Hi
My Scottie has a rash on her tummy and on the upper part of her front legs, its not on her chest area and this is lovely clean skin. We have been to vet who has put her on antibiotics to see if that helps. She has had it for a few weeks but i only noticed it in the afternoons after her morning walk and initially put it down to her being low to the ground and rubbing her tum on the heather, bracken etc. She swims aswell so thought it maybe because she's not drying quickly and its causing like a warm moisture rash.
anyway the antibiotics aren't making a difference and i am checking several times a day so i can see when its worse, which is definatley after her walk and then laying in her bed for a couple of hours. The thing is i think she smells from it, like a sweet musky smell. I cant smell it close up but i can smell something when i go into the kitchen.I have 5 dogs altogether so not easy to say its definitely her, its just not a normal doggy smell.

I have decided today to only road walk her and not let her get wet to see if this makes a difference, the vet asked if she is itchy which i said no to but i did catch her trying to scratch her tummy yesterday.

Its a raised rash and yesterday i bathed her in hibiscrub to see if it eases (was goona use malaseb but ran out!) was thinking of trying teatre and witch hazel cream or sudocrem??

anyone with any other ideas of what it might be. She is 7 in december and was spayed last year.

It may be a yeast or fungal infection in which case the ABs will only control secondry infection but not cure the problem.

i wondered with antibiotics if they may make worse if its yeast infection? i know women on anti b's can end up with thrush as they change the good and bad bacteria.

Would a skin scrapping sample be needed to get the diagnosis on this?

That sounds like it is a fungal infection rather than bacterial.

diluted Hibiscrub bath might help as that is anti bacterial and anti fungal so should help with either.

It can be a bit irritating so after drying well applying something soothing like perhaps aloevera might be an idea, though I would try leaving it dry if it doesn't bother her.

There are drugs (ointment) that will deal with fungal infections quickly and efficiently - first if at all possible find out what it is. A request to the vet to take a scrape may help with this although the application of a fungicidal ointment should do not harm and that should show improvement in a day or so.

could i buy an over the counter cream? I have just bought some E45 that is supposed to help skin irritations and itchyness so thought i might try unril i speak to the vet on tuesday.

what would have cause a fungicidal skin problem? would it have a smell?

TBH I would not use E45 or any other cream until you know what the problem is, bathe with scrub and if possible leave to air dry and leave the skin clean and open to the air until you know what you are dealing with. Fungal infections are common in both dogs and people, think athletes foot and thrush.