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My dog has a raw, oozing armpit from harness. Should he see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | neutered | 3 years and 11 months old | 52 lbs

Gus’s developed a raw spot in his front right “armpit” area due to his harness. It was moist/oozing when I took him out yesterday, & it appears he was bitten by some insects on that spot-I’m guessing mosquitoes. Since then, I’ve cleaned it, applied a hydrocortisone cream (for pets), and covered it—and the redness & most of the swelling has gone down. My concern is that we’re leaving him w/a pet sitter the day after tomorrow, & I want to ensure it doesn’t warrant a last-minute visit to the vet

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on July 23rd, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that this looks severe enough that it warrants a veterinary evaluation to shave and clean the area appropriately and also start him on antibiotics to treat a possible infection. They can assess how it looks on a close examination and treat it accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

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