Why does my dog have red, dry sores and hair loss that's spreading?

Question

My dog has red sores and scabs that are raised above the skin, they do not weep and feel tough and dry, he has also got excessive hair loss in the same areas. I believe it could be spreading. He is a 12 year old Staffordshire bull terrier. Thanks. Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 13 years and 5 months old | 59 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Those spots on V-Jay could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the bumps should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they are unlikely to address the underlying cause. 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. Also protect the area from trauma by having V-Jay wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Why does my dog have red, dry sores and hair loss that's spreading?

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