Hooray! Don’t forget to keep it going. Any fleas that managed to lay eggs around your house (or your parent’s house) can hibernate for up to 6 months before hatching. If you have Advantage on your dog six months from now, those newly hatched fleas will die. If you don’t, the cycle will start all over again. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/34 "2011-07-17T21:19:22Z")
And also keep other critters on the program! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/35 "2011-07-18T06:01:23Z")
I swear my in-laws are cursed when it comes to our poor pooch. Our fence has had an old wire with a metal hook on it, just hanging up there out of harm’s way forever. It’s been there since the prior owner and we never really paid any attention to it. Today, when nobody else was around, my FIL apparently thought it unsightly, took it off the fence and threw it on the ground behind a bush. :smack: He then played with the dog, alone, throwing an old deflated football around. The ball went behind that bush. The dog hooked his mouth grabbing for the ball, and tore part of his lip open. :mad: It’s not bleeding, but there is a bit of lip skin hanging there. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain. It doesn’t seem like an emergency. Off to the vet tomorrow. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/36 "2011-07-19T05:44:34Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I swear my in-laws are cursed when it comes to our poor pooch. > > Our fence has had an old wire with a metal hook on it, just hanging up there out of harm’s way forever. It’s been there since the prior owner and we never really paid any attention to it. Today, when nobody else was around, my FIL apparently thought it unsightly, took it off the fence and threw it on the ground behind a bush. :smack: > > He then played with the dog, alone, throwing an old deflated football around. The ball went behind that bush. The dog hooked his mouth grabbing for the ball, and tore part of his lip open. :mad: > > It’s not bleeding, but there is a bit of lip skin hanging there. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain. It doesn’t seem like an emergency. Off to the vet tomorrow. :rolleyes: Stitches and a $500 vet bill. ☹ Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/37 "2011-07-19T06:29:36Z")
Oh no! That poor little guy. Any offers of at least sharing the bill since it was _ahem_ someone’s sorta fault? How’s the skin issue? I would think flea allergy itching would resolve within a couple days to a week, depending on how allergic he is. I can tell you I learned the hard way in college (don’t get drunk and sleep on strangers’ couches) that I’m really allergic to fleas and need steroids for a few days to keep the welts under control, so I can sympathize with doggy! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/38 "2011-07-19T06:41:15Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Oh no! That poor little guy. Any offers of at least sharing the bill since it was _ahem_ someone’s sorta fault? > > How’s the skin issue? I would think flea allergy itching would resolve within a couple days to a week, depending on how allergic he is. I can tell you I learned the hard way in college (don’t get drunk and sleep on strangers’ couches) that I’m really allergic to fleas and need steroids for a few days to keep the welts under control, so I can sympathize with doggy! Skin is much better thanks. as far as contribution to the vet bill … nah. The in-laws help us with chores and all kinds of stuff in other ways. I wouldn’t ask 'em anyway, and if they offered, I’d tell 'em not to worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/39 "2011-07-19T11:52:55Z")
**Bearflag** $500!! Good lord, did the vet do an MRI? California vet prices must be a lot higher than Tennessee vet prices. For me, my vet would do a shot of antibiotics, clean, stitch and bandage (if necessary), and send home with antibiotics for about $100. StG ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835/40 "2011-07-19T12:28:36Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Bearflag** $500!! Good lord, did the vet do an MRI? California vet prices must be a lot higher than Tennessee vet prices. For me, my vet would do a shot of antibiotics, clean, stitch and bandage (if necessary), and send home with antibiotics for about $100. > > StG No, your vet is just massively underpriced. And is almost certainly treating to a different standard of care. At the last place I worked, you’d be looking at an exam ($36), pre-anesthetic blood work ($80), IV catheter and short-term fluids ($60), gas anesthesia with intubation and tech monitoring (probably around $100), sterile saline wound irrigation (probably about $20), surgery time for the stitches (around $100), and oral antibiotics to go home (once-daily cefa drug for a week, around $50 for a whippet.) Antibiotic injection and pain injection are included in the anesthesia. At your vet, I’m guessing they stick him the ass with some cefazolin, stick him in the other cheek with some Rompum or ket/val with no monitoring, give it a few swipes with some surgical scrub, throw in a few stitches, and send him out the door with three-times-a-day cephalexin. And even at that, I wonder how on earth they could be making any money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-my-dog-maybe-skin-condition/588835.md?page=3)