[Paws917]

Hi!

This is my first time posting here. I have a beautiful 9 year old Golden named Emmie. A week ago, she developed a little sore on her right cheek for no reason I could see. I cleaned it, treated it and it appeared to be well on its way to going away when my husband just noticed a large area of blood on the same cheek. I think she scratched it. It got much bigger since she scratched it, but she is now being treated for it and it seems to be healing. Also that ear is a little red inside the flap though I'm not sure if it's because she was scratching her hotspot. Emmie only had one hotspot in her life before this and it was due to a bee sting. Ironically, it was on about the same area. At any rate, my question is can a food allergy cause a hot spot? Emmie usually eats Wysong kibble every evening, but in the last couple of weeks, I have begun feeding her a half can of Nature's Variety Prairie style food in addition to the Wysong. I did a lot of research on foods before choosing that one and she seems to love it. I'm just asking because my DH was wondering if the new food could have caused this hot spot. I'll admit the timing seems suspicious, but I was thinking that if it was the food, she would be having issues all over her body and not just in one area, much like when we get hives. Is he right? Could it be a food allergy? Thanks for any advice and/or insight you can give me!

 

[amy22]

Yes, they can get hotspots from food allergies. My golden angel Sandy got hotspots and when I changed her food to Lamb and rice formula she stopped getting them. The vet told me she was allergic to the previous food.
Hope this helps.
By the way...do you have ant pictureds of Emmie? We'd love to see her..and what a beautiful name!

 

[Paws917]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I am planning to take her off the Nature's Variety tomorrow and see what happens in the next few days. Maybe I'll have to do a little trial and error to find a good canned food. Other than this, she seems to really enjoy it and people have been commenting lately on how "peppy" she seems to be, especially for a 9 year old dog who has had two hip surgeries. Her full name (as we like to say) is actually Emily Dew, but we usually call her Emmie. I'd love to post her picture, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that. I see the picture icon above for inserting a photo and it asks for a URL, but when I go into My Pictures, I don't have URLs on any of them. (BTW, your dog is gorgeous. Looks like she could do commercials!)

Erin

 

[amy22]

I wish I coule help you post a picture....I cannot remember how to do it! I am so sorry....Im sure someone else on here will see your post and help you! (Thats how I got my dogs picture on here!) If I remember correctly you click browse pictures and then find one an upload it...I am not very good on the computer, I am sorry I cant help you more.
I hope that the food change will help your dog...and I hope you can get a picture of yours on here!
Thanks for the compliment about Misty. Shes a great dog...suffering from a UTI right now ....but you would never know!
Please let me know Emmie is doing.

 

[Bock]

It could be a food allergy, although generally the food allergy will cause itchiness in more places than one.

Sounds like a good plan to take her off it and see what happens. Nature's Variety is a very good brand of dog food so it was a good choice to try.

 

[Paws917]

My instinct tells me it's not the food because I think it would be showing up in more than just one place. It seems to be agreeing with her normally sensitive tummy, which I am happy for, and I've been adding it slowly. I liked everything I read about the Nature's Variety so I'm really hoping that's not it, although the Wysong is a pretty good food too. BTW, I think I figured out how to post photos. If I do this correctly, the photo I'm posting below is one of my favorites of Emmie.

 

[amy22]

we cant see the picture...try again!

 

[BeauShel]

I would get a thyroid test done on her. The ears and the hot spot are classic signs for a low thyroid. Make sure the do a full panel on her and if it comes back low normal make sure they put her on meds. Low normal is low for goldens. Natures Variety is a good food.

 

[Paws917]

Okay, one more time ...

[/IMG]



If this doesn't work, there is an album I just posted of her entitled "Emily Dew!"

Erin

 

[Bender]

Yup, food can cause hotspots for sure! Not sure if it's one cause or something like more itching, but I've seen it with dogs who end up going to raw and then don't have an issue. I know it seems like it should be the whole body but it doesn't seem to always work that way.

My kids get excema in patches when they've had too much dairy... usually a few penny sized spots break out, not the whole body.

Dogs can also develop an allergy to foods they eat all the time - happens often with dogs on raw who end up eating just chicken and/or beef. Sometimes years after they've been eating it too...

Hope that helps!

Lana

 

[Finn's Fan]

I'd like to second the notion to get a thyroid test. At her age, it's not a bad idea anyway, but hotspots and gunky ears can be a result of low thyroid. If the vet says "she's in the normal range", ask for specific numbers. A low result in the normal range may be too low for a golden and supplementation is required. I tried to look at Emmie's album and couldn't find one

 

[Willow52]

I don't think it's food related either, at this time of year I would suspect a bug bite. But by taking her off the food for a while then try again and see what happens when you add it again you'll know.

Here is how I add pics -

-go to the post reply page
-scroll down to the additional options area
-click on attach files
-in the upload files from your computer area click browse
-that will take you to your computer files
-choose your pic (I usually have them waiting on my desktop)
-click the upload button, it's now been downloaded to your reply page

This is Hank the day we brought him home. Sorry, I don't have any more recent on my laptop.

 

[Lucky's mom]

I'm more inclined to think it a bug bite. Once I got Lucky on frontline his hot spots stopped except for a couple brought on by mosquitos. Lucky will get a hot spot if he is scratching an intense itch. When we had a flea problem he was getting hot spots...and body rashes....all over.

When the cold weather comes, that is a good time to give a new food in my opinion.

 

[amy22]

I couldnt see the album either.....

 

[Taz Monkey]

I didn't have time to read everyones replies, but she could have an ear infection. Taz got an ear infection, and then scratched all the skin off the side of her face because she was scratching at it.

 

[Rikos Mom]

We've been fighting hot spots on our 2 year old this year.....

It's been very hot and wet....which is one issue, however we also pinned down allergies as well.

We started him on fish/potato food, he gets nothing with wheat in it, so only wheat free, hypoallergenic treats.

Our vet did thyroid testing during his annual exam, and the results were fine (our vet also owns 2 goldens).

As for treating them....we tallied up that we had spent almost $200 on meds, sprays, etc since the spring. I did a lot of research and many said to use gold bond powder....

So, now when he gets one, we catch it early (we do daily brushing, and look for spots starting), clip the hair around it and put gold bond on.....the results are AMAZING...stops it in it's tracks, and they are healing fast! We also told the vet last Thurs that we were using gold bond and she said "it's funny you say that, someone else was just in and said the same thing".....she said he was fine with that, just avoid him eating it (licking etc) and that hadn't been an issue as most of his hot spots are on his head/neck.

Good luck! Definitely follow the advise of posters here.....they have been so very helpful to us. Riko is our first golden