My dog has black pimple-like spots on his skin. What could they be?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the photo, these look to be cutaneous hemangiomas, which are typically benign. However, these can turn into malignant cancerous tumors if not addressed early enough. I recommend having these removed before they turn into cancerous tumors. These superficial skin tumors are typically removed using electrocautery. Removal is typically simple and requires no major aftercare for healing. I hope this helps! I would discuss having these removed with your veterinarian as soon as possible. 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.

They can get small Blake heads and debris in the follicles just like we do. If it does not bother him then pay extra attention to keep it clean. You can wipe it daily with soap and water or clean it with clearsil wipes

These are comedones (black heads) and usually due to an underlying metabolic disease or a skin infection possibly caused by mites. Your veterinarian will be able to perform blood work as well as a skin scrape and cytology to check for any of these diseases.

It could either be pustules or papules which are typically a sign of mild allergies. I would recommend monitoring these areas for now if they are just localized to 1-2 areas on the body because they can resolve on their own. However if they start to spread or bother your pet (excessive licking, scratching, whining), then it is best treated with anti-histamines/steroids through your veterinarian. Allergies can be to just about anything, including food, chemicals, and other things in the environment.

Those black spots look like comedones (aka: blackheads). I suggest you use this shampoo that contains benzoyl peroxide. Lather the affected areas (no need to do the whole dog), let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then rinse throughly. Do this every 2-3 days until they are gone. Then use this shampoo 1-2 times every month for maintenance. ( allivet.com/p-7130-oxiderm-shampoo-ps.aspx )

Hello, thank you for your question about Bella. Brown/black spots on a puppy's belly could be a sign of a few different conditions. It is possible that this is a bacterial skin infection called impetigo/puppy pyoderma that is relatively common in puppies. Another possible problem is that Bella may actually have some blackheads/irritated skin on her belly. With either of these conditions if the spots are mild and Bella is not bothered by them you could try gently cleaning them with a gentle cleanser decided for us in dogs. If Bella is scratching/rubbing at the spots or there is a colored/odorous discharge I would recommend having Bella seen by your veterinarian so that they can further examine the spots and determine the need for another treatments. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi and thanks for posting! Thank you for sending along a picture as well. From your picture, it looks to me like comedones or otherwise known as blackheads which occur when the hair follicle becomes clogged. Usually these can be treated with certain medicated shampoos that contain benzoyl peroxide in them to help flush out the follicle. Be sure to purchase these shampoos from your veterinarian as dogs can be especially sensitive to human shampoos and other human hygiene products. I hope this helps!