Why are there black specks on my 12-week-old puppy's ear flap?

It is difficult to tell from the picture but it could just be some discharge from his ear. You could try to clean his ear with an dog ear cleaner and see if it helps. Otherwise, have him examined by a vet to determine if he has an ear infection. Your vet can do a cytology and look at the discharge under a microscope to determine the type of infection and then prescribe medications to treat.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for your pup. This looks like papules or a miliary dermatitis. We could see these from a variety of causes ranging from parasites of the skin such as mites, to allergies, to bacterial infection. If the spots aren't going away on their own in a day or two I would recommend an exam at his vet to help determine the cause of the lesions which will guide the treatment.

Those spots on Pepper's ears could be due to superficial bacterial infections, superficial irritation or mites. Make sure Pepper does not scratch at them as this could cause them to worsen. Sometimes these little spots will clear on their own. I recommend to point them out to his vet when he is in for his next vaccine visit. The doctor will likely give you an ointment to apply to the lesions. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post additional questions.

This is not a tick but a very localized inflammation which can possibly be due to a small trauma, an infection or allergies (only if she is scratching here and somewhere else in the body otherwise is not likely at all). At this stage, disinfection can be done at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It's hard to see anything with the photos, however if the skin is flaking a few things could be happening: skin flaking can sometimes happen with parasites, so ruling out fleas or ticks is a good first step. Dry skin can also occur from over grooming (bathing too often which strips the coat of its natural oils), or from possible allergies/issues with diet. Using an aloe or oatmeal shampoo when bathing, adding some vitamin E or fish oil to the diet may help, however if the flaking continues, worsens, or you see irritation on the skin itself, having it checked by a vet is best.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to see the skin in your pictures but it looks like a rash or comedones. If the reddish black things on her skin flakes off or are loose, wet them on a white tissue. If they melt away to a red streak that is flea poop. Flea dips and shampoos are NOT preventatives for fleas and the fleas that hatch on the carpet will jump right back on the pet. Fleas do not lay eggs on the pet but on the carpet. Bed bugs do not live on animals. I recommend a flea preventative like oral Nexgard, Simparica, Bravecto or topical Advantix ii or the Seresto collar. If there are no live fleas or flea dirt then she likely has a secondary skin infection or rash from an allergic reaction the the fleas. I would have her seen by your Vet so she can be provided relief. Also it looks like she has a paw infection which could be from environmental or food allergies. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!