Why is my dog's tail itchy, losing hair, and covered in pus?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Male | neutered
Hello, my jack Russell has been itching the base of his tail for a couple days and I didn’t really notice, but it is definitely bugging him, it’s itchy, he lets me look and clean it but he isn’t comfortable hair loss is starting to happen and the area is covered in puss and I can’t fully clean it all, it is not in flamed. Thank you
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 15th, 2019
That looks infected. Pets can get infections like bacteria or yeast. Sometimes the infection is related to flea bites or allergies. You must protect the area from licking/chewing by having Denzel wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian and he will likely get antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory (which will decrease the itching and make him feel better) and a medicated shampoo. If fleas are the cause, discuss which flea prevention is best for him. I hope this helps.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 22nd, 2016
Poor Bear! I would be curious to know what kind of flea medication he is on currently, because flaky skin and excessive itching with hair loss in this area of the body is very often associated with fleas. Many of the over-the-counter topical brands are not effective, so I would recommend using an oral flea medication such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or Trifexis/Comfortis if he's not already on one of these meds. If he has a hot spot currently (an area of raw, sticky skin that's itchy or painful to the touch), he will probably need oral antibiotics and a short-term steroid like prednisone to treat this problem effectively, so I would recommend having him examined by a vet as soon as you are able to. In the meantime, you can get an e-collar (plastic cone) for him to wear to prevent him from continuing to bite and chew at the area, which will make things worse.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 21st, 2017
A food allergy or issue with fleas are both possible causes for Buddy's hair loss around the base of his tail, but given the location of the issue, fleas seem more likely. (With flea issues, we tend to notice skin issues around the ears and rears.) As a starting point, make sure Buddy is regularly receiving high quality flea prevention, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II. If his skin lesions worsen, I recommend taking a trip to his vet for further evaluation. With excessive itching or licking, some dogs can also develop a skin infection that may require antibiotics for resolution. Skin issues with food allergies tend to be more widespread, but if flea management and (possibly) antibiotics are ineffective after 1-2 weeks, it may be worth changing back to his initial diet. If you do need to go back to his original diet, mix it with the Nutro over 5-7 days to decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal upset from a sudden diet change. Also be aware that it can take 6-8 weeks minimum to observe the full effect of skin changes from diet changes. I hope that all goes well!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on October 12th, 2017
I would start by getting the thyroid checked and having him checked for mange. Both can cause secodnary skin changes and infections in older dogs and unless those get addressed then the skin will not get better. Also I would look into a hypoallergenic or limited ingredient diet such as royal canin rabbit and potato or science diet D/D. Make sure you do a weekly bath with a medicated shampoo and keep the fleas under control. If none of these help I would talk to your vet about a newer medicines called Apoquel and cytopoint. They are made for itchy dogs to help treat inflammation and the itching
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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