Why is my dog bothering a new circular hair loss spot on his side?

Question

My dog recently what looked to be a lesion on his side looking like a circular hair-loss spot he bothers it and has never had this before. Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

i am sorry to hear about your dog! It is very difficult to evaluate the skin by a photograph but it appears there is a defect/wound in the skin here? I would be concerned that this was an abscess that ruptures, a wound that isn't healing and is infected, or we could have something like a cuterebra (a fly larvae that lives in a hole in the skin- look closely and see if you see a tiny creature moving inside the hole!). I would recommend a visit to your vet- the area may need to be flushed/cleaned and have antibiotics prescribed. In the meantime, I would put an e-collar on your dog or a t-shirt if it would be covered by this to prevent your dog from licking/aggravating the skin. You can also clean the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at the drug store) and apply an antibiotic ointment like polysporin to the area until your vet can see him.

Why is my dog bothering a new circular hair loss spot on his side?

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