My bulldog has congestion, dry skin, and hair loss. Is it allergies?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Well, he is quite adorable that's for sure. The skin amd eye issues could be due to allergies. However, while general allergies can cause a cough, this would be a bit unusual and other possible causes of coughing like pneumonia, bronchitis, and heart failure should be investigated. The coughing could also be due to pneumonitis secondary to exposure to the cleaning products. I recommend that you have Pacino evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Yes, seasonal allergies are definitely a possibility. I would recommend you try an anti-itch shampoo/ cream rinse like this: ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1439-relief-shampoo.aspx ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1443-relief-creme-rinse.aspx ) You could also try an oral anti-histamine but you should really speak to your vet before giving any oral medications. ( https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/cetirizine/ ) Best wishes.

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat big with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start Big on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Apoquel).

Mr. Brown may be having the skin issues due to ringworm, skin mites or allergies. Allergy testing can be complicated and expensive, ruling out food allergies is certainly easier by using a hydrolyzed diet. Diagnosing ringworm and skin mites is very easy. I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian and at least rule out the easy things that may spread to the other dogs. At least then you can start treatment and decontamination if needed. Things you can do to improve skin health in general include changing the diet to something that is aimed at tskin health such as Nutro or Royal Canin. Giving him an additional omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs will also help but may not fix the situation. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, and thank you for your question and photos. This looks like a severe skin infection that will require treatment with antibiotics and/or antifungals. There may be also an underlying abnormality such as a mass, allergies, or parasites as you suggested. I would definitely recommend getting him seen at the vet as soon as possible, especially since he is lethargic and not eating. In the meantime, it is important that he does not scratch. You can also try applying a weak solution of betadine + water (1:10) or chlorhexidine solution as an antiseptic until you can get to the vet. I hope this helps, and that Tank is feeling better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hi. I am sorry to hear that biggie Paws is having trouble breathing. Unfortunately breathing issues can become an emergency very quickly. Bulldogs do tend to have trouble breathing due to their synotic nares an elongated soft palate. In addition, if they are overweight that contributes even further to breathing problems. If he is actually struggling to breathe, I would recommend you take him to the ER rather than waiting until Monday. He may have an upper respiratory infection, a heart condition, or the respiratory issues that this breed has have become extreme for him. The ER veterinarian will do an examination, and probably some chest x-rays to see if there is any heart condition or primary lung issue. That will help lead us to the correct diagnosis and treatment. There are surgical interventions for the stenitic nares an elongated soft palate that this breed has. That may be in his future if that is what the cause is for his breathing at this time. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon.