My dog has a spot. Could it be a black fly bite? What should I do?

Thank you for the picture of Chipper's lesion. It appears to be a black fly bite. These lesions from the bite look bad, but typically they do not bother the pet. You don't need to do anything to treat it, these usually go away on their own over time. That being said, if this doesn't improve over the next week, it looks worse, or he's constantly itching it, then he will need to see a vet. I hope this helps!

It is possible, though it looks more like it could be a bacterial infection. Ideally, take her in to the vet for an exam so that the proper treatment can be determined. If you want to try something at home, you can try this product: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs However, if it is not improving within a few days, please get her in to see your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! It appears that the pink target lesion is a black fly bite. If it is, it should fade in 3 days. It doesn't cause any pain and isn't anything to be worried about. If more areas pop up and he isn't outside then he should be seen by a Vet. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&id=7986755 Have a great day!

Hello, sorry to hear about Charlie. It sounds like he may have a local area of infection. I agree that the area itself will likely take a long time to heal, however, if he is vomiting and having a lethargy (systemic signs) then this is more concerning for an infection that may be spreading to other parts of his body. This does warrant an emergency visit today. There is a high possibility that his vomiting and decreased appetite is associated with his wound and infection, but there are also other causes for these clinical signs as well. Hope this helps and best of luck!!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. She definitely could have gotten a bug bite in that area that caused her to itch/bite at that area, creating a scab. If it is the only small area, I'd say a single bug bite is more likely than something like allergies, which tend to affect a diffuse part of the body. As long as she is acting normally at home (not continuously itching, and she is eating/drinking normally), I recommend monitoring her at home. You can check that site daily to see if it is getting smaller and less red. If you notice that it is getting bigger, or you notice the development of more similar spots, or she is licking/biting at it, I recommend having her seen by your veterinarian. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Precious!

I am sorry to hear about Pepper! A photo of the area may help us to better address her issue. It is possible she could have a hot spot https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952981 or something else entirely. If the area is small and she isn't bothered by it you can try washing with a product called Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and applying a topical antibiotic to the area, but if it isn't improving within a day or two, I would bring her into her vet. Sometimes we need to shave around these areas and sometimes they require stronger medications than are available over the counter.

Thanks for using PetCoach! If the area is flat and has looked like this the whole time, a scar is very possible. Could be that she had some initial injury (poke with a stick, etc) and it has since healed but the skin still bothers her. It could also be a place that bothers her occasionally due to pain (if she has arthritis right there or some other injury that flares up occasionally). Finally, infection and other things are possible. As a first step, try a spray like this: It has a numbing agent for pain as well as anti-bacterial properties. This will not help if it is a scar. If it is raised/lump like, its time to head straight to the vet to make sure it doesn't look suspicious for something more serious. This also holds if the area gets bigger or if more areas like this show up elsewhere. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Lucy!