My dog is biting his skin. What are these red, bite-like marks?

Question

Dog biting at skin. I see what looks like red bites but not sure. See pic. Pet's info: Dog | West Highland White Terrier | Male | unneutered | 11 years and 10 months old | 25 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Jack! This area of skin does look very red and sore. The red marks you are seeing are likely due to him chewing and biting at this area - this is very common in dogs who have skin problems that cause excessive itching, such as allergies or skin mites (mange). He may also have a bacterial or fungal skin infection contributing to the itching and redness. Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend taking Jack to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help determine what is causing the itching, and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it depending on what is found. In the meantime, you may need to put an e-collar (plastic cone) on Jack to prevent him from continuing to chew at this area and make things worse.

My dog is biting his skin. What are these red, bite-like marks?

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