My dog has a bald, scaly, itchy spot behind his ear. What should I do?

The skin itself has a scaly and bump appearance to it, which often means there is a bacterial or fungal infection present. I would recommend taking Snow in to your vet to have the area tested to determine which infection is present so that the proper medication is prescribed. I hope that Snow’s spot heals well soon. Best wishes and take care.

I don't think this is seasonal shedding. I would be concerned about causes of hair loss and itching in a puppy, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), and ringworm. A vet examination will be able to help you figure out the cause and best treatment. I would also discuss the diarrhea with the vet. Possible causes include food intolerance or allergies, intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, bacterial or viral infection, stress colitis, among others. Even though Bear was dewormed, the vet should probably do a fecal floatation test to check for intestinal parasites.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mochi! I am glad you will be bringing him to the Vet! I would worry about mites, either demodex or scabies, ring worm or a bad skin infection. If it is a skin infection the Vet will likely prescribe a medicated shampoo and antibiotics. If he has mites they will prescribe medications. As of now I would just wait for the exam, I would say bathe him but it would be ideal for the Vet to see his skin as is. Try to feed him some boiled chicken or watered down canned puppy food. Good luck!

Buddy may have a mite infection (demodicosis) or a bacterial/fungal skin infection. I suggest you make an appointment with your veterinarian for a skin exam, possibly some diagnostics (skin swab, culture or biopsy) and relevant treatment.

I recommend getting him in to see your vet as soon as possible about the loss of appetite and diarrhea. Puppies that young can dehydrate easily and their blood sugar can drop quickly to life-threatening levels. The diarrhea could be caused by parasites, a bacterial or viral infection, or possibly swallowing something he shouldn't have, irritating the GI tract or, more seriously, getting stuck and causing an obstruction. The skin I'm less worried about, though that can be addressed at the same visit. Many puppies develop what is called puppy pyoderma, which is roughly equivalent to acne in humans. Most outgrow it and it rarely gets bad enough to require medication, but sometimes antibiotics and therapeutic bathing is needed to help them heal more quickly.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Toby is feeling unwell. Scabs on his body may be a sign of a skin disease such as parasites (fleas, mites), bacterial infection, fungal infection, or allergies. These can all cause itchiness and discomfort, which may be why he is shaking and has a loss of appetite. Stress from discomfort can also cause loose stools. It is also possible that Toby is dealing with multiple health issues, i.e. the skin problem may be separate from his loss of appetite and loose stool. Causes for the latter two issues include gut infection (gastroenteritis), pancreatitis, gut parasites, or food allergies. Given these many possibilities, it would be best if Toby got checked out at a vet within the next 1-2 days. They can determine the cause of the skin issue through physical exam and possible skin scraping or cytology tests. If they are suspicious of gut parasites, they may recommend checking a fecal sample. At minimum, they can prescribe medication to help improve his comfort, correct any dehydration, and treat his diarrhea. In the meantime, some things you can do at home include: 1) bathe him with a gentle aloe and oatmeal shampoo which can help to provide some relief in case of allergies. 2) transition his food to a bland, easily digestible homemade diet such as boiled chicken and plain white rice. Small, frequent meals will also help him to digest it easier. 3) add a probiotic supplement such as Fortiflora to help restore his normal gut flora. I hope this helps, and that Toby is feeling better soon!

Poor Buddy! It sounds like this area is itchy for him. This itching can be caused by [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-infestation-1/), [mites](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/mange/), [ringworm](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ringworm-1/), or [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/). If he isn't up to date on his [flea treatment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-pick-the-right-flea-and-tick-product-for-my-pet/), he will need a spot on treatment, such as Advantix, or a prescription oral flea preventive, such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into your vet for an exam. Your vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, your vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet today or tomorrow. He will also likely need an [E-collar](https://www.petcoach.co/article/e-collars-for-cats-dogs-types-of-collars-and-diy-options/) (cone) to prevent him from biting at that area until he sees the vet.