My dog has a rash at the base of his tail. Kibble allergy or fleas?

Question

I recently change kibble brands.(nutro) but my furry best Freind has been getting a rash at the base of his tale. Could this be a sign of allergic reaction to his new kibble or could it be fleas? If its allergic reaction should I switch back to his original kibble? (Blue buffalo). Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Male | neutered | 2 years and 3 months old | 12 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

A food allergy or issue with fleas are both possible causes for Buddy's hair loss around the base of his tail, but given the location of the issue, fleas seem more likely. (With flea issues, we tend to notice skin issues around the ears and rears.) As a starting point, make sure Buddy is regularly receiving high quality flea prevention, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II. If his skin lesions worsen, I recommend taking a trip to his vet for further evaluation. With excessive itching or licking, some dogs can also develop a skin infection that may require antibiotics for resolution. Skin issues with food allergies tend to be more widespread, but if flea management and (possibly) antibiotics are ineffective after 1-2 weeks, it may be worth changing back to his initial diet. If you do need to go back to his original diet, mix it with the Nutro over 5-7 days to decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal upset from a sudden diet change. Also be aware that it can take 6-8 weeks minimum to observe the full effect of skin changes from diet changes. I hope that all goes well!

My dog has a rash at the base of his tail. Kibble allergy or fleas?

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