Red dots under dog’s armpit area with black scaly looking skin without hair (Part 2)

Hi Wei Ling!
Thank you for more photos of Xuan Xuan. The redness of her skin is visible, but not as bad as I thought it might be. Her skin appears to be healthier, but I can see that she is missing a lot of hair.

You wrote:
“I’m more worried as she repeated scratch the same area. The skin from those area will be under a lot of stress, dry up and her hair follicles will be damaged.”

Yes, that is a possibility. But from the photos, her skin is not that damaged, and her hair will all grow back. Hair follicles are located deep under the epidermis, second degree burns, and severe traumatic injuries will cause permanent scarring so that hair will not grow back. I have never seen a dog scratch that badly to cause permanent damage to hair follicles so that the hair will not grow back. (Even a dog that has scratched for 10 years, had hair that grew back!)

Wei Ling, you are to be commended! You have followed all my instructions for the past 2 months. I anticipate that it will take another 4 months of treatment either with the same remedy of increasing potency, (Thuya), or changing to another remedy, to see her gradually improve, with less itching and less redness of skin. I have seen that suppression with conventional drugs, and effects of vaccinosis, can sometimes take longer up to one year to clear up. I know that it can be difficult to be patient, and of course, I do not want Xuan xuan to be so uncomfortable that she is suffering. You must let me know if that is the case, and Xuan xuan is depressed, stops eating, or seems ‘unhappy’.

In the meantime, give her one more dose of the Thuya 30c. Today (in the United States), it is still April 22. I think it is April 23 in Singapore. This will be her third dose. Continue with all of her baths, and supplements, and make her wear her T-shirts and socks, as needed, to prevent her from scratching so hard.

Send me a progress report in ONE week.

And, please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Dear Dr Tillman,

Xuan xuan just had an outbreak of pimple-like red big dots all over her underside from the neck to her tail. Her already dry, rough and cracked skin on the underside is filled with dots packed quite closely together with some red blood dots at her armpit n middle area due to her scratching.

Before that, she vomited her dinner n we went for a slow walk just downstairs n she had a bit of constipation and had problems passing out her stools. When she came back, she started scratching and I saw the outbreak.

I’ve applied some diluted rescue remedy directly on her underside n switched on the aircon. Rescue remedy works wonders and she has calm down n is less irritated and resting. Her skin is also less red.

She hasn’t been very well for the past week. For the past few nights, she was constantly scratching n licking her paw n skin. She walks around the bedroom in the middle of the night n start scratching non-stop. I have to wake up in the middle of the night to spray her whole body with aloe vera juice before she calms down n start resting. Sometimes, she would lie directly in front of the fan. Sometimes after I wear the her e-collar for her, she still keeps changing position in her “air” bed n doesn’t put her head down to rest even after a long time. This started towards last week but I can’t remember whether it is before or after the 3rd dosage of thuja.

Some other observation which I think might be useful. In the morning, she usually likes to sleep near the window n let the morning sun that comes in shine directly on her skin. The window is not open as I am at work but a fan in the living room is on.

I must admit it’s getting more difficult for me to be patient because whenever my attention on her waned a little, she’ll get some injuries n bleeding somewhere. And seeing her physical skin condition getting worse is heart aching.

She has not fully adjusted to the raw diet yet and is having a bit of difficulty passing motion n not as enthusiastic about her food (but still gobbles down everything).

Sorry to keep coming back to you n thank u for your patience.

Hi Wei Ling,
Today I will be traveling all day, so I do not have enough time to answer. But I am concerned about Xuan Xuan’s condition. Would you be able to take her to a veterinarian to have her examined? I want to make sure she does not have a fever, and that her intestine is ok.

I will be able to check back later tonight.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Wei Ling,
How is Xuan Xuan doing now? Did you take her to a veterinarian to see if she had a fever?

Since this response has been after the 3rd dose of Sulphur. I am suspicious that her response was not favorable.

It is back to the ‘drawing board’ to determine a different remedy for her.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Wei Ling,
In my last response, I incorrectly stated that this was Xuan Xuan’s third dose of ‘Sulphur’. She has received her third dose of ‘Thuya’ 30c. Sulphur is the next remedy that I am considering for her.

Sorry about the confusion.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

Sorry for the late reply as I forgot to click e notification button and didn’t come in to check. I didn’t bring her to the vet as I only saw the 3 messages at a go. She is better now. In fact she’s better the next day and super hungry and asking for her dinner at 5pm instead of 7pm.

