Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

ruths — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 18:19:27 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[quote user="ruths"]if there are two dogs affected, i would strongly suspect something infectious[/quote]

Like what?? Environmental for sure. ie contact

[/quote] that was a generalised comment about two dogs in the same place being affected by a disease process- ie it's infectious or environemental

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Joyce Whitehead — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 17:43:37 GMT

It's quite a long time ago, but on recollection I used potentiated amoxicillin and steroids, along with really good elizabethan collars to prevent licking. I think we used flamazine on the superficial skin areas, he had ulceration on his hind legs too as his coat had soaked it up before the owner realised.

It did take weeks to completely clear up though! Good luck with your boy.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Anthony Todd — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 17:36:30 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"]the affected skin is exactly where the scrotum touches the floor when the dog is sitting upright, don't know if that changes when he lies down. The only thing the owner could think of was[/quote]

Although it's pretty delicate the scrotal skin contact has to be the thing to look at, and it'll be where the dog sits up, ie like "SIT"! ??Sitting before being fed in a certain area cleaned with some sort of corrosive/irritant??

Some owners make their dogs SIT! before they feed them or ?? take them for a walk??

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Anthony Todd — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 17:29:44 GMT

[quote user="ruths"]if there are two dogs affected, i would strongly suspect something infectious[/quote]

Like what?? Environmental for sure. ie contact

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Sammy82 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 16:34:53 GMT

Thank you,

Good to hear that your dog got to keep his testicles. What treatment did you use?

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Joyce Whitehead — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 16:30:31 GMT

Another vote for a contact irritation/dermatitis. I once saw one like this but worse in a dog that laid down in the wheel dip antiseptic solution used for foot and mouth precautions, he lost a lot of superficial skin but retained his testicles, very painful though. I think addition of steroids is a very sesible option at this stage.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Sammy82 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 16:30:05 GMT

Physical/chemical damage is certainly most likely now. There are no lesions on/in the mouth. They are normal house dogs, have no access to farm yards or work places.

I have checked when he was in, the affected skin is exactly where the scrotum touches the floor when the dog is sitting upright, don't know if that changes when he lies down. The only thing the owner could think of was new bean bags they got for the dogs- but then remembered that they got them after the lesions started, so not the cause. What confuses me is the 6 week gap between the 2 dogs, unless it is a repeated insult, e.g ongoing building work. For how long is new concrete corrosive?

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Anthony Todd — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 16:05:58 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

My gut feeling is it's something they're lying down on,

Wynne

[/quote]

+1 but sitting not lying? [Haven't got a dog to visualise] Does the scrotum posterior surface touch the ground when a dog does an erect "sit"?

Blowed if I can see the point of a biopsy with the picture confused by time and treatment; at first signs maybe....

Surely it's a chemical or physical burn??

Is the tongue involved as that is likely to be affected if it was a corrosive??

Owner isn't involved with corrosives is he; motor garage; swimming pool chemicals etc.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 15:21:09 GMT

My gut feeling is it's something they're lying down on,

Wynne

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

ruths — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 14:25:34 GMT

if there are two dogs affected, i would strongly suspect something infectious or an environmental issue.

It really can't be much else tbh.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 13:56:04 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"] Would have taken biopsies today if it wasn't Sunday and no post, certainly the next step.[/quote]

Yes....I'd be going with biopsies.

(Not sure why ability to post same day is an issue though, as the tissue will be preserved...???)

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Sammy82 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 13:42:23 GMT

Thank you all for your input so far. The idea of frostbite was discussed with the owner several time, we just can't see how as it wasn't extremely cold. I will ask them about any new concrete though.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Braden Collins — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 13:37:04 GMT

i saw a similar case due to some freshly laid concrete Causing a chemical burn.

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Utlendigur — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 12:30:46 GMT

Frostbite? No hair cover in that area if they are sitting on cold ground..

RE: Scrotal ulceration in a Labrador- help please

Sammy82 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 12:15:49 GMT

Thank you Michael. Well it wasn't me who started with the Baytril. Clavaseptin is usually my first choice. I questioned the owner about any chemicals/cleaning product used on and near the dogs, they cannot think of anything. And they are very sensible people. It certainly is excactly the part of the skin that is in contact with the floor when sitting. Would have taken biopsies today if it wasn't Sunday and no post, certainly the next step. I did start the steroids today, again not something I throw in at the first presentation of a skin lesion. The trouble is that the histo report from the first dog said that they can't tell if the vasculitis was primary or secondary. Now seeing the developement of this lesion I assume it was primary (if it is the same condition after all), hence the steroids.

RE: Scrotal ulceration

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 12:04:45 GMT

Well that is a cocktail of meaty antibiotics.

If we presume a similar aetiology to the other dog then I would have gone with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid and some steroids at a decent dose - rather than reaching for a fluoroquinolone.

The scrotum would be the most delicate ventral skin - have you checked regarding washing powder, pet wipes, carpet cleaning etc that could be causing a contact irritation.