My dog has new black spots on her tummy. What's causing them?

If the skin is not irritated/itchy and feels the same as the skin surrounding that is not dark in color, I would just monitor the area. We can have changes in pigmentation of the skin in dogs as they age, as well as changes as the result of inflammation. If the area begins to spread, or the skin feels dry/rough in this area, or she is licking, a visit to the vet is recommended.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based off the picture, these dark black spots on Honey's abdomen appear to be comedones, which are basically clogged pores that fill with oil and skin debris. There are clinically insignificant, and shouldn't cause her any issues. If she doesn't seem bothered by them, she should be just fine! If she seems to want to lick or cause irritation to the area, she may have another confounding skin issue such as a superficial infection. I hope this is helpful!

Without images or a physical exam, it can be difficult to determine definitively what is on your pup's skin. That said, many puppies have patches of [darker skin](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pigment-changes-of-the-skin-and-coat/) on their bellies. If these areas are flat, smooth to the touch and not bothering him, then it is probably just his skin coloration. If the areas are itchy or raised, then it would be a good idea to have them checked out by a vet since this may indicate a [skin infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) or some other problem.

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.

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!

It looks like Abby has some hyperpigmