Hi everyone. I've just joined and thought I'd see if anyone can help me with a problem my dog has. I live in Australia and it is really hot here at the moment with quite a bit of humidity.

My dog which is a King Charles/Tibetan Spaniel has developed a brown rash. It almost looks like he's going rusty. It's very patchy and he's constantly scratching and biting himself. I have bathed him with a soothing lotion which only seems to help for half a day and he's back to scratching again. It's definitely not fleas. The latest solution I have used is for fungal infections. That lasted a couple of days and I have seen the "rust" coming back again. Just bathed him once again.

Does anyone know what this might be and how to treat it? I'm trying to avoid the vet because of the associated costs. Would really appreciate your input.

Thanks

My guess would be the heat causing him to itch and he'll naturally bite and rub on it, The rusty look you talk of could be dried blood from where he's bitten and rubbed, because it comes off when bathed . This sounds like my dog, she has various health probs from the way she was tret in her previous home so when I saw something sounding like what you're describing on her tummy, inner hips and round her genital area I took her to the vet, who gave her meds after meds and after loads of tests for allergys and illness it turned out to be an intolorance to the heat...she only gets it in the summer months.
I'm no expert and it might not be, so don't take what I say as gospal but try keeping him cool, getting something like hibiscrub (a very week solution) in a spray bottle and spray the afected area a few times a day whilst it's like it is and distracting her when you see her nibbling at it or itching it.there are other various creams etc you can but but I found a lot of them made fizz even worse
Good luck
Clare xx

__________________
Staffy x Lab almost 10...Fizz
Ginger Tom 2 1/2...Tilly
Bichon x King charles spanel 1 yr 10 months
Latest addition Tex the black shep 11 1/2 years foster pooch
How can I forget my fish..i have 13 tropical fish too...err...2 cats 2 neon and one lemon tetra...2 err...will have to go look and get back on that one i can't remember the names lol
My Dogs are the centre of my world
RIP Dolly Sadly Passed away 7pm 6/3.2011

It sounds a little like mange.