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My dog's itchy rash won't heal. Does he need a vet or medication?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shiba Inu | Male | neutered | 2 years and 1 month old | 28 lbs

I have a two year old Shiba Inu with what I think is a rash or hot spot, we put the cone on so he would stop itching/biting, we starting bathing him with a medicated oatmeal treatment shampoo and we just changed his food and our laundry detergent as he has had a reaction before and that made it go away last time but the rash still looks awful. We are trying to avoid the vet because he has behavioral issues at the vet but is this something he needs medication or a shot for? Thank you

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on September 15th, 2020

I'm sorry to hear that Jax is so uncomfortable! The redness and inflammation on his foot is pretty significant. This type of skin issue is most commonly caused by underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment. When dogs itch and bite a lot, they damage the protective outer layers of the skin, often resulting in the onset of bacterial and/or yeast skin infections. It's possible that he may need some anti-itch medications, antibiotics or anti-fungal medications. I understand that Jax is not the most cooperative at the vet, but this is something that warrants veterinary attention. I'd recommend calling your vet to ask if they can prescribe a sedative before the appointment or consider working with a house call vet in your area. I hope that everything goes well!

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Poor Jax! Oh from the pictures, that does look awful. At this point in time, yes I do think it's worth a vet visit. He sounds uncomfortable and it looks bad in the pictures. You've tried some things at home without success, so it is time to have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps.

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