What causes my 7-year-old pit bull's back discoloration and shedding?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Without pictures and without examining Shadow myself it is difficult to say what the problem is. If you are seeing round areas of hair loss, this could be due to ringworm, a bacterial skin infection or potentially skin parasites such as Demodex. I would have this looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps!

Poor Shay-Shay! It looks like she has some pretty significant skin problems. The black, crusty appearance of the skin on her belly is called lichenification - it's caused by chronic itching over a long period of time. There are a number of things that could cause severe itching, hair loss, and scabs like this. Some common possibilities would include allergies, fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so it's important to get a diagnosis first in order to know how to help her. I would recommend taking her to the vet this week for an exam - he/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think continuing the use of a medicated shampoo would be good as he likely has secondary infections. I think this could be due to allergies and it would be crucial to identify the allergic component to try to see if he can improve. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Ouch, poor Leonidas! If the hair and skin are still having issues, you may want to look into other causes such as allergies, which are very common in pitties Daily allergy meds from your vet, a change in diet to a grain-free or allergen friendly food, and wiping down the skin/coat when coming in from outside can all help reduce allergies. If there isn't an underlying problem such as an infection or allergy, then looking to a supplement such as fish oil or vitamin E may also help the skin and coat. Making sure Leonidas isn't licking and chewing the area (as it can lead to a secondary infection) can also help try to clear it up.

Mila's signs could be indicating allergies as well as a skin infection. The skin color changes could be due to this being an ongoing/chronic issue. Sometimes an oatmeal based shampoo helps as well as omega3 fatty acid supplements but if your dog has allergies your veterinarian can discuss long-term control plans with you.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Ghost! It's hard to be sure 100% but Ghost likely has a skin infection. Sometimes skin infections can be from allergies. Other possibilities are: fleas, ring worm or mites (demodex). I would recommend starting one of the oral flea and tick medications Nexgard, Bravecto or Simparica. They also have the added benefit of killing demodex. So that easily takes care of 2 of the possibilities. Ideally Ghost should see your Vet to properly diagnose the skin problem. If an infection we treat with oral antibiotics and something to stop the scratching. You can try a medicated shampoo: bathe 2-3 times per week, allow the lather to sit on the skin for 10 mins before rinsing. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27234 I hope this helps and I wish Ghost a speedy recovery!

It might just be normal shedding but it could also be caused by a medical condition. You could bathe him with a moisturizing dog shampoo, brush him and add an omega-3 supplement (Free Form Snip Tips) and see if that helps. The black spots could just be normal pigmentation of his skin. If the excessive shedding and spots continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine if there is a problem. Your vet can do some testing to help diagnose. He could have a skin infection, mites, flea allergy, hypothyroidism, etc.