[drkcloud4u]

I think my dogs have poison ivy. We just put the fence up this weekend which extended the area of our yard in which they can play.
I just was going to pet Jack's belly & I noticed these red "spotted" areas--no bumps. THen I checked my 3 other dogs & they all have the same thing!

Is there a remedy for them? Do I use calamine lotion on them?

DH isn't home yet, when he does get home I'm going to have him go out there & remove any offending plants.

 

[BowWowMeow]

To the best of my knowledge (which includes a lot of exposure to poison ivy!) dogs do not get poison ivy. They can, however, get the oils on their skin and pass it on to you so removing it is a very wise idea.

I am guessing you are seeing some sort of bug bites on your dogs.

 

[drkcloud4u]

 

[Maedchen]

Wow!
My dogs also never had poison ivy quite in contrast to me.
Whatever it is, I would apply vinegar- straight with a cloth or similar.
If you have green or black tea, you could also cook up a bag and apply this (when cooled), but I'd def. try the vinegar (it prevents itching and removes swelling, while the tea promotes healing).

 

[WiscTiger]

It could be an allergic reaction to some thing in the grass.

 

[BowWowMeow]

Nice rash--very impressive! Are they itching?

Aloe vera juice should work and tea tree oil will definitely treat the rash. With tea tree oil you have to be careful that they don't ingest it but the aloe vera juice is safe (as long as it's 100% aloe vera) as is the cider vinegar.

 

[drkcloud4u]

only one seems to be itching--not the one pictured
I have an aloe plant, I'm going to hop out right now & get the cider vinegar. I can't use tea tree oil as I am highly allergic.

 

[BowWowMeow]

Ok, wash the area off with the cider vinegar and then apply the aloe vera. That will help with the itching and hopefully get rid of the rash sooner.

I would not use the calamine lotion because it is not safe to ingest.

It really could be anything but how strange that all of them have it!

If you can get a hypericum/calendula blend or even just a calendula lotion, that will work too. That's what I use for rashes on myself and on the dogs.

 

[Barb E]

Ringworm?

 

[AnnaRiley]

Last summer when one of my dogs was having bad skin problems, I took him to a vet specializing in dermatology. He had some of the same red bumps that your pictures show. He is still having skin problems that have improved over time. BUT, a couple of weeks after seeing the derm vet, I had someone come over to clean my yard. When I was showing what I needed done in the backyard, he said to me - you know that patch on the ground there is poison ivy and that stuff growing on the fence. I said, you have got to be kidding - I've mowed over that spot numerous times. Obviously I am not allergic to poison ivy.

I called the derm vet and asked her about dogs and poison ivy. She said yes they can get it. He has those red bumps again this spring. The poison ivy started coming back and I have sprayed. So I guess what I am trying to say is that dogs can get poison ivy.

I would try the vinegar suggestions in the posts. Baking soda may help too.

 

[LandosMom]

that doesn't look like any poison ivy i've seen. how about ringworm?

 

[AnnaRiley]

My dog with the same type spots was checked for ringworm. Negative results came back.

 

[AnnaRiley]

I used RoundUP for poison ivy. Customer Service said keep the dogs out of the sprayed area for at least 5 hours.

 

[BowWowMeow]

Originally Posted By: AnnaRileyI used RoundUP for poison ivy. Customer Service said keep the dogs out of the sprayed area for at least 5 hours.

If you're going to use pesticides (instead of just pulling it up) then I would keep your dogs out of the area for at least a week. Pesticides have been linked to cancer in both dogs and humans.

http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/
http://www.susunweed.com/A_Campaign_for_Organic_Lawns2.htm

 

[drkcloud4u]

I just bought the vinegar..I'm going to wash them off with an oatmeal shampoo first, then apply the vinegar.
I'm going to call my vet in the morning, but I won't be able to go there until Friday..
When you put in two weeks notice at work, it's not good to miss time.

 

[SunCzarina]

OMG those spots would freak me out! Put some vinegar on the poison ivy itself, should kill it. Much safer than roundup (and better for the planet) and you won't have to keep the dogs in.

 

[raysmom]

Many years ago I had a beagle mix who had a staph infection and had bumps on her belly that looked just like those - it is contagious as well which could explain why they all have them -

Just another possibility - hope it goes away soon!

 

[WiscTiger]

Staph infections are not contagious. Staph is all over the place, humans and dogs are in contact with it all the time. The nasty little opportunistic little bug is just looking for a host. A dog with a weakend immune system, a skin irriatation from allergies, normally it is a conbination of those two or a cut. My male has had several staph infections one after surgery and several because of allergies, I let my one female play with him all the time even when he has a staph infection and she has never gotten a staph infection.

 

[Kay13411]

My dogs also get this, I figured it is from the May flies. I found a product called Pet_Gaurd, made by Virbac, it comes is a gel, it works great. I apply it every 3 days, to the ears, and the belly area.

 

[raysmom]

Quote:Staph infections are not contagious. Staph is all over the place, humans and dogs are in contact with it all the time. The nasty little opportunistic little bug is just looking for a host.

Hmmm - glad we don't go to that vet anymore! We were told canine staph infections were contagious to other animals

But that was many years ago, so the thinking may have changed since back in the olden days when I was a kid.