Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

Why is my dog's eye area skin moist? Is it allergy or mites?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | French Bulldog | Male | unneutered | 10 months and 2 days old | 22 lbs

I wanted to know if it's an allergy reaction or skin mites I just put drops on his eyes clean the area and apply coconut oil

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 Megan, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Published on May 25th, 2018

This is most likely a skin infection from the skin being moist all the time and unable to dry out. I would try using some medicated wipes twice a day in that area. I like dechra's miconahex wipes. This will help to dry the area out and get rid of the bacteria. If it isn't improving, I would have your vet take a look at him. He may need some oral antibiotics and a low dose of steroids to help clear it up. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 25th, 2019

    Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The eye has what is called a prolapsed gland of the nictitating membrane or "cherry eye" as some people call it. This condition can cause problems with the eye such as chronic infections, chronic eye ulcers and irritation. The fix for this is surgery so tuck the gland back in. If this is becoming a problem, I would speak with your veterinarian about this and discuss the options at this point. As for the skin, I would recommend having him checked for skin mites if this has not already been done and also use antibiotic shampoo therapy with a shampoo such as Douxo Chlorhexidine PS combination shampoo and Miconahex + Triz spray. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Noticed 3 weeks ago. It has spread very slowly. It does get flaky and dry. She does not itch it unless I allow it to get dry, I've been putting coconut oil on it once a day. No redness of the sclera. No additional drainage. She is a double coated do
Lesions around the eyes are generally environmental allergies or skin mites. Since the rash is getting worse and not responding to your home care AND it's been going on for 3 weeks, I recommend to have Kira checked by the veterinarian. The doctor may preform a simple test caused a skin scrape to check for mites. Otherwise she may get medication to treat the underlying condition. Try to have her examined in the next few days. Until she is examined, you can use a hypoallergenic baby wipe to cleanse the area. Continue to use the coconut oil (you can do this twice a day). An omega 3 fatty acid supplement may also help to improve her over all skin health. Once the vet knows the underlying condition, she will get the correct medication to correct the problem and allow her skin to return to normal. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my 7 month old lasapso x chihuahua has a raw patch under is left eye he's loosing his hair I have read it could be a mite? It looks like a burn with the redness obviously its not
Poor Sandy. That area looks really irritated. Certainly mites can cause hair loss around the eye, but we normally see hair loss around both eyes without any redness or moisture (which it appears that Sandy has). It also appears that Sandy has some crusting along the inside of the area as well. It may be more likely that he has a bacterial skin infection called a hot spot (https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2714) that results from an overgrowth of normal bacteria on the skin. Your veterinarian can perform a couple of simple skin tests to determine if Sandy has any evidence of mites, if we are dealing with a bacterial infection of the skin or if there is another problem. That may require looking at a sample under the microscope. Then they can help you determine the best treatment for him since we have to be careful treating the skin around the eye. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello I have a Korean jindo and I noticed a rash around both of her eyes show I be worried
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My shih-tzu has inflamed and flaky skin between her eyes and nose and up through her eyebrows. Could this be a food allergy. She's had it for months.
Without pictures it is difficult to say for sure what this could be. This may be due to allergies, a skin infection (fungal or bacterial), etc. I would recommend using the below products to start. These can all be found online quite easily or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement, I would recommend having Gracie examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved 2. Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent 4. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area twice daily until resolved 5. Welactin omega 3 fatty acid capsules for dogs.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has these dry spots that have started to turn red and yellow and spreading all over his body. I started washing him with Antiseptic and Antifungal shampoo and making sure his ears are clear of mites because he is a black Labrador and then also
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Is this a skin fungus? It’s been growing very slowly for a few years. My dog is almost 14 and hasn’t had any major health issues besides age-related stuff like arthritis and teeth issues, which are both taken care of now. It seems like the eye issue
Hello. I do not think this is a skin fungus, but just chronic irritation from years of tears spilling over, a common problem in dogs with very prominent eyes. I would just keep the area wiped down with warm water & dry the area & just keep doing this as needed. If you want to try something, then you can pick up an antiseptic skin cleanser called Hibiclens at any pharmacy. Just dab a bit on the area twice a day, but do not let any get into the eye. This should also help. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a male pitbull who suffers from very dry flakey skin and recently mucus in both eyes, I just want to know if the two can be related and have anything to do with his diet he was on dog chow but switched him to a salmon recepie from Beneful.
It sounds like your dog has a skin infection, most likely caused by allergies. Allergies can also cause the discharge in the eyes you are seeing. The allergies can be from a protein in his food or to something in the environment, like grasses, pollens, dust, etc. The allergies cause a breakdown in the skin barrier and make the dog very itchy. The excessive itching and licking cause the flakey skin and infection. I would recommend taking your dog in to see the vet so he can be started on some antibiotics to help clear up the skin and get on a good flea control. You may also ask about a medicated shampoo, these can help clear up the skin more quickly. I would also recommend discussing with your vet some options for medication to help control the allergy symptoms like Atopica, Apoquel, or Cytopoint. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello! I was just sitting down when I noticed that my dogs eyelids are losing hair. I’m not sure if she got into something or if it was something else. Hope you can get back with me !
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. 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. This could also be due to something like mites and that can be easily determined with an exam and basic cytology which your veterinarian can perform. There are medications such as Apoquel or prednisone which may help with the itch. 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
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He is having this in some other parts of his body and ears and it's spreading more
It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the itch so it can be treated appropriately. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. Once the infection has resolved a long term allergy medication
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What can I do to help my dog ? He has been itching and the right side of his lip looks irritated , as well as his teardrop area.
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will
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