Beating my head against a wall

Dog allergies get worse as they age, where we humans can sometimes get 'better' as we age.

Billy's allergies have been a contiual battle and finally between Chinese medicine and homeopathy we've got some awesome progress.  Learning to cope with an allergy dog can be difficult but it shouldn't interfere with quality of life.  it can be a lot of work tho --

April is a big allergy month in a lot of places -- just wiping them down when they come in from outside can be a big help actually.

   Poor Kale; sounds like he has a pyoderma (skin infection). I know how frustrating it can be. Before starting allergen immunotherapy, Jessie used to get pustules on her sides and stomach. She also got ear infections and caused her feet to bleed from chewing on them so much. I took her to a veterinary dermatologist who did an intradermal skin test to determine which pollens and insects she was allergic to and the severity of her reaction to each one. She was (is) very allergic to many tree, grass, and weed pollens, and both storage and dust mites. She gets an injection every 2 weeks of a serum that has extracts from 12 of the things she's most allergic to, and it has really helped. She was at the vet in December and again 2 weeks ago, but it was just to have her anal sacs expressed.  Even though tree pollen is very high, she's doing great. The reason she's on immunotherapy is because she has year round allergies. If Kale only has problems a few months of the year, veterinarians don't recommend immunotherapy. Antihistamines, fish oil capsules, and weekly bathing with a shampoo like Nusal T should help; 

http://www.vetamerica.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=nusal+t

  If Kale's allergies cause problems several months of the year, you may want to see a veterinary dermatologist; Jessie sees one at a nearby vet teaching hospital. It's not a good idea to pop the pustules; that can help spread the infection. Kale will probably need a systemic antibiotic, a medicated shampoo, or both.
 

sigh he is getting older and I have never seen this particular reaction in 8 years of owning him even when we were struggling to get this diagnosed.

We can't get into the vet till tomorrow am. He had new bumps that weren't open and *** when I got home from work. I did apply some pressure to one and green puss oozed out. I have a very tough stomach, but the smell turned my stomach. I swear he has NEVER ever had this going on. I just want to give him something to help him or bathe him, but I am half scared of transfering the puss to another body part and more bumps filled with puss developing. My poor baby.

Foxysox

sigh he is getting older and I have never seen this particular reaction in 8 years of owning him even when we were struggling to get this diagnosed.

   I wonder if this may be more than a skin infection from allergies since he's never had this before. Also, Jessie didn't have bumps with green pus; they had clear liquid in them. Could there be something he's getting into, such as a plant, in your yard or on walks? I don't know what part of the country you live in, but in the southern states there are plants like wandering jew that can cause skin rashes on dogs. I really understand wanting to give him something; from your description it sounds like a nasty infection. I'll be sending tons of healing vibes; please let us know what the vet says.
 

Edited to add; This website lists several causes of fluid-filled bumps on the skin of dogs;   http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1593&articleid=426

 You may see something there that fits the description of what he has. Before she started immunotherapy, Jessie had the nasal pyoderma described on that page.

Thanks Jessie's mom. Yes I can say with a fair bit of certainty that this is not related to allergies. He clearly has some sort of infection. The green puss and the stink of it was a dead giveaway.

I had been thinking that maybe he was getting stung by fire ands. e refuses to use a bed outside and has been lying in a particular spot by the sliding glass door. Or maybe spider bites or Something, I just have no idea what. When I arrived home his muzzle was black and looked like he had been burrowing his head in the dirt somewhere, but the yard is well intact. His pee is regular colour, His stool are good. No temp. Has an appetite. He might be a bit grumpy with Maven, but I would be too If I was as uncomfortable as he likely is.

He eats Wellness adult. with roast beef that has garlic and veggies often cauliflower and carrots. I do a roast in the crock pot about every 3 days. He gets milk thistle, human grade Omega's, benadryl, and I did have to put him back on pred so he is getting 10mg 2x a day. This is his food routine. I feed them every 12 hours. 3:30 am and 3:30 pm.

Nothing has changed in his world I just don't get it.

We do live in southern California and yes there are plants in the yard year round. Currently the rose bushes are in full bloom. And the lemons are ripe and dropping off of the tree. But that's the only foliage change there has been. No plants in the house. A little dust, but not a ton. Even the allergy season has been brutal, but it's not any worse or any better according to my allergies.

It is just gross the green puss. I deal with puss and blood and significant grotesque injuries at work, but the smell and the green puss.. whew... it almost had me seeing my lunch twice. I have some ketochlor shampoo, heck I even have some cephalexin(sp?) but I don't want to do anything like start a round of antibiotics and and then have his vet change treatment or be stuck using a less effective antibiotic.   Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

Oh my word, I just found an article on the site you posted, and one of the early signs can be a dried or partially crusty nose... he had/has that. I thought he was just a little dehydrated from the heat so I had been putting electrolytes (Stress-Dex) in his water. It helped some, but clearly wasn't the answer.

I sooo want a full blood done on him.

At one point I had started to think maybe he had Cushings as he's been on pred. on and off for some time now (yes Callie, he gets Milk Thistle thanks to you!).

Foxysox

It is just gross the green puss. I deal with puss and blood and significant grotesque injuries at work, but the smell and the green puss.. whew... it almost had me seeing my lunch twice. I have some ketochlor shampoo, heck I even have some cephalexin(sp?) but I don't want to do anything like start a round of antibiotics and and then have his vet change treatment or be stuck using a less effective antibiotic.   Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

    I know how you feel, but since he's eating, drinking, and is active, he should be alright until he can see the vet tomorrow. When Jessie had the nasal pyoderma she wouldn't eat or drink Sunday and it was hard waiting for her to see the vet on Monday. I'm sending you cyber hugs; try to get some rest tonight.
 

Yuck! Poor kid! Emma gets skin infections, too, but her bumps have only been clear or yellowish white filled. Never green. I hope the vet can give something to clear him up, quickly. That sounds very not fun. 

Well the vet thinks it to be a bacterial infection. There aren't any new puss spots, and the older ones are mostly drying up. We are on cephalexin and a new antihistamine that with any luck will help me wean him off of the pred with more efficacy.

He looks so crappy that I was a bit embarrassed to have him seen by the "public." BUT the good news is he has gained significant weight! He has,for years, weighed 67lbs. Very consistantly. Yesterday he was a beefy 76lbs!!!! How'd that happen??? LOL. I always said my goal was to break 70lbs... guess mission accomplished!

Thanks (as usual) for all of your great help!

  He should be feeling much better in a few days. I hope the antihistamine helps; my veterinary dermatologist likes Doxepin, but I give Jessie Benedryl during the summer. One of the side effects of pred is weight gain, so maybe that's why he gained weight.

I did not know weight gain was part of the pred... wow. Good to know.