A question for those with fluff monsters

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Annette4

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How often do you check your dogs skin/below the fluff?

Jack and Quila (although more so Jack as he's got a different coat) are very fluffy. They get checked over properly and brushed once a week.

I checked Jack last week and didn't find anything, as ususal, but last night found what I suspect is an infected cut/popped abcess! I've cut the hair away as best I could to get a proper look but it wasn't a brilliant veiw as he wouldn't let me get much off so I've washed it and he's off the the vets after work.

He's a ****** for hunting in hedges etc and before now I've found a thorn inbeded in his shoulder. He never shows any signs of discomfort or being under the weather etc which is why I make a habit of checking but I do feel awful that I've either missed it or this has come on quick :(
 
I hope all goes as well as possible at the vets, and that Jack is soon well again.


Personally, I wouldn't call my bitches fluff monsters, but I do describe them as fluffy, and their undercoat is usually so thick, that it feels like as if the first obstacle is usually to simply find the skin in the first place! Especially during the warmer months (= when they risk getting ticks), I often try to feel through their coats with my fingers once per day, trying to find ticks (since anti-tick stuff doesn't work 100%), but it isn't easy. The rest of the year, I do try to check them over regularly, but it really is a matter of hit-and-miss if I find anything like nips or scratches etc.

Before the 3 Finnish Lapphunds that I have now, I've had e.g. 2 Norwegian Buhunds, and even though the Buhunds had shorter coats, their undercoat was just as thick. And through the years, my veterinarian have more than once commented on that it can't be easy for me, to find out if/when anything bad is happening at skin level, with such thick undercoats.

So regardless if it something that you've missed, or if it is something that has turned up out of nowhere, please, don't feel awful. When you have a fluffy dog, you can only do your best, and unless you develop x-ray vision or keep them clean shaved, you have to accept that you may not always notice if bad things happens on skin level, as quickly as you would want.



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I have samoyeds and malamutes (and fluffy maine coone cats) so it is a house of fluff!

I groom everything twice a week, and comb through right down to the skin, checking as I go - but it is so easy to miss things, and problems like hot spots (raw sore patches that grow really quickly) are so easy to miss.

Rain can soak through to the under coat, and if the dog stays damp, can cause hot spots. How I deal with them is to trim the fur, and wash with colloidal silver, pat dry and puff on athletes foot powder - this usually clears them up quickly.
 
It is a large patch of wet eczema. He's sporting a rather large shaved patch on his neck and shoulder bless him. Quila has had a milder form before which literally came up over night so I don't feel as bad. Jack wouldn't tolerate daily checking but twice a week he will have to.put up with.
 
Athlete's foot powder is amazing for helping hot spots to go.

I check mine all the time, they always have thorns embedded cos they gallop through the woods and go straight through brambles etc.

Hope the patches go soon. :)
 
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