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My dog has black spots on her belly. Are they allergies or infection?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 2 years and 3 months old | 80 lbs

My dog has black spots on her belly that seem to start getting better then get worse again. Could this just be allergies or flea dust or more like a yeast infection? It doesn’t really seem to bother her.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on September 5th, 2018

This looks like a mild bacterial skin infection. Dogs can get this from laying on damp ground. Often it will go away on its own. You can bathe the area with antibacterial shampoo once or twice weekly to help it heal more quickly. Since she’s not bothered by it I’m not overly concerned. Should it worsen please take her in for an exam. She may need oral antibiotics if is gets bad. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Marley.

27Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on August 26th, 2021
Ouch! It's hard to tell how much is irritation and how much is the spot, but it's good that you have the vet visit scheduled already. Until then, I would just keep an eye on the spot and monitor for any changes such as size or shape differences, if it's oozing debris, hot to the touch, painful, etc. I would also keep the area as clean and dry as possible.

Finally, it is best to place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Coco or shirt over the area so that she can't lick and scratch at it. This will help reduce irritation and itchiness and can help prevent secondary infections from taking hold.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 16th, 2017
You could bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if the spot is just a scab that will come off. If it is attached then you should just leave it alone and have your vet examine him to determine if treatment is needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on March 8th, 2019
Skin pigmentation can indicate irritation. You can try washing the area daily with soap and rinsing well. You can also add an omega 3 fatty for dogs to Ella’s diet and this may help after a few weeks. If it gets worse, have Ella seen by her veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog has white spots on her belly. Is it serious? What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. These are called pustules and likely contain pus. 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. Good luck and best wishes!

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Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. 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. Good luck and have a good night!

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This looks like it is most likely an infection in the skin. It is very common to start out red and crusty like this. The black spots are usually a reaction to irritation and the skin gets more pigment. Most of the time, infections in the skin are secondary to allergies or anything else that causes inflammation in the skin. I would recommend an evaluation by a veterinarian and a skin scraping. The skin scraping will look for mites, yeast and bacteria. This way, the veterinarian can choose the right type of treatment. Often, these infections need to be treated with oral medication. I hope this helps and that Chappie gets better soon!

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Red spot on dog's belly growing, not bothering her. Should I worry?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely some local irritation. This may be due to allergies for example. It may be an allergy to something specific in the environment or something else like fleas or food. This may go away on its own if it is something minor. However, if this continues, I recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

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Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like it could be a skin infection. 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. Good luck and have a good night!

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They are likely minor superficial bacterial infections that are common in the groin and armpits. These generally do not require treatment however if they become bothersome or are multiplying then Roxie should see the vet. Many times they will come and go. Some breeds are more prone to this condition. Allergies can also predispose to these lesions. You can purchase medicated shampoos that can help to keep the pores a little more clean and exfoliate the skin. This will generally help to decrease the amount of lesions on Roxie's belly. If you have any further questions, please post again!

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