Losing hair, bumps on nose

[Rough_Collies2008]

Angel has had this issue with her nose for the last few weeks. At first, I thought it was a scratch from her sticking her nose into the ground (she sticks her nose in everything...she is a lawn mower on walks). However, it hasn't gone away, and doesn’t seem to be improving.

I took her to the vet today to have him look at it, and he was less then helpful. Just told me to 'wait and see', and that there are a few things it could be (lupus, allergies, collie nose etc. etc.). However, at this point he didn’t want to do anything (no skin scrapping, blood tests etc). He said if it stays where it is right now, he probably won't recommend doing anything?!

I have tried my own online search, and I can't find anything that really looks like what she has.

Her actual nose is fine, no loss of pigmentation and has not lightened in color. She is losing hair right at the tip(as you can see in the pictures), and the long bridge of her nose seems to be thinning of hair (going down the middle, towards her eyes...you can see the black going down her nose). You can see the bumps in the picture. The bumps started off as a whitish color, but it is more of a pink/skin color now. It doesn't seem to bother her.

I have no idea what this is, and I thought I would post here and ask for ideas. I have never dealt with something like this (Apparently, Angel thought she would give me another headache to worry about!). I hate this 'wait and see' thing my vet wants to do.

I am going to apologize in advance for the terrible pictures. My battery on my camera died (after taking other pictures earlier today), and I can't find my battery recharger. Until then, all I can do are phone pictures!

 

[colliewog]

What type of food/water bowls do you use? Plastic can be an irritant. (There are many things, of course, that could also, but that's a start).

Collie Nose aka Nasal Solar Dermatitis - Merck Veterinary Manual - usually is sores, not just pigment loss ....

 

[bubbatd]

I agree with the plastic bowls . Are you in any areas that are sprayed for weeds ??

 

[Rough_Collies2008]

The bowls are plastic and stainless steel. I didn't even think of that. She does dip her nose into her bowl and 'splashes' the water around with it(as well as her paws...). It is cleaned often because of that(yuck, dirty paw water).

Also, she has found a hole on the acreage and has begun sticking her nose down into it. This particular hole has tree roots right next to it, and my first thought was that she was rubbing it against that.

She is not outside often(except for playtime), but my vet did recommend putting a sunscreen on(baby safe kind) to prevent sunburns.

She definitely has no scabbing or issues otherwise. It just doesn't look right.

 

[Rough_Collies2008]

I agree with the plastic bowls . Are you in any areas that are sprayed for weeds ??

I have not sprayed my property with anything recently. However, when we go on walks, she often puts her nose in the grass and will walk around like that. It is possible someone else around here could have sprayed.

 

[bubbatd]

My friend used to walk her Golden on the golf course near her ... I went with her once and when our dogs went into the ponds , a red flag went up for me . Why were there no weeds and where does the run off water go !!! And she wondered why her dogs died from cancer at such a young age ! One was Bubba's brother .

 

[colliewog]

First thing, get rid of the plastic bowl. Plastic sensitivity often develops as a dog matures - they aren't born with it. Stainless steel is the best - no bacteria issues. (And it makes a great noise when they boing it across the kitchen floor!)

Considering the "rooting around", I'd want to rule out fungus from the soil. If it keeps up or looks worse in the next few weeks, you need to demand that the vet do a minimum of a skin scrape and fungal culture so it doesn't get out of hand. Wait and see is fine ... for a little while.

For something like that, I've always used Bag Balm with great results. If it works, great. If not, then you know you need to get moving on those tests ...

Good luck!!!

 

[Rough_Collies2008]

First thing, get rid of the plastic bowl. Plastic sensitivity often develops as a dog matures - they aren't born with it. Stainless steel is the best - no bacteria issues. (And it makes a great noise when they boing it across the kitchen floor!)

Considering the "rooting around", I'd want to rule out fungus from the soil. If it keeps up or looks worse in the next few weeks, you need to demand that the vet do a minimum of a skin scrape and fungal culture so it doesn't get out of hand. Wait and see is fine ... for a little while.

For something like that, I've always used Bag Balm with great results. If it works, great. If not, then you know you need to get moving on those tests ...

Good luck!!!

Thank you so much for the feedback!

The plastic bowls will be replaced immediately.

I am taking Aspen in next week for a yearly exam, and I will go ahead and bring Angel in if it does not look better for a skin scraping. I will also ask for the fungal culture (I am so thankful I put this here, I would never have thought to ask for that test). I don't mind the 'wait and see' either, but he offered absolutely no advice on things to try to help her. I have never dealt with this, and had no idea where to even begin to fix the problem.

I definitely know of Bag Balm! I will have to see if I can find it locally, if not I will have to order it.

Once again, Thank you!

 

[colliewog]

Surprisingly, I've found Bag Balm at WalMart!!