Under arm rash

It's either yeast (warm moist place with little air?) or infection or some form of allergies that come out on the skin.

 In honesty, if it *Is* infected it needs antibiotics or it won't clear up.  Infected skin will not heal.

The other possible is that it is thyroid based -- which needs a breed-specific thyroid panel either from Hemopet or Michigan State (because unless it's **hugely** out of whack a regular thyroid panel won't show anything anyway.

 You switch foods all over the place and all you'll get is him being "sensitive" to a bunch of new allergens in every single food you switch to.  The only sensible test for allergies and food is a true elmination diet that you make yourself. (a novel protein and a novel veg -- two things he's never ever had before) and then you add back in ingredients one at a time.  Just switching all over the place is more apt to increase allergies than lessen them.

If you are going to use a medicated shampoo you need to try something that's appropriate -- either for yeast or sore skin and honestly Dyan it's going to take the vet to tell you that unless you can tell. 

 If it's been there for a long time thru all of this then you will likely have to have the vet look and let the vet take whatever steps are needed to get the skin back to normal (which may well be antibiotics and/or steroids at this point).

 There are times when antibiotics are needed.  And there are times when steroids are needed.  That doesn't make them bad -- it just means sometimes you need them.  Just avoiding the vet when nothing you're doing is working really doesn't make sense. 

 I would have thought if you've had him TO the vet they would have noticed and made some comment.

 At Gibby's age and breed I would surely rule out thyroid before you go much further.  If it were my dog I'd do a big "super chem" blood panel plus thryoid thru Hemopet (the Thyroid 5 Plus) -- you probably don't know what a baseline is on him (what is "normal" for him bloodwork wise) and for his age and breed he's "mature" so I'd say a thyroid test and bloodwork would be the FIRST thing I would do.

Thanks Callie. Well first thing to tell you is that he did have a thyroid panel done less than a year ago....via Hemopet. NOT because of this rash naturally...but rather because I wanted it done...and of course bloodwork was done also. In fact he had two thyroid panels done in 6 months because the first one was done at the regular vet during a feet licking episode. It was negative but took him to the holistic vet 6 months later. The vet would not have noticed under his arms...I never see it which is why I forgot to even mention it to the vet when I took him last month. Since he doesn't lay on his back...I never see it. I noticed it one day when he did happened to roll over, that is when I figured it was from his no pull harness as it goes under his arms. Of course I will not avoid the vet if nothing is working...I'm trying to get something to work first....he is my baby. If he needs antibiotics and/or steroids...of course he will get them...its just the vets give them way too fast and easy at times. Therefore I was looking to see if there was any experience from my friends and something to try. I really believe that few dogs have allergies to food, but rather sensitivities. I didn't change his food because of it...I did want to try the grain free food and since I was feeding Canidea it was my likely choice. I'm switching now because so many like the 4 Health food and its half the price of my Canidae...but I am sticking with the fish.

dyan

I worked on switching him to no grain salmon in the Canidae line....now am just starting to switch him to hte 4 Health no grain fish.

 

 

I notice that both foods, while grain free, are fish based.  Just an FYI, my RB Sugar was allergic to fish, all varieties.  As long as I used a fish free food she was fine.  So I point this out for you, just in case.

 Like Callie, I was wondering if it may be a yeast infection.  Willy my rescue arrived here with an extensive skin yeast allergy.  His skin was almost tomato red, and you could feel the heat coming off of his skin from 2 inches away.  For Willy, it was his hind quarters, outside, inside leg, the entire hind quarters.  Getting him on a high quality grain free food made a huge difference.  Even now, 3 years later, he is highly allergic to grains.  He needed 6 weeks of antibiotics to help deal with the infection.    Yeast feeds on carbohydrates, so if it is that, you need to also consider what treats you feed.

 

Freedom

 Like Callie, I was wondering if it may be a yeast infection. 

Telling thing for me was Dyan said she didn't 'see' it -- which means it's covered all the time -- either he's laying on it or it's largely covered by skin folds which means it's probably a moist area

Thank you for your post Freedom. EEKS....here I am thinking fish is the way to go. Your right Callie....its under his arms...where its not noticeable. He was just in here by me and I did feel it.... can't say that its moist at all..but probably not a lot of air getting to it either. With all that I keep also thinking that the no-pull harness that goes under his arms could have a lot to do with it...he has not had it on now in a couple of days....will watch another couple days to see if there is a difference....and if not...off to the vet. Thanks again Friends!

Took him to have it looked at yesterday. Doc put him on http://www.drugs.com/vet/gentamicin-topical-spray.html And of course Benadryl twice a day. It almost looked like the mixture of Listerine/Baby oil/water was helping a bit but wanted to get it checked so it did not get out of hand. Funny...the bottle of spray looked familiar after I got home and looked for it since I know I did not use it up...sure enough...then realize he got the same thing last year same time...but it was not for the under arm thing...It was for feet he was licking. They are not a problem at all this year.... She thinks its seasonal allergies. GREAT! But that is what I kind of figured.

Its amazing how fast the rash cleared up with a little antibiotic type spray and 3 Benadryls 2x a day works..... in one day the rash is 99% better.......so what happens after 10 days of meds...bet it comes back. Maybe not!

Keep him on the Benedryl thru the season ... and the mark the calendar and start it in March next year. It's ok to do that. Benedryl has very very few long term side effects and that is a VERY minimal dose for Gibby's size. (typically the minimum dose is 1 mg/lb of body weight -- 2-3 times a day)

Thanks Callie...will do that!