My dog's back legs and butt are red. Is it fleas or something else?

Question

Super Red back legs and butt. Bruno is an all white big dog with spots so you can pretty easily tell if hes red, so his whole behind is red like he has been bitting back there. My question is what do we do for him? I dont see him alot because hes my mothers dog but i do know he has all his shots and is updated and is on flea stuff. No scabs or anything just red tenderness. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 3 years and 1 month old | 68 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

This sounds quite uncomfortable for Bruno! One of the most common causes of redness and itchiness of the back legs and hind end is irritation from flea bites. I understand that he is on a flea preventative, but make sure it is one of high quality (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or Advantix) because many other OTC preventatives are fairly ineffective. Many dogs are also allergic to flea bites, in that the saliva injected from one bite can cause significant irritation, even if a flea infestation is not present. In some cases, excessive itching can cause a skin infection to develop, which causes more itching, and creates a vicious cycle. You can try bathing him in a gentle oatmeal based dog shampoo to ease some discomfort, but also assure that he is on a good flea preventative (wait 2 days after bathing to apply a topical product like Advantix). If the redness and itchiness persist, Bruno should see a vet to determine if a skin infection is present, as this would require antibiotics for treatment. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

My dog's back legs and butt are red. Is it fleas or something else?

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