What's causing my dog's skin irritation, redness, and hair loss?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
I have a picture just wondering what this is on dog skin
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 27th, 2017
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see an area of hair loss, redness, thickening of the kin, and what appears to be a scratch. This can be caused by bacterial or fungal skin infections such as ringworm, skin mites, or autoimmune diseases. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as ringworm can be transmitted to people. I hope this helps and that all is well!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 26th, 2019
Those spots on LAxel could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. 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 with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching and he may need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
I'm after finding to red patches with like a yellow and red colouring there one one her back on one on the side of her face any ideas wat it cud b thank u
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This may be due to an infection, ringworm or allergies though it is hard to know without an examination. I recommend that you consider taking her to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They could check what seems to be the issue and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is having some skin irritation he is red around his snout he has sore like blisters in his ear and on his paws and stomach causing some hair lose in those spots what could this be?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is getting round small circle spot the hair is gone and it's pussing and oozing what do I do it's red and leaking fluid
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This looks like a severe focal infection. I recommend you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as this will likely require local therapy with cleaning of the site, pain control medications and antibiotics. Also, your veterinarian could check for a possible underlying cause like allergies, mites or a foreign body reaction. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a small bald spot, i thought it was a hot spot until i just noticed that it now has a real spot on it. Im really worried
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! I can see that Jenny does have a well demarcated area of hair loss and redness. This can be indicative of a skin infection, namely ringworm, which is a fungus that can be transmitted to people. I recommend having Jenny seen by a vet as soon as possible and making sure that you wash your hands with soap and water after petting Jenny. Your vet can take a small sample of hair and skin to rule out the condition and prescribe anti fungal or antibiotic medication if necessary. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is losing his hair, he's a golden retriever. He keeps on scratching at munching his skin because of itch.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. Other possibilities include something like mange for example. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs hair is peeling off in a 1 inch size patch. The skin underneath is still there, so it is not an open wound. What could it be? I thought mange maybe?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Yes, mange is possible. Other possibilities include allergies, ringworm, immune-mediated conditions, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. In the meantime, if she appears to be scratching or licking at it, you can use an e-collar to try to prevent further injury. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Sudden hair loss in less than a month. inside of ears became pinkish/warm with a fishy odor. Thought it was mites so applied drops that had worked wonders before. Odor went away, but inside of ears became dry, flaky skin/dandruff & some itchyness. Wi
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! He is adorable! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or sk
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has hair loss on his butt and top of his tail. Theres no redness, he doesn’t bite it or itch, and it doesn’t appear to be a ringworm. It’s been like this for a few months now and my other dog hasn’t been affected by it. I’ve also treated it as
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewardi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My Pom has purple itchy lesions under her belly that spread . Itchy Bumps and scabs with hair loss . Ears and paws affectedmoyth and eyes . It was a chronic infection . Took 3 months to heal with strong Antibiotics .but now it’s manifesred again wi
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. I would make sure that skin mites are ruled out as a possible cause. This could be a fungal or bacterial skin infection and if she was only put on antibiotics and this is a fungal infection, it will not respond. This could also be an immune mediated condition that needs drugs to suppress the immune system in order to be treated. I would discuss other options with your veterinarian besides a biopsy and see if various treatments improve the condition. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dashound has irritated skin right before the black of his nose starts on top his nose is still wet and cold but it looks like slightly red and kind of a little bit of hair loss like he's been rubbing it
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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