boston terrior with red bumps and rashes

I have a 5 month old boston terrier who has red bumps and a red rash on legs, mouth and mostly on his belly.

He seems to itch a lot, i would really like some advice on what it could possibly be.

thanks



Hi
Rashes can be due to one of several different things. It could quite possibly be an allergy of some sort.

Canine allergies are more common than most people realize, and can happen as a result of a flea allergy, a dog food allergies, or contact or inhalant/seasonal allergies.

Whatever the cause, allergies usually result in skin irritations and problems. Red, itchy skin, hot spots, hair loss etc. are common. Although your veterinarian can do allergy testing by taking blood samples from your pup, some 'detective work' and a process of elimination can often lead to the allergy trigger.

If your pup hasn't been treated with an effective flea preventative, that could be the problem as many dogs are very sensitive to flea saliva. This is easily taken care of by using a products such as Frontline Plus.

If you're certain your pup doesn't have fleas, a dog food allergy is the next possibility. There are several foods on the market especially designed for dogs who are sensitive/allergic to ingredients in dog food. You can find these, and lots of info on dog food allergies on my Dog Food Allergies page. Changing your dogs diet can often alleviate the allergy symptoms, but you need to keep your dog on the new food for at least 4 - 6 weeks before you can evaluate whether or not it's working.

Contact allergies often produce irritation on belly, paws etc. - literally where the trigger has come in contact with the dogs skin. Seasonal allergies may show up as discharge from nose/eyes or ear irritation as well as skin problems.

While you are tracking down the trigger/s, there are lots of products that can make your pup more comfortable and relieve the itching. Check out my Canine SKin Allergies page for info on some of the best ones available.

It's also possible, that this isn't an allergy but a skin condition known as mange. This is caused by tiny mites, and causes itching and hair loss. Usually beginning on the face/muzzle and front legs/chest.

I would recommend that you have a vet take a look at your pups rash, he may want to do a skin scraping to rule out mange. If however, your pup does have this, it can be treated quite simply by your vet with shampoos or dips.

Best of luck, hope your puppy is feeling more comfortable soon.