Her dots had subsided that night but came back on off when she scratch. This morning there were some red bloods and thickened red skin on the middle of her chest- looks like the skin of people with azemia. I just came back from work now and she had some red dots of her both sides but not very itchy.

She slept fairly well with the e-collar on but she has been trying to bite her feet recently.

Just called the only homeopathic pharmacy in Singapore and the only potency for sulphur that they carry is 30c.

Please advise what to do next. Thanks a million

Hi Wei Ling,
The Sulphur 30c would be perfect. Please order it for Xuan Xuan, and notify me when you have given the first dose. I anticipate that she may need to have one dose (one pellet), by mouth, one time daily for 3-5 days.

But please let me know when she gets the first dose, (what day), so we can monitor her progress.

I am glad that she is now feeling a little better.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

Saw your msg and made a turn to buy the medicine and administered the first dosage of sulphur.

Will monitor her n keep u updated.

Hi Wei Ling,
Thank you for the update. I have recorded that you gave the first dose of Sulphur 30c on April 30.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

Just a quick update at the end of second day of sulphur.

1. Less scratching using her hind legs
2. Still licking her paws but not so badly
3. Very thirsty and drank significantly more water
4. Very tired and low life-force. Has been very tired the entire day n even snores while asleep. Doesn’t want to play or walk.

Will administer the 3rd day of dosage tomorrow

Dear Dr Tillman,

I’ve completed 3 days of sulphur. Do I continue for another 2 days?

Xuan Xuan did scratch lesser these 3 days but I don’t know whether it’s because she is extremely tired n sleepy. Most of the time she is asleep. When I call her, she simply open her heavy eyelid n close back after a while. She walked extremely slowly and walks instead of run when I force her to play fetch.

Hi Wei Ling,
From your reports I am concerned that Xuan Xuan does not have much energy. I would NOT give her any more of the Sulphur 30. She needs to rest, and allow the remedy to work at this time. If her energy remains low, and especially if her appetite is poor, over the next 24-36 hours, I would advise taking her to a veterinarian to have her examined and take her temperature.

This may be an ‘aggravation’ due to the remedy. In which case in 2 days or so, she should be back to more energy, but LESS scratching.

Keep me posted.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Dear Dr Tillman,

Xuan Xuan’s energy level is back to normal. But I think I need to continue to observe before I can judge the full effect of the sulphur. She does scratch slightly less but still scratching. However, she is biting quite a lot. Especially at her legs and feet, partly because her feet are covered with dried scab from last week’s scratching n she tries to bite it off. Yesterday, she when I came back after work, an area of her front legs facing the back were hard, covered with her hair stuck onto to liquid coming out of her skin n already dried.

Just to compare her level of itch to previous level. She is definitely scratching less compared to a few weeks n much better compared to the time where she first took thuja. On reflection, her situation has improved slowly but steadily over the past 2-3 months with some hiccups of sudden itch spells. But compare to the time before I occasionally put her on prenisolence, she is still more itchy.

Please advise when I should give her the next round of sulphur. Does her eruption after every round of dosage means she is still generally weak?

Hi Wei Ling,

It has been 5 days since her last dose of Sulphur 30c. DO NOT REPEAT. We need to wait at least one month, until June 3.

Your report makes me very happy! Although, it may not look very good that Xuan Xuan is still scratching the back of her front legs, and feet, and has her hair dried and hardened to her skin from the discharge due to her scratching.

Her energy is returning. Her overall progression of her skin disease is improving. Also, the itching of her lower extremities instead of her body, indicates that her body is healing in the correct direction according to homeopathic principles. Healing should occur from top to bottom, and from front to back and from the inside to the outside! Her brief periods of more itching after the sulphur doses, indicate that her vital force is very strong and is being affected by the remedy. That is good, considering how many years she had been on the prednisone, and then she was on Atopica, both are very suppressive drugs. But they have not suppressed her response, meaning that she has a good chance of being cured. She still has a long way to go.

I do not anticipate that we will need to repeat the Sulphur 30c before June 3, but please send me weekly progress reports on how Xuan Xuan is doing.

Keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Dear Dr Tillman,

Happy belated mother’s day.

Xuan Xuan has been slightly less itchy than before only scratching her armpit occasionally causing no serious wounds and only slight red lines on the skin. However, she is scratching her front legs with her hind legs n biting her legs.

