Dog sitting: Red, growing chest spot. Should I take him to the vet?

Question

We are dog sitting for family members. He has a patch on his chest where his hair is gone and the skin is red. It slightly bigger than a pat of butter but it was actually there on the day they left, it was about pea sized. It has been enlarging over the past 4 days. There is also a small scab so I have been putting triple antibiotic on it. The owners will be home in 2 or 3 days. Can this wait til they get home? Is it ok to put the ointment on? He seems happy and fine otherwise. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 50 lbs

Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA · Accepted Answer

The region shown in the picture is consistent with a hotspot. Hot spots occur when an animal scratches or choose at an until damage is done to the skin. They can often progressbvery quickly and become quite severe if not treated. If the area is continuing to enlarge or if Garret seems uncomfortable I would recommend that you have him seen by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may clip and clean the area and prescribe medications to help it heal. In the meantime I would recommend that you try to prevent Garret from scratching at the area. You can put a t-shirt on him to protect that area.

Dog sitting: Red, growing chest spot. Should I take him to the vet?

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