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My dog has crusty spots on her shoulder. Fleas or skin issue?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed | 2 years and 10 months old

My dog has these on her shoulder blade. Are these fleas or a skin infection because she doesn't have them anywhere else or where fleas mostly go on dogs?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 24th, 2018

Hello, those are not fleas. They appear to be crusts formed from the oily secretions of the skin. This can occur in dogs with a very oily skin coat, due to allergies, or even due to diet deficiencies. Other causes could include a skin infection or dry skin. This can typically be managed with the right medication, diet, or shampoo alone or in combination. However, your veterinarian may need to look a sample of this area under the microscope to rule out any bacteria, yeast, or parasites. Schedule and appointment with your veterinarian and have Stella evaluated soon. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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