She had slim down quite a bit over the past few weeks n are noticeably thinner n I could feel her ribs easily running through her body. The area below her ribs and hips look very thin whether top or side view. However, her appetite is still very good n her stools look normal. I am increasing the amount of food she eats everyday to get her fatten up. Is there anything else I can do? Do you think it’s good to change from chicken breast meat to thigh meat with more fat?

Dear Dr Tillman,

Xuan Xuan does scratch a little on her underside and body this week, usually after waking up from a sleep. She’ll scratch continuously for quite a while before she stop but it doesnt create any wound, just a little red at the place she scratch. May also be due to the super hot weather and humid in Singapore this week going up to 34degrees. However, she seems to bite her leg less.

I brought Xuan Xuan to the vet yesterday to check for parasite and do a stool’s test as she is sliming down to the extent that her ribs can be felt easily. Her weight dropped from 5.25kg to 4.72kg yesterday. She is free from worms and her stool is normal and firm. After explaining to the conventional vet what she is going through, she advised me to increase her food portion by 20-30% as I am not able to give her a third meal at lunch time.

May I ask what was the reason that we cut off her grain? Is it to increase her protein intake which is needed for her skin renewal? Can I put back a little brown less so that she has more energy? She is eating very well. She doesnt really enjoy going out these few weeks and prefer to stay at home which I am a bit puzzled. She used to enjoy outing to anywhere. Could it be the lack of energy used by the body for fighting her skin problem or because she doesnt have enough carbo intake?

The Vet gave her one deworming tablet and some pro-biotics. Should I give them to her?

Hi Wei Ling,
Two weeks after Sulphur. That is good that Xuan Xuan’s itching has decreased in severity, and she does not scratch until she bleeds any more.

I am concerned that she has lost so much body weight, from 12.5 lbs to 10.4 lbs, (I am more familiar with lbs than kg). Since she is negative for parasites at this time, I would not deworm her now. But I would suggest repeating the fecal in 4-6 weeks. Ideally, it is good to have 3 consecutive NEGATIVE Fecal tests done one month apart.

The reason this is done, is that there may be worms present, but they do not lay eggs all of the time, therefore it is very possible that Xuan Xuan could pass a BM but there may not be any eggs present. I do not wish to deworm her at this time, because the homeopathic Sulphur is still ‘working’.

It would be ok to give her the ProBiotics.

And it would be ok to increase the amount of food that you are feeding her, as your regular veterinarian suggested.

Yes, you can give her some brown rice. I suggested no grains, because in Traditional Chinese Medicine grains are considered ‘HOT’. And if her skin is hot, red, itchy, etc, then I would worry that the grains may aggravate her condition. If you can add some rice to her food, and she does not have a flare up, then I think she would be fine. It is not unusual that some dogs will get too thin on a grain free diet. Her lack of energy may be a combination of being too thin, (and weak), too weak from the grain free diet, and too weak due to her energy going internally to help her heal.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Dear Dr Tillman,

I’m very happy to report to you that Xuan Xuan’s condition is really improving significantly every week. I’ve added a little brown rice into her diet n she seems ok with that.

She will the first 5-10 mins after she wake up n the first few minutes aft I come back from working – that means after was wakes up. Other than that, she almost never scratch for the rest of the time! She scratches all over her body instead of a specific part. She doesn’t chew her legs too, only area she is still chewing, her tail.

Her energy level is exceptionally high! Hasn’t been this high since we started on this holistic treatment. She literally jogged with me for more than 1km!

Hi Wei Ling,
Three weeks after Sulphur 30c:
That is wonderful to hear! AND THANK YOU SO MUCH for the gift basket, filled with all kinds of treats and a beautiful potted flower! You are very welcome! It is always very satisfying for a veterinarian to be able to help restore an animal back to health!! Especially when conventional methods were not effective, and were even making Xuan Xuan worse.

Keep in mind, that as the effect of the Sulphur 30c wears off, Xuan Xuan may start to relapse. At this point she may need a repeat of the Sulphur 30c. If the next 30c dose does not provide her with ongoing improvement, she will need to have a dose of Sulphur 200c. Which is available online from various homeopathic pharmacies. Just report back, and give me periodic updates on her progress. Of course, in some cases a 30c dose can last up to 1-2 years!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

I’ll give Xuan Xuan her second dosage of sulphur 30c today, 22 may. One dose per day for the next 3 days.

Oops, as I reread your post, I realized you don’t mean to give xuan Xuan her second dosage now. Only when she starts itching that we give her the second dosage. That means I’ll monitor for the next few days to a week n give her her second dosage once her condition stops improving or worsen.

