Acne or something that looks like it

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello all,
I have a 4 yr old F english mastif, who we love to death. She has bumps or pimplely looking things under her chin. They bleed when rubbed on. They seem to cause some discomfort to her when we try to clean them.
Has anyone seen this before or know what it is and how to treat it?
We've been to the vet about this. They don't seem to know what it is for sure.

thanks.
nik.

[alicat613]

Sounds like what's known as "puppy pimples". So long as they are only on the chin, you can use Listerine on them. Also is your dog eating out of a stainless steel bowl? These are usually better for the chin pimples. And make sure you wipe off his face if he gets his muzzle dirty while eating.

Puppy pimples are actually caused by staph, which is normally on your skin and his skin too, it's just gotten a little rampant in an area, from being too wet, etc.

It's also a good idea to bring up your boys immune system. Work him up to 1000 mg vitamin C (human pills are fine) and you can also give him garlic in his food if he'll eat it.

[DogPaddle]

A freind had a similar problem with her cat. Same solution too. Switched to a higher quality food (either Solid Gold or Wellness or Wysong) and presto - all better.

[imported_Foster]

My cattledog had this problem. Turned out she was allergic to the plastic bowls (sorry did not know better at the time) so once I switched to stainless steels bowls the pimples went away.

[yellowlabsrule]

This will sound like a dumb question, but why is a plastic bowl bad? Winnie just got a new stainless steel bowl for Christmas, but before that she ate out of a plastic bowl and never got anything. Is it bad for her to drink out of a plastic bucket?

[alicat613]

The plastic can scratch, leading to the dog ingesting some plastic or chemicals that may seep out into the food or water, and also the scratches and porosity of plastic encourages more germ and bacteria growth than a stainless steel bowl.

And they can't chew up stainless steel. :lol:

PS There are no dumb questions. If it's something you don't know, and you don't ask, you still won't know, and that's a lot dumber than asking any question!

[alicat613]

Well that too, I suppose, but I don't dishwash the bowls so I didn't think about that. With a home fed Dane, who eats 3 times a day, I'd have to run a lot of loads! I hand wash instead.

[alicat613]

Ooh! I'd hate to see your electricity bills! I hope the price isn't as high wherever you are as it is here. I don't think I could afford to run it that much! LOL

[DogPaddle]

Are ceramic/stoneware bowls ok?
We use them because when the boys get playing anything is fair game and the ceramic bowls are very heavy and hard to tip. Also, we used to use a big plastic bucket for water but Tir tended to indicate that his food bowl needs filling by tipping his water bucket over. He hasn't done it with the ceramic yet.

[alicat613]

Hmm...I recall reading somewhere that some is ok, some is not, but I can't recall why. I think it had to do with the coating? Oh ok, I found it. Yes, you want to make sure it's lead free as the coating can chip.

[DogPaddle]

Thank-you Alicat,
I don't know if the coating is lead free. I'll just go out and buy new ones, or maybe those metal ones that claim to be no skid/tip bowls.

[alicat613]

I think if they are by a good comapny for dogs or human use, you're fine, I think what they are advising is check before you use bowls that are decorative.

[bullygirl29532]

yeah your right all ceramic and such type bowls, plates, ect that are approved for USE are lead free. Decorative ones have a lead based paint they use that can withstand the high firing temp or style of firing used.