Why aren't my dog's skin lesions improving with topical antibiotics?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | 80 lbs
My sister took her dog in last week for a lesion on back. They found about 8more, put dog on an tooical anribiotic. It is a Huskey and is healthy acting however my concern is, it seems to not be inproving, accelerating if anything....help!
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 21st, 2017
Hi there! Sounds like Star needs some more help. If the lesions are getting worse despite the medication, new medications will probably be helpful. I would suggest that you call her vet, and ask if they can have another look?
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on December 27th, 2017
It looks like a skin infection but since there was no improvement with antibiotics then your vet should culture and/or biopsy the lesions. It could be a resistant infection that needs to be treated with a different antibiotic or it could be a dermatitis or possibly skin cancer. If your vet can not diagnose and treat then you could take her to a veterinary dermatologist. Hope she gets better soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Any idea what this is? local vet has no idea and just prescribed anti biotics with no improvement after 8 weeks
It looks like a skin infection but since there was no improvement with antibiotics then your vet should culture and/or biopsy the lesions. It could be a resistant infection that needs to be treated with a different antibiotic or it could be a dermatitis or possibly skin cancer. If your vet can not diagnose and treat then you could take her to a veterinary dermatologist. Hope she gets better soon!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
On antibiotics but not working. Started on ear now to top of head. What do you think it is? He goes to the vet this evening. Just wanted your opinion. What questions should I ask my reg vet?
It is difficult for me to give you much advice without having more information but I will try my best. His skin may be getting worse due to an idiosyncratic drug reaction. The antibiotics may not be agreeing with him. A change to a different class of antibiotic may be all that is needed. The antibiotic he was prescribed may not be the correct one for this particular bacterial infection (if it is a bacterial infection). A culture and sensitivity of the crusty lesions on the head may need to be done in order to find out what bacteria are there and what antibiotic will be most effective. This may be a fungal skin infection (or yeast) and not a bacterial infection) hence why the antibiotic is not working. Antibiotics do not treat fungus or yeast. In young dogs I would be worried that this is a secondary infection of the skin from mange mites. It can be seen in older dogs as well but it is much more common in youngsters. So, I would have your vet do a skin scraping to check for mit
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like this. Took him to the local vet, they said they've never seen it before put us on 7 days of an antibiotic and to come back if it doesnt get better. Day 4 and no progress
That is an odd looking lesion. If you haven't noticed any improvement with the antibiotics, it could not bacterial in nature or it could be a bacteria with antibiotic resistance. I recommend to have Oakley examined again. A few potential causes could be fungus (including ringworm which humans can get) or a foreign object trapped under the skin. Ask your vet about fungal testing or treatment for fungal infection. A biopsy is another option. I hope this helps to provide some guidance and please feel free to post any additional testing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog gets rashes around her body they look like hot spot. I already took her to the vet and the med didn't help b They haven run any test on her what can this be?? She doesn't scratch. She is on for meds and I even changed her food as told by her v
I am so sorry that Stacy is having this skin issue. It looks like it could be an infection and the infection may have been caused by allergies. She may need not just antibiotics but a topical shampoo also with an anti-fungal component. I would also rec something to control the itching in Stacy, if she is itching. A food trial is great, but the only way to rule out food allergy completely is putting her on a prescription hydrolyzed protein diet that you can get from your vet. It can also take from 8-12 weeks for the food to actually work. Different diseases that can cause skin issues are Hypothyroid and Cushing's disease. She is very young to have already developed one of these but it is not impossible. I would recommend bringing her back to your veterinarian and doing possibly a different course of medication like a different antibiotic with an anti-fungal and with something to stop the itching. There are different options now for allergies, which this could potential
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I went to vet with her 3days ago because of her hair loss and nickle sized red bumps that appeared on her legs and nose 2wks ago. The vet says it is a fungal infection and gave “miconazole cream” & antifungal shampoo “Malaseb” To use on her lesions a
I agree with your vet's recommendations for now. Often times lesions will look worse before they look better. I suggest you continue as directed and if this lesion doesn't go away I would suggest your do a biopsy.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a rescued pitball puppy that has started to develop these lesions everywhere on his body. He doesn't really scratch horribly bad, but they keep popping up in new spots. We have changed his food, and tried giving him oatmeal baths, but they are
The lesion in the second image appears to be infected. The area will need to be shaved of all surrounding hair, scrubbed with an antiseptic such as dilute betadine or chlorhexidine, and then an antibiotic will be required (most likely a systemic one). George will also have to wear a cone to prevent him from continuing to cause any self-inflicted trauma to the area. Your vet will be able to get a better look at the lesions to see if he can figure out what may have started everything to begin with. He may want to obtain some skin scrapings to take a look at under the microscope. Hope this makes sense.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I don't know what to do for my dog if he does not seem to be getting better here are the pictures of him I took him to the vet they prescribed him medication also pain pills
There are a lot of things that could be causing this appearance to the skin, and it may not be easy or cheap to figure it out. I would recommend that you keep working with the vet. Baseline blood work, thyroid hormone, testing for Cushing's disease, skin biopsies, food trials, flea preventatives, etc may be needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is suffering from an infection. I have consulted my veterinary doctor but it doesn't seem to work. He gave him required injections but they don't seem to work and also the medication. I don't know what is the infection. He also has some ear in
Oh my. Poor guy. This infection is severe. I would have cultures taken of this skin immediately if the broad spectrum antibiotics that your vet gave aren't working. I would also consider getting biopsies of this thing. The area may need surgical debridement as well, because there is some diseased and necrotic (dead) tissue there that will prevent this from healing well if it isn't removed. I am so sorry your pet has such an aggressive skin condition. This certainly will need further medical management from your vet for sure. With the suggestions above, you should be able to get a better handle on this thing. Best of luck and take care!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog Shiba a 9 year old female husky keeps scratching her skin and now she has a lesion on the side of her waist. Took her to vet he gave her antibiotic augmenting and shaved around it. When she didn’t improve he gave her ceflexin and I’m cleaning
This seems to be an hot spot (superficial exudative dermatitis) and very likely it is caused by a bacterial infection. Cephalexin is a good antibiotic and usually resolve the problem quickly. local antibiotic ointment can be used as well. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our nine year old chocolate lab has some kind of blisters underneath her muscle she hasn’t been feeling good the last few days I did bring her to the vet they said it was a skin irritation but it has not cleared up with the medication they provided m
Hi. If she isnt getting better on the treatment, I would recommend getting her back in to see your veterinarian. It could be that it isnt a skin infection. It could be an autoimmune condition or even a type of skin cancer. I would recommend a biopsy as well as the recheck
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Have A Vet Question?
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
