Why is my dog getting black skin patches, losing hair, and licking?

Question

Dog is female , spayed, border terrier x jack russell c 5yrs old. Has developed black patches with some hair loss. Licking paws and groin area but not scratching frantically. Sleeps indoors. Rural area - garden surrounded by fields. Thank you. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 5 years and 9 months old | 20 lbs

David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS · Accepted Answer

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat PIP with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Why is my dog getting black skin patches, losing hair, and licking?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My pet keeps scratching its ear. What's causing this problem?

My degu has a white bump in its fur. Should I take my pet to the vet?

How do I safely fix my dog or cat's painful hangnail at home?

My pet's ear mite treatment isn't working. What else could it be?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

Share