Hi Wei Ling,
You wrote,
“…don’t give xuan Xuan her second dosage now. Only when she starts itching that we give her the second dosage.”

That is correct. In some cases the remedy will continue to act for several months, so there will be ongoing improvement.It is only when she does not have any ongoing improvement, or begins to worsen, that you will give her another dose.

Keep me posted to determine if it is time to give the second dose of Sulphur 30c.

And please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

Xuan Xuan is having a bout of diarrhea. It started 2 nights ago when she passed some soft stools in the middle of the night. She passed some more soft and jelly like stools yesterday evening, twice during the night and I just came home with 4-5 puddles of short soft jelly like stools all over 3 pee-pad that I laid out (knowing she is having diarrhea) and on the living room and kitchen floor.

I will not be giving her any food tonight as I dont think she is dehydrating yet. Tomorrow I’ll try to give her some chicken brooth and later some brown rice with cooked chicken. If it doesnt recover, then I’ll see what to do about it.

If I do bring her to conventional vet, will she be able to take the medication given? Does it interfere with homeopathic medicine? I’ll update her condition again.

Hi Wei Ling,

It sounds like she is having some colitis, or inflammation of the colon.
Please give Xuan Xuan some acidophilus, added to her food two times daily for the next week.(It is easier to buy it in a capsule form, so you can open each capsule, and sprinkle it into her food.) She can have some slippery elm to help with the loose stool (one capsule in food two times daily), or you can give her 1 tsp Aloe Vera juice to drink two times daily for three days. Any ‘conventional’ medication given to her will interfere with the homeopathic remedy.

You wrote,
“I will not be giving her any food tonight as I don’t think she is dehydrating yet. Tomorrow I’ll try to give her some chicken broth and later some brown rice with cooked chicken. If it doesn’t recover, then I’ll see what to do about it.”

That is perfect to help her intestine, just add in the above herbs/acidophilus/aloe vera to help also.

You might want to take in a stool sample once it is a little more formed, to make sure she has not picked up any parasites.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr Tillman,

Xuan Xuan stopped having diarrhea for 2 days n did not pass any stools after I started only giving her boiled chicken and white rice. But for consecutively 3 days, she wakes up in the middle of the night to pass out 2 puddles of soft (not liquid) stool, no jelly like stuff though. She passed them out quite quickly n without difficulty, unlike the first few days that she had diarrhea. She doesn’t pass out any stool in the day. Has been giving her acidophilus n aloe vera juice.

She is still happily running around n asking me to play fetch with her. Should I just continue to monitor another few days? She is slightly more itchy these few days as she is not on the supplements, but overall fine, just scratching occasionally.

May 29 (27 days since dose of Sulphur 30c)

Hi Wei Ling,
Actually, it sounds like her diarrhea is improving. , since she had NO stool for 2 days, and now the stool is less frequent, two stools at night only, no stools during the day. And the stool is soft puddle, not a liquid, and no mucous/jelly, and no difficulty to pass it.

Continue with the rice and chicken, aloe vera juice, and the acidphilus as you have been doing, small meals 3-4 times daily. If she does not continue to improve over the next 5 days, she may need to have one dose of the Sulphur 30c. Please keep me updated. Observe for any new, or different symptoms. I would expect that the itching may start to increase also, especially as her stool returns to normal.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Dear Dr Tillman,

Xuan Xuan still hasnt fully recovered from her diarrhea. She doesnt pass motion during the night any more but passes soft stool once in the morning and once in the evening.

After I added Slippery Elm into her food three days ago, her stools turned from reddish brown to dark brown. She is more thirsty this week but doesnt pass out more urine and her stools are not that liquid too.

She is slightly more itchy but still considered quite manageable, only scratching slightly more.

I am quite happy that after I cut her nails, she doesnt scratch herself till her skin turned red anymore. Fine undergrowth hair are starting to appear in all her bald area but I dont see much outer coat hair though in the bare areas.

Hi Wei Ling,
(30 days since first dose of Sulphur 30c)

Give her another dose of the sulphur 30c, one time.

Continue all of her other supplements.

Keep me posted by clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Click here to continue to Part 3 in this exchange between Wei Ling and Dr. Tillman.

Related Pages:
– Dog Skin Conditions,
– Dog Itchy Skin,
– Dog Skin Rash,
– Dog Skin Allergies,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Skin Rashes, Marks, Spots, Lesions & Patches (including itchy skin and mange) Section,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Hair Loss Section