My dog's belly is dark red. Is it a rash or something serious?

It is very difficult to tell from a photo exactly what is going on here. I am concerned if these areas could be bleeding under the skin. From the photos the areas don't appear raised which is why I am concerned they could be this type of bruisng, also called ecchymosis. If you press your finger onto the area and remove it, and there is not a white spot, then this is a sign this is ecchymosis and your dog should be seen right away because it could have a bleeding disorder. If you press against the red area and when you remove your finger it blanches (turns white) and then turns red again, then it is less concerning in terms of the urgency of being seen and is more likely an actual skin issue. If the area is raised or crusted then this could be inflammation due to infection with bacteria or yeast. We can have immune system over-reactions that can result in red inflammed areas of skin. We can also in more rare cases see cancers that can affect the skin. A vet can examine the skin and determine what testing may be indicated- this could include cytology of the skin, culture of the skin, biopsy, or bloodwork depending on their exam findings. Best of luck to you.

Poor Skye! This could be due to her chronically licking that area, a yeast infection, or even allergies. From the picture it looks more like it is on the surface of the skin and the skin may even be a little thickened in that area but it is difficult to say for sure without being able to touch it and see it in person. If this isn’t the case, then yes I would worry about bruising and I would try to get her seen by a vet soon. Bruising like this could indicate a clotting issue which could be auto-immune or due to certain toxins. Early intervention is key for a positive outcome. If it seems like it is just the skin then I would put a cone collar on her to prevent licking and you can try benadryl twice a day to see if This helps. See link below. Chances are she will likely need some oral meds to help it go away completely so if it hasn’t improved soon I would have your vet look at her to see what meds she may need. If you are unsure, it is always best to have your vet look at her to ensure this is just a minor skin infection and not something more serious. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

I’m not sure if the lighting makes the skin look normal in your picture, or if the rash you are describing is faint enough to not show up on the picture, but her skin appears fairly normal to me. The brown spots I see are normal pigmentation variants. Often times mild skin problems in young dogs are bacterial and bathing in a shampoo that has chlorhexidine or salicylic acid can be helpful. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. If it does not seem to help then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am worried about Bingo. From the photo, that looks more like bruising. Bruising on a dog is always an emergency as it can indicate internal bleeding, a clotting disorder or low platelets. I recommend to have Bingo examined immediately. If your normal veterinarian cannot see her, I recommend to go to an emergency clinic. I hope everything gets figured out quickly and that Bingo does well.

The pictures look like it could just be normal pigment change. As puppies mature their pigmentation can as well. If the skin is raised, thicker, crusty, or itchy then I would be concerned. If you have any concerns then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. If there is a concern then a biopsy could easily be done at the time of his neuter. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

That redness could indicate a bacterial infection. Sometimes the infection is a primary problem but sometimes it can indicate an allergy or allergic reaction. Less commonly, skin mites can look like this. On the right side, there is a very dark red discoloration. This could be present if he is licking or scratching at it. The concern I have is if that red discoloration is bruising. Bruising is not normal in dogs and is considered indicative of a possible emergency. Reasons for bruising include an autoimmune disorder, eating rat poison, a bleeding disorder or liver disease. If you suspect that is a bruise, I recommend to have Jax seen by the veterinarian quickly. A skin rash is not an emergency. You need to keep him from licking the area by making him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You can wash the area daily with hand soap and rinse well. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well a couple times a day. If it is not much better with in a week, take him to his veterinarian. If the area gets worse or if he seems uncomfortable, also get him in sooner to be seen. Lastly, you can always just have him seen by the veterinarian. They will be able to provide stronger medication that will clear that up much faster. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes. Purplish discoloration can indicate inflammation but if it looks like bruising, that can indicate internal bleeding. Best to get her checked out today! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.