dog scratching scab badly
 

Hi All. This is my first post. I am from Saskatchewan, Canada. my dog is a bichon-shihtzu born Oct, 2007.

Some background;

The dog is *very* active for a senior. During summer months he is normally walked for atleast an hour a day. During winter he gets whatever he can depending on the weather.

He is fed a high quality locally made food called Horizon Legacy. Always well groomed. He also gets fed real bones, often in the form of raw chicken or steak bones. His breath is the freshest of any dog I've ever had. No issues with any of the bones for him to date.

I normally give him a trim down to 4f every 4-6 weeks, with a sanitary buzz in between as needed.

Now the issue;

The dog had a cyst on his neck (top, behind head, infront of shoulder blades) for many years, about gold ball size. The vet always said it's ok unless punctured. Unfortunately I took him into a groomer for a cut, and they nicked the lump. It bled and released puss etc. Went to the vet, for several hundred dollars they said keep it clean and wrapped. A year later, I can't get this animal to stop scratching and opening it back up. Even a dog sweater, he will go on his back and wiggle out.

It doesn't seem to bother him other than itching. I have treated with polysporin and witch hazel to keep that down, but it doesn't last a full day.

I am inevitably going to have to go back to a very with him, probably very soon when I have a day off, but I want to go armed with some information. They seem to be obviously taking advantage. Does anyone have any suggestions whatsoever? If he wouldn't scratch I know this would go away.

Here are some pictures of the wound. He is wet and just out of the shower when taken. [url]https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbGdW1rAb0Q2rTpm2[/url]

Hi, thirstbuster. Welcome to the board!

Our dogs get cysts like these, though much smaller. The only thing we've found that works to reduce them in size and control the itching is an epsom salt bath. When they flare up and begin to ooze, I apply a solution of 1 Tablespoon of epsom salts mixed into a cup of warm water. You can dribble it on or saturate a paper towel. Once the area is wet, the fur and skin cleans up a little easier, and I try to get as much loose gunk off as possible. I usually try to keep the area saturated for 3 to 5 minutes a treatment.

We continue that once or twice a day until the cyst subsides some. And they do usually subside--Cass had a few that went away entirely, though most of them just get smaller and heal over, then recur later.

As I understand it, they can usually be removed surgically, too. Grace had a problematic one on her brow that we had removed last time she went in for a dental cleaning, but it's not usually enough of a problem to necessitate a dedicated surgery for removal--we just have them removed, if need be, when they go in for something else and need to be knocked out, anyway.

Murphy is a doll, btw. :lovestruck: :D