My Boston Terrier has hair loss and strange skin rings. What's wrong?

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hair loss on the ear tips and nose can be a sign of a fungal infection (ringworm). This can be itchy but sometimes it is not. It is hard to say if this is really the cause or not without seeing Scratch first, but that is my best guess. I would have this confirmed with your veterinarian. They will do a skin scrape and a final culture. If it is ringworm, Scratch will need to be on anti fungal medication for several weeks. I hoe this helps!

That could be completely normal, unless there are any lesions on her skin that you can notice and describe to us. A picture as well would be of great help to understand the underlying nature of it. Pictures can be uploaded by requesting a consultation. Please do not hesitate to write to us again on the forum with more details about any possible skin abnormality.

That is quite an unusual lesion. Has your vet consulted a dermatologist regarding that? Given the history of autoimmune disease and immunosuppressive medication options could include calcinosis cutis secondary to the steroids, a fungal (or atypical bacterial) infection, drug eruption, etc. There are higher risks for complications with certain drugs and for certain infectious agents in different parts of the country. Sampling is likely indicated (cytology or biopsy, culture) and i would definitely recommend getting the input of a dermatologist before it progresses. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. It looks to be a bacterial infection on Murphy's skin. These are often very treatable using a medicated antibacterial shampoo available from your veterinarian. The stress from your move may have set things off, but it is very treatable. Once your vet confirms there is nothing else going on with Murphy she will prescribe the appropriate medicated shampoo. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Itching/scratching can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above.Boston Terriers can be particularly prone to infections in the skin folds near the tail area, so I recommend making an appointment to have Penelope seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the itching you’ve noticed and to make sure it is treated appropriately. The vet may want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment. In the meantime, you can bathe Penelope in hypoallergenic unscented shampoo for dogs to clean the area, but this will likely not resolve the itching. I recommend that you put an e-collar (cone) on Penelope in the meantime to help reduce the risk of further irritation to the area from licking.

Hello. I do not think the vaccinations caused any problems, it just looks like she has some allergy issues. Unfortunately, it looks like you have a bit of a staph infection on her abdomen & groin region, & just some sensitivities on her chest. Let's try treating her with a good antibacterial shampoo. I like KetoChlor shampoo that you can find on Amazon, Chewy & other sites. Keep the shampoo on for 10 minutes before rinsing & bather her twice a week for the next 3-6 weeks. I would also start her on a good omega 3 fatty acid like Nordic Naturals for dogs. Give this a go for a few weeks & see how it helps her skin. Good luck & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see an area of hair loss, redness, thickening of the kin, and what appears to be a scratch. This can be caused by bacterial or fungal skin infections such as ringworm, skin mites, or autoimmune diseases. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as ringworm can be transmitted to people. I hope this helps and that all is well!