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My dog has a red mark on her neck from her collar. What is it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year and 5 months old | 23.5 lbs

I just took off my dogs collar yesterday and it was never on too tight, if anything it was a bit loose. Today I noticed this red mark on her neck coming home from work. Could it be from excessive scratching or possible infection?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on September 9th, 2017

It looks like Panda had an insect bite or a small injury to the skin under the collar and either she scratched it or the collar rubbed the area. Sores under collars in the summer when it is hot and humid can become more inflamed than normal. Please leave the collar off for a few days if you can and clean the area with an antibacterial soap. After rinsing and drying it you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment to help it heal and keep the the area protected from dirt. This should heal in a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Panda.

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