Internal Server Error

Why are my dog's itchy pink skin patches spreading and losing hair?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Male | unneutered | 11 months and 16 days old | 48 lbs

Hi, Max is having this strange pink area under his mouth. It looks like he grazed him self by falling or something/he falls a lot/ but it's been one week and it looks like it's getting bigger. Today it seemed like it itches him. Does it look like a scratch or it could be something else? The last picture I attached is about that area on his head that got no hair/it's not red/. This is getting bigger too. Do you think there is connection between the two strange areas, and what do you think it is?

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on October 24th, 2017

It looks to me like the areas may be related on Max's head. Based on how they look and the fact that they appear irritated I would be suspicious of either a mite infection or ringworm (which is a fungal infection that he can give to you). A veterinarian will preform a test called a skin scrape to determine if mites are present. Treatment is easy in most pets. Ringworm diagnosis requires a fungal culture and is generally easy to clear up but needs a lot of environmental clean up. Bacterial infection is likely also present and is a secondary problem. Take Max into see the veterinarian who will be able to determine the cause and get Max started on treatment. Best of luck!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 3rd, 2017

    It looks like Max has an infection in his skin. This is very common in dogs that have thick hair coats. The area needs to be shaved very short and washed well with an antibacterial soap. You also need to make sure that Max cannot lick the area, so purchase an Elizabethan collar. Systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will help this lesion to heal the fastest. There are over-the-counter sprays that can be purchased but the healing will take longer. His veterinarian can provide the appropriate medications and recommendations. Clean and protect the area, then make an appointment with Max's doctor.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Max is a 2 year gsd long coat. 4 days now he has scratched his hair off his side back size of a fist. Now hes. Growing it bigger an red on new places. He does go to dog park with lake, but never had a problem. What can I fo?
It looks like Max has an infection in his skin. This is very common in dogs that have thick hair coats. The area needs to be shaved very short and washed well with an antibacterial soap. You also need to make sure that Max cannot lick the area, so purchase an Elizabethan collar. Systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will help this lesion to heal the fastest. There are over-the-counter sprays that can be purchased but the healing will take longer. His veterinarian can provide the appropriate medications and recommendations. Clean and protect the area, then make an appointment with Max's doctor.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has some balding dry patches with white bumps. He is up to date on ticks, flee and heart worm meds. Should I be worried, or take him to the vet?
Any time we have areas of hair loss it is recommended that your dog be examined by a vet. From one photo it looks like we could either have dandruff or epidermal collarettes which are a sign of bacterial infecition of the skin. The pinpoint white areas could be pustules (from bacteria) or calcinosis cutis which can be see with some endocrine diseases. The vet will examine Max and may recommend some testing to check for bacteria or parasites or endocrine diseases. Treatment will depend on their findings.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
It started developing about 1 week ago. Started with small area then started to spread quickly. With Dry crusty skin, hair loss on the area. Painfull.
Poor Max! This could be a bacterial or fungal infection or even an auto-immune disease. Since it is spreading quickly, I would strongly recommend to have your vet take a look. He is likely going to need some antibiotics, possibly anti-fungal meds, and maybe even some steroids. Unfortunately, there aren't any good over the counter meds to help cure this. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What does ringworm look like in dogs? Would the spot be completely bald? My dog's spots are chewed and he has red bumps (bites) on his stomach.
If you go to google images and type in ring worm in dogs, you will find many, many photographs of this condition. From the pictures you have included in your post, this does not look similar to a typical case of ring worm. I can't tell if from the first photo if that is actually what Max's skin looks like or if you have applied some sort of medication to the area. If that is what the skin looks like, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian some time soon for diagnostics and some medications. The area is likely infected, inflamed, and painful. If he is itchy, he is all going to require something to go around his head (the collar of shame) to prevent any further self-mutilation. Often times, the cause of isolated areas of irritation are never discovered. AS a result, we seek to treat the result and handle the symptoms accordingly. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He has dandruff but skin under coat looks good but he has hair loss on tail and sores on paws.
Hello, thank you for your question about Max. Based on the photos that you've attached and Max's symptoms it is possible that he has an underlying skin problem such as allergies or infection. Dogs can have underlying allergies to many things both dietary and environmental. I would recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian so that they can examine the areas and determine the need for additional testing such as a skin scrape or impression to look for bacteria and cells. Hope this helps, good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my 10 month labradoodle puppy started having this skin rash 1 day now. The round patch has raised lesions and hair loss in that area. He is constantly licking that area. I applied polysporin cream and trying to keep him distracted so he doesn’t l
I am so sorry that you are having this problem. I certainly understand how frustrating it is to watch your dog be so itchy. Unfortunately, we can't tell just by looking at an area on the skin what is causing the problem. We can take a sample from the skin and look at it under the microscope to evaluate for yeast or bacteria which your veterinarian can easily do for you. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types), external parasites (such as fleas or mites), or secondary infections (bacterial or yeast). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Since Max is so irritated by this area, I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate him to do some tests to see what might be causing the
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has scabs all over his back and scratches constantly losing hair and Restless picking his toenails no fleas we have no fleas and his eyes are leaking brown stuff
Poor guy. It sounds like Maxx either has allergic dermatitis (to something in the environment), skin mites, ringworm, or even an immune mediated skin disorder is possible. I would first have him examined by your vet for a few skin tests (Skin scrape to rule out mites, and consider a ringworm test if the lesions are circular and red). Then the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment based on the findings of those tests. Typically as long as ringworm is not likely, cats respond well to steroids and antibiotics. I hope that Maxx's skin heals well soon! Best wishes and take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He is max,golden retriever breed of 10months. He is having this pink rashes over his eye mouth gradually increasing towards his nose sometimes its itchy.y is this happend? How could it be treated? Due to lack of doctors in my town its not being treat
Hi there and thank you for posting! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Max's skin condition may be without examining Max first, but I can offer some possibilities. It could be a fungal infection or a mite infection. These are common in puppies and young dogs and present typically around the face, nose, muzzle and eyes. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with a few simple skin tests. I would recommend Max visit his vet soon to have the possibilities above diagnosed so he can be treated with the proper medication. I am sorry to hear you do not have a veterinarian near you, but taking him to one in a town near by is necessary for diagnosis. Best to you and thank you for using Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog max has been treated for his skin scabbing up several times with pharmaVeb, Benadryl, Gensvet but nothing seems to work. This is make him get ball spots.
Those spots on Max could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the lesions should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or N
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 month old german sheapard is having a lot of hair loss from his face and body and some sort of rashes are being formed . What can i do and please do prescribe the medicines needed as no vetinary hospitals are open due to the covid 19 lockdown
Those spots on Max could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or ringworm (which humans can get). There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions once a day (not his whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. You will need to speak with a local veterinarian for medications. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored