My dog has red spots and bruising on her body. What could this be?

Question

My dog brendle pitbull has red (brusing) spots on the back of her hine leg, stomach along side of her back and her ear. She uses the bathroom in the yard (wildlife around). Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed

C. Rathjens, DVM · Accepted Answer

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but my two top guesses would be that this is superficial pyoderma (a common condition for dogs in which normal bacteria or yeast get out of control and cause sores/pimples/red moist spots) or it could be true bruising, which would indicate a clotting issue with her blood. It's easy to tell the difference in person (or it could certainly be something else as well - pictures don't always tell the full story) and the treatment/testing required is entirely different, so I would recommend taking her to the vet ASAP. As long as she's not lethargic and has normal appetite then waiting until tomorrow should be fine. The exception to that advice would be if you're sure or highly suspicious that it's really bruising (ie you look at her in 10 minutes and see a bruise popping up everywhere you held her lightly for these pictures) - if it's definitely bruising, go to an emergency clinic if possible. I hope that helps with decision making for tonight. Wishing you and Chasee the best of luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My dog has red spots and bruising on her body. What could this be?

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