Why is my cat's bald patch red and irritated? Is it infected?

Hello. That looks like a moist and sticky bacterial infection, but a proper diagnosis would come from a hands on examination with your veterinarian. It would be best to have him looked at ASAP, but in the meantime....the main goal is to clean the area and try to keep it dry. You can use some dish soap and water to gently clean the area, then wipe excess soap away and dry it . Do not rub or scrub the tissue very hard as it is probably uncomfortable. Your veterinarian will need to prescribe the appropriate antibiotic to eliminate the infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

It's difficult to compare the size of the area in the 2 pictures, but if the area is getting larger, then I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine Muffin. The best way for us to decide how to treat skin problems is to do some simple skin tests and examine a sample under the microscope. That will determine if there is a bacterial infection, fungal infection, yeast infection or even a parasitic infection like mites. I wish I could give you an answer by just looking at the picture, but since Bacitracin isn't working it's time for some additional testing to figure out what is going on. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It is very difficult to know exactly what this might be, but it does resemble a healing abscess. If she is constantly licking the spot, then you might want to put a light Elizabethan collar on her to prevent further self-trauma. But, if she is not bothering the area, then just keep an eye on this for the time being. Anything you put on it will just get her licking it off & perhaps doing more damage to the skin. Any additional concerns, it is best to have your veterinarian physically examine the skin for additional possible treatment. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would talk to your veterinarian about giving him an injection to help stop the itch. He may also need an Elizabethan collar to stop him from licking. I would recommend not shaving him again. You may also need to do the antibiotics for 4-6 weeks if his skin is that bad. It may take time but he will get resolved. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It looks like a hot spot (moist dermatitis). Your veterinarian should examine Roxy to confirm the diagnosis. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent pawing or rubbing. The e-collar may keep your other dog away from it as well. Ideally, the area should be clipped and scrubbed by your vet. Topical and/or systemic antibiotic treatment may be indicated.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Georgia. Oh my, this looks quite irritated. Yes, I do think she needs to see a vet for this, as this does need veterinary treatment. Give her vet a call now to make her an appointment. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a severe focal infection. I recommend you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as this will likely require local therapy with cleaning of the site, pain control medications and antibiotics. Also, your veterinarian could check for a possible underlying cause like allergies, mites or a foreign body reaction. Good luck!