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My dog's nipples are red, itchy, with black spots. Vet or home care?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | French Bulldog | Male | neutered | 1 year and 3 months old | 27 lbs

My dog has some irritated nipples. One in particular is very large and red. They are itchy, and have these black flecks that look like dirt. I give him flee meds monthly and he is a perky, happy boy. I just clipped his nails and his scratching has gotten worse so they are particularly red right now. What is that blackness? And why might that one nipple be so itchy? Do I need to take him to the vet, or are there any lower-cost options?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on January 21st, 2020

That looks uncomfortable. It's impossible to know at this stage if the nipple is infected or if the skin on/around the nipple is inflamed and this is causing the enlarged size. The block dots could be flea dirt, blocked pores or debris Patrick has laid in. Your best option is to have Patrick examined by the veterinarian and to get medications to help the itchiness. These lesions could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. If you can't get him in to the veterinarian, there are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not 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. You can wash the lesions once a day (not his whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 22nd, 2018

    I am sorry to hear about Timberlynn! This looks quite irritated and inflammed! I am concerned she has an infection of the skin, likely bacteria and possibly yeast as well. The scratching and irritation could have lead to trauma of the nipple leading to infection. I would recommend getting her in to see the vet as soon as possible. They can prescribe antibiotics and any other medication that may be needed to treat infection and also make her less itchy!

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