Today my otherwise very healthy 10 month old Dalmatian has become covered in lumps and where you can see the skin they are large raised red blotches. The vet has said it's an allergic reaction to something and will feel like nettle stings! Dog is very sad and unusually quiet. He has been out on his usual walks today and it seems likely he has either been stung or to state the obvious has come into contact with something very disagreable. Does anyone know if it could have anything to do with a corn field which he likes to jump around in - I have no idea what sort of things might be sprayed on fields and wonder if this could have been the cause. Also, if there are any Dalmatian owners or anyone else with a dog who has had a severe reaction like this, can you tell me if it is likely to happen again or if it's just one of those things.
Many Thanks - Jackie

Welcome to the forum Jackie

Sorry to hear about your dog. I haven't got a clue what it could be but he has obviously reacted to something! What did your vet give you to help him? Did he give you something like piriton tablets? I tend to carry these with me whenever I am out with the dogs, as they have really helped on occassions.

Maybe someone else will have some experience that might be the same as yours.

Let us know how he gets on.

Leigh

If he was human, I'd say he had hives...the poor thing. It can be something he rubbed up against, or even eaten. (The rubbing doesn't have to be against the entire body, he could have reacted from just a minor contact point --- I got them from eating strawberries and pineapple at the same time). I don't know about dogs, but a cool bath with Epsom salts really helped to make the swelling go down for me.
good luck,
toodles

My GSP came out in lumps last year, all over his head and front end of of his body. I first noticed them shortly after we got back from a a walk and 2 hours later his entire head was swollen where they had joined up.
The vet gave him a steroid injection, but 3 hours later they were worse so we then got some anti-histimine tablets and were told to keep a very careful watch on him. By next morning they had all gone, he was quiet too (only time in his life). Never did find out the cause, like you the vet said it was probably an allergic reaction to something he had stuck his head in, the only thing I can think of is that they had been cutting the giant hogweed in the field we walk & Monty being nosey sticks his head in most things. Ingrid

Sounds like Urticaria or nettle rash & I see it quite a lot in my hounds. Firstly, I have to say why is your dog jumping around in a corn field? Presumably its not your corn or you would know what had been applied to it.....if there is a public right of way through it, then there should be a clear tramline for you to walk on, but your dog should NOT be in the corn.

That aside, if the corn is still standing then it will not have been sprayed in the last 8 weeks or so. If its been cut then it could be the stubble irritating your dog, although his pads would most likely be very sore too. Other likely causes are midges, something in your lawn, or nettles/hogweed if he has been rooting throughthe undergrowth. One of my bitches gets this every summer but there are no chemicals used either in the garden or on the fields this time of year, so put it down to midges.

Thanks for all the replies. The vet gave Harry an anti-inflammatory injection and after about 3 hours the lumps and redness had almost disappeared and he was full of life again. Still non the wiser as to what it was but interested about Piriton - do you just use the tablets that we take? As to the corn field - its just the corner of a bigger field seperated from the bigger one by a path and well jumped around in by dogs but not ours any more.
Thanks Again - Jackie

Yes Jackie. I have a dog with an immunity problem and I tend to carry them as a matter of course, if I am out with my dogs. Glad your dog is better.

Jackie

It sounds like your Dalmatian has what is known as 'Dally Rash'. It is very common in Dalmatians, it is usually on the head and back and comes out in red lumps, it is rather ugly and will stain the coat. I found my Dalmatian started getting it at around 10 months. The only thing that worked to get rid of it was to change him to a completely natural raw diet. I wasn't too happy with chicken wings so I now feed him on raw mince (Good quality - Tesco's economy is cheap) and raw pulped vegtables with the occasional egg and pasta. A little biscuit can be added once he is clear. He is now four and has been completely clear unless I have put him back on a complete diet when we are on holiday or when he goes into kennels, then back it comes. It will take around 2 weeks to notice a difference and around 6 weeks to clear it up. It is worth a try for two weeks at least. Good luck. Sandra