I was giving Loki his usual morning neck & tummy rub, after putting on his collar earlier (now 8.20am) .....& as he tilted his head backwards to look up at me, noticed a large area on his throat which looked like blood ...below his collar, not beneath it. I removed his collar & got a damp cloth & gently rubbed over the area, but nothing came off at all ....the area felt dry, so I thought it was either dried blood that I had not noticed when I put his collar on, or it was a large patch of raw skin. I have not seen him scratching at his throat, but he could have woken up during the night & done that, I guess. It is not an area he can reach to chew on ......so if it is raw skin, I am thinking that maybe he has miliary eczema? The area does not appear to have crusted bumps on it ....hard to see, as Loki thinks I am playing a game with him when I try to have a closer look. I have made an appointment with the vet in half an hour. Loki now snoozing, so am going to see if I can get a closer look. Hope it is nothing serious ....he certainly doesn't look sick, but he is always chewing on plants & leaves, so I am a bit worried.

Just been having another look, & wondering if the breast part of his new harness has been rubbing the area. He only wears the harness when we go for a walk, or into the park. Off to the vet ....just going to use his collar. Got the harness out to put on him, & then started to think that could be the answer, but strange I haven't noticed it before.

I hope the Vet can figure it out and treat it. Please keep us posted.


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Jodi

It almost sounds like a hot spot. Is it draining at all?

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"In life, the best walks are always too brief."


Gallagher(went to the Rainbow Bridge 08/02/02), and Fozzie's Mom forever!(Fozzie went to the Rainbow Bridge 07/14/12)

Just back from the vet & Loki is snoozing on the rug at my feet. Yes .....it's the infamous Hot Spot ....& quite large area. The vet said it's amazing how quickly these areas can go from being a small bacterial infection to a large infected area in a matter of hours. He gently shaved the throat area & then had the vet nurse clean over it with a medicated shampoo. Then gently dabbed it dry & vet applied a special cream over the whole area. Then vet gave him a steroid injection & anti-biotics, & has given me prednisone tablets to give him one daily tomorrow & two days afterwards, then down to half tablet daily til finished. I have to wash the area once a day in the medicated shampoo, & apply the cream three times a day until the area clears up. Plus anti- biotic as well. NZ$134 .....right before Christmas ....I told Loki that was his Christmas present taken care of! LOL. Asked vet to give him his worming tablet too, as was due, so that has now been taken care of.

As Loki is scratching at the area, vet said I would have to put a sock on that back foot, & tape it in place, if I cannot distract him. That should be interesting!! Hopefully I will be able to distract him, poor baby. The vet thought he was absolutely beautiful. He couldn't believe how much he has grown since he did his microchip three weeks ago, & said he had the true goldie temperament ....Loki was very well-behaved & lapping up all the attention he was getting ...tail wagging & very smoochy. The vet receptionist, who breeds Australian Terriers, told Loki that he was much better behaved than her dogs. Vet told me to keep his collar off him until the area has cleared up, & when I walk him over the next three days, to put a sterile square between the skin & the collar ...to leave off his harness for a week or so. I am going to wash the collar & harness, in case there is any bacteria lurking on them. I wash his toys & bedding weekly, but am thinking I should do a separate wash for collar & harness. I took Loki for his morning walk along he road the vet is in, so got that out of the way. Won't walk him tonight. We will play some games in the garden with him. Should I keep him out of his pools for the next couple of days?

Yeah, I would try not to let him get wet.


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"In life, the best walks are always too brief."


Gallagher(went to the Rainbow Bridge 08/02/02), and Fozzie's Mom forever!(Fozzie went to the Rainbow Bridge 07/14/12)

awww...poor Loki! I hope this clears up well for him and you.

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