6 Month Jack Russell puppy went in for castration on Friday. The following day I noticed his back was incredibly sore to the touch, even a feather on his back would have him wincing. I took him back to the Vets on Monday and explained that the wound from the operation was fine but the main concern was his painful back. The Vet prescribed painkillers and suggested he may need x rays. The following day I called the Vets again and asked for him to see a Vet as I was sure it was more of a skin problem. The Vet shaved his back (he was in agony) and a red, inflamed rash was present. The Vet isn’t sure what it is but gave him a jab of antibiotics, steroid & antihistomines. The rash is definatly not itchy, the puppy does not interfere with it at all, far more painful than anything else. Could this be Contact Dermititis
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Your dog might have been put on a heating pad for too long, or was injured while being “jerked around” during the surgery when they tied him down to keep him straight for the surgery.
Hopefully this will clear up with time, but the vet should offer to treat the problem for free.
Ihor Basko, DVM
All Creatures Great & Small
Kapaa, HI
If your dog gets worse over the next two to three weeks, and has hardened skin sloughing off the back with big sores, then I would be afraid that someone used a heating pad under him during surgery, which can cause terrible problems with the skin, and often requires extensive corrective surgery. They can get severe burns from them. On the other hand, if it is healing quickly with the current treatment, then you have little cause for concern.
Mack L. Barney, DVM
Barney & Russum Animal Clinic
Fairfield, CA
Was a heating pad used at the time of surgery? I have seen thermal burns from heating pads that are quite painful, more so than dermatitis from other causes with similar appearance.
Dr. Mark Dennis, DVM
Animal Haven Veterinary Hospital
Hills, IA
It could be a contact dermatitis, a reaction to an injected drug or vaccine, or a burn from the supplemental heat source used to avoid hypothermia during anesthesia (rare, but it can happen), or it could be completely unrelated. Your veterinarian may need to see it multiple times to be sure, as it progresses/heals from whatever point it was noticed. Your veterinarian wants the best for your pet, so be sure to let them know how things are going, when things are helping or not helping, healing or worsening. Do request good pain medications if he is so painful as he gets through this.
Melinda R. Burgwardt, DVM
Melinda R. Burgwardt, DVM
Lancaster, NY
No- this may be a heating pad burn! Call your vet and ask if they used one- either during surgery or in recovery. If it was a water pad these aren’t hot enough to burn but if its an electrical one, that’s what I’d bet was the cause! Good luck! Get some fresh aloe gel or aloe plant on this area, can’t hurt and will help heal it albeit slowly. Walgreens sells 100% aloe for $2.99- be sure its clear, not cloudy- ( these are not 100% aloe).
P. Wood DVM
this could be a severe skin infection IF your dog got a bath AT THE SAME TIME
it could also be a heating pad burn
it is NOT contact dermatitis
Phillip McHugh, DVM
Park Veterinary Hospital
Durham, NC