My dog has a spreading belly rash and is losing weight. Is it serious?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Phene appears to have either ringworm or bacterial folliculitis. To determine for sure, she will need to be examined by your veterinarian and have the appropriate therapy prescribed. This could be other things, but given what you are describing and the appearance from the picture, these two are most likely. As ringworm is a possibility, you should take caution as it is a zoonotic (transmissible to humans) disease, so wash after handling Phene, and please see your physician if you notice any skin lesions on yourself. Often, if it is one of these diseases, frequent bathing with medicated shampoo will be prescribed along with topical creams or ointments, and in some cases, oral medications are needed to clear the disease. These will be at the discretion of the veterinarian following assessment. Hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the photos you provided, it appears as though Toby may have an area of infection. I would clip the fur from this so that you have better access for treatment and try a topical approach first and see if this helps. I would recommend using Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would also recommend applying Vetericyn ointment to the area, which can be purchased online. If there is no improvement, then I would bring Toby into the veterinarian for examination so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Toby is having skin issues. Skin lesions like you are describing can have multiple causes, including an infection, skin parasites, allergies, or another underlying issue. As you are seeing discharge, he may need antibiotics. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, have any necessary testing done, and start any treatment that he may need to resolve it. Good luck!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. What you are describing could be secondary to an allergy or skin infection. Without pictures it is difficult to say for sure what this is. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Pluto so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. If you are unable to get to a veterinarian right away, I would recommend using Well and Good Hydrocortisone spray, which can be found at your local Petco.

Unfortunately, going to the vet is the best option, as you'd need to have the area examined in person and it would be impossible to tell the cause over the internet. Causes of hairloss and irritation can be from a number of things including allergies (potentially to the grass if it's touching, or something used on the grass such as fertilizer) to the environment, food, parasites, metabolic issues, or even skin infections if the area is spreading. Neosporin usually isn't good to put on a dog as it can make them ill if they lick it, and if its spreading even with at-home treatment it likely isn't helping. An Elizabethan (cone) collar can be used to prevent licking and chewing to see if it helps with irritation, and a T-shirt if you suspect the grass is irritating Bamboo's belly may help you rule this out as a cause. However, if it continues, having your vet take a look in person is needed.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection though an examination is needed to know. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. It may be the picture but I am concerned that there may be also a lump as well. If that is the case, that should be evaluated to know if it is actually a growth. Good luck and have a good night!