My lab just got fixed and has bald spots and dry skin. What's wrong?

It is very possible that Rylie has both demodex as well as underlying allergies. Demodex is a mite that we commonly see in young dogs, like Rylie. It is very easy to detect on skin scrape, so your vet should be able to readily tell you if she has it or not. Allergies can be a little more difficult to figure out, as they can be environmental, food related, or seasonal. If it is a diet related allergy, it could take 2 months of a new diet to see any improvement. Since she has a few pimples, I would be concerned that she may be developing a skin infection that requires antibiotics. I would take Rylie in to have an exam with your vet and a skin work up to see what the underlying cause of her hair loss is and what treatment she needs to be on.

Hi there! There are many different skin related diseases that can cause the signs that you describe. The most common diseases include infectious skin diseases (i.e. bacterial pyoderma, dermatophytosis), or ectoparasites (i.e. Demodex, fleas, lice). From the picture you provided Ecru looks as though he may be suffering from Demodex, more commonly known as mange. To be certain of what exactly is going on with Ecru I recommend that he be seen by a veterinarian to evaluate samples of the affected areas of Ecru's skin under a microscope and get him on the appropriate medications and/or shampoos. It depends on what exactly is going on to know how long treatment will be, but I would estimate anywhere between 1 - 3 weeks of treatment. I hope this was helpful and Ecru gets better soon.

Sorry about Riley. Looks like Riley has an active skin condition that needs examination and treatment from your local veterinarian. The neck is frequently affected with local skin problems due to most dogs having collars that either become wet or irritate the skin. It is also very easy to scratch that area with the hind leg. The rough skin area can indicate an infection related to secondary bacteria or yeast. Frequently, certain parasites such as mites or fleas can contribute to this problem. Your veterinarian will perform some diagnostic testing and gather information regarding this problem to help find the best treatment and preventative program for your dog. You may want to put a t-shirt or something over the area to avoid further irritation from scratching prior to your appointment. Skin problems are common and usually respond to treatment, so best of luck with Riley. Thanks, Steve Popish, DVM

It sounds like your dog has a skin infection, most likely caused by allergies or fleas. The allergies can be from a protein in her food or to something in the environment, like grasses, pollens, dust, etc. I would recommend taking Praisy in to see the vet so she can be started on some antibiotics to help clear up the skin and get on a good flea control. You may also ask about a medicated shampoo, these can help clear up the skin more quickly. I would also recommend discussing with your vet some options for medication to help control the allergy symptoms like Atopica, Apoquel, or Cytopoint. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. 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!

Those spots on Oreo 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. If they don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by his veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It looks like Donut may have a skin infection. That could be caused by bacteria or fungus, and is often secondary to allergies. If it's not getting better within a couple days I would take him to your vet as he may need a medicated shampoo or oral medications to heal it.