My Yorkie has small brown spots on her legs and back. Is it serious?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on May 28th, 2017

  Black spots can be a normal pigmentary change in the skin if they are not raised/rough feeling and feel just the same as the rest of his skin. We can, however, see darkening of the skin with chronic skin inflammation (called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) or some skin tumors (such as melanomas) may be raised and dark in color. If you are unsure, the safest thing to do would be to have your vet take a look at the areas to confirm if they are of concern or not.

  

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  Answered By Rebeccah Wood

  Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

  Published on July 30th, 2017

  Hello there! A black spot on the genitals can be any number of things. Color change in the skin of yorkies is common as they get older, so it may be as simple as that. If the skin is raised, bumpy, moist, has non-uniform edges, or has any sort of lesion in or on it, it should be looked at by a veterinarian. It could be a bacterial infection, a fungal infection, an insect bite, or a cancerous mass. At the vet's office, your yorkie will receive a full physical exam. The vet will look at the spot, and they may know what it is just by looking at it. If it isn't obvious by simply looking at it, they may take a small sample of skin from the surface of the lesion by scraping it, or a sample of cells from the skin using a needle (called a fine needle aspirate, or FNA). These cells will be examined under the microscope to look for bacteria, fungus, or abnormal cells. This will help the vet determine the proper course of treatment, which may include nothing at all (watch-and-wait), a topical ointment or cream, or surgical excision. While this is likely not an emergency, I highly recommend that you have a vet look at the lesion, especially if it seems to bother your dog, or if it is at all moist. Good luck, and I hope your yorkie gets well soon!

  

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  Answered By David Darvishian

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 30th, 2017

  Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dogs can develop areas of pigmentation almost anywhere on their bodies as they age. This can be completely normal. But sometimes pigmentation development can be due to areas of chronic skin irritation. This doesn't sound like it's the case so I would just assume it's some normal pigmentation developing as he gets a little older. Good luck

  

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