About a month ago, our two-year-old GR Crosby developed a pink, swollen, right jowl, which he was scratching constantly. We brought him to the vet, who diagnosed it as dermititis and prescribed prednisone and an antibiotic. The day after starting the medicine, the swelling had subsided and Crosby had stopped scratching. After he had completed the prednisone course, but while he was still on antibiotics, the swelling, redness and scratching returned in the same place. At this point, we switched him to grain-free food (in case of a food allergy) and returned to the vet, who prescribed a second course of antibiotics and prednisone. Again the all symptoms subsided. Again, as soon as the prednisone ended, the swelling and scratching returned in the same place. We are scheduled to return to the vet on Thursday, but in the meantime, has anyone ever experienced something similar with their dog? I have attached a picture taken this evening of the swollen area in case that helps.

Sorry, forgot the attachment.

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Note, too much use of prednizone is really hard on the liver.

Also, are you feeding him in a plastic dish and is his water also in a plastic dish? If so, it's possible he's allergic to the plastic. Get him stainless steel dishes.


Edited to add: After reading A1Malinois' response below, I've deleted my references to ACV & turmeric for this particular issue. My apologies!

__________________
Wendy

Now the proud Mom of Renny, gotcha-day 10/19/2012.



My beautiful Lacey, always loved, never forgotten.
- Gotcha Day April 28, 2008 at @3 years old
- Crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, at the age of @8 years old, on Sunday, August 5, 2012

Lip Fold Pyoderma. Mine gets it all the time. Go to the baby isle in any drug store and buy Penatin cream (zinc oxide) or Desitin. Apply twice a day, clears my guys up real quick. Its a build up of bacteria under the skin fold. Mine only gets it on his one side. It will turn the actual lips pink so you need to get the cream in the skin fold as well as on the lips (it wont hurt him if he licks it in small amounts). I wouldnt use prednisone for something so small like this, will damage his liver

Thanks, both of you! I will go out and get some of the cream tonight and give that a try. I think we might cancel the vet appointment for now also, so we don't end up getting prescribed more medicine that is not necessary. I really appreciate the info.

Actually, I have a quick follow-up. The Desitin and equivalent creams come in several strengths. The strongest is 40% zinc oxide. Do you know if that strength is safe for the dog, or should I stick with the regular strength or even extra strength?

Thanks again.

I'm a frequent visitor to earthclinic.com, and found this info on treating pyoderma. Note: this is just additional info. It's always best to follow-up/confirm with your vet!

Cure Pyoderma in Dogs

__________________
Wendy

Now the proud Mom of Renny, gotcha-day 10/19/2012.



My beautiful Lacey, always loved, never forgotten.
- Gotcha Day April 28, 2008 at @3 years old
- Crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, at the age of @8 years old, on Sunday, August 5, 2012

Your welcome . Sometimes for small things like that its not needed to prescribe something to mask the issue also to give oral antibiotics which do a number on the system is a bit much. Try the cream, if not there's a few other stronger creams I can suggest but I have only needed to use them once before. The penatin cream does the trick for me 99 percent of the time. Sometimes its yeast aswell as bacteria but the cream and ACV will fix both

Also, since this seems like an issue he may keep having from the jowel structure you could wipe the folds and skin with ACV a couple times daily to keep bacteria at bay. I do this with mine and it lessons the pyoderma. Changing the bowl to metal could help as well since plastic harbours bacteria. Foods likely not the issue here I never thought food was causing mines lip fold pyoderma.

Another product I like as well is called vetrecyn (I think that's how its spelled). It cures staph (pyoderma), yeast, ring worm etc. I have used it on his lip fold pyoderma as well but I like the cream better and the cream is $10 a tin vs $30 a small bottle of vetrecyn

Mines 18 percent. So stick with that if you can or around there. That strength is fine for mine and he's gotton some pretty nasty lip fold pyoderma

Again, very helpful information, which I really appreciate.