Why is my dog not eating, losing hair, and has red, itchy skin?

Question

What is this ??? Not eating food regularly. Pet's info: Dog | Labradoodle | Male | 40 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

I can see two areas with hair loss and what appear to be red bumps (possibly papules or pustules) in the photos. Some of the most common causes of hair loss with these red lesions are related to either underlying allergies (to fleas, food or the environment), ringworm or mange. I'm assuming that Rocky is also itchy based upon the appearance of these lesions, and excessive scratching can lead to the development of skin infections. Irritation from itchiness can cause a loss of appetite due to discomfort. Make sure that Rocky is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or Advantix) regularly. Rocky should also be examined by his vet, as he may need a skin scrape (to rule out the mites causing mange) and/or fungal culture (to rule out ringworm). Both ringworm and sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to other animals and people, so it is important to rule out these issues. If a skin infection is diagnosed, oral antibiotics will be needed. Until you can take Rocky to his vet, you can try bathing him in a gentle oatmeal based dog shampoo and using an e-collar (cone) to prevent him from scratching and causing further irritation to the skin. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Why is my dog not eating, losing hair, and has red, itchy skin?

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