Why is my chihuahua licking spots on his belly? Is it a skin issue?

This presentation is likely to be due to a mild superficial bacterial infection (bacterial folliculitis) on the ventral abdomen. Nothing to be extremely worried about as it could be self limiting/resolving. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching (if any). If signs are not resolving, a check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) will be then needed to solve the problem. 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!

This can definitely be cause by an allergy, but infection or mites are possible. First of all, I would recommend to have her treated with a good parasite treatment to rule out fleas. Then I would recommend a check up as infections and mites can be ruled out easily with some skin testing (skin scrape). If these tests are negative allergy must be treated and diagnosed. Flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy and environmental one are most common. Steroids and antibiotics may e needed, but other meds with fewer side effects are available nowadays (Apoquel for example).

Hello, sorry to hear about Chico. It looks like he is having multiple areas of skin inflammation (dermatitis). This could be causes by a various things to include bacteria, yeast, or most commonly allergies. In that location, environmental allergies are the most common cause. These may include grasses, trees, pollen, carpet, dust mites, dander, etc. Signs associated with this could include licking, scratching, rubbing belly on the floor, and developing other areas of dermatitis. If he is otherwise comfortable with a good appetite and no itchiness, then you can bathe him with a skin sensitive shampoo to wash off any excessive allergens. You may wipe him with skin sensitive baby wipes as well to decrease any allergen exposure. If he does develop any itchiness, then he may need allergy medications which can be provided by your veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I would recommend bringing Rocco to a veterinarian. It is hard to definitely say what is going on with Rocco without a physical examination. This could be a skin infection that he is making worse by scratching at it. If it is a skin infection your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics and potentially a medicated shampoo. It is hard to say exactly what caused the itchiness but most common is allergies. Your veterinarian can discuss different causes and ways we can try to stop this from happening again. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Those spots on Lucas could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. 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 with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching by having him wear an elizabethan collar. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor pup. Typically a pup this young is licking due to an itch caused by fleas or an allergy. I would first check for fleas and then as a safeguard give Harry a bath in a puppy oatmeal based or aloe based shampoo, allowing him to soak for 5 mins before rinsing him off. Then I would recommend starting him on flea prevention. My only recommendation for a pet this young and this small would be topical Revolution. Thirdly a topical hot spot spray from your local pet store can be tried on the legs to alleviate itching and inflammation. You will also want to place an e-collar on Harry to prevent him from licking the spray right off. I hope that is helps and that Harry’s licking improves soon. Best of luck and take care.

I'm sorry to hear Chico is having issues with over licking. Excessive licking can be a coping mechanism secondary to an underlying anxiety or stressor. On himself, it can be secondary to a skin issue, such as allergies, skin parasites (fleas or mites), an infection or an underlying medical issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his licking (medical vs behavioral), have any necessary testing done (skin scrape, bloodwork) and get started on a treatment plan that may help resolve his issue. Good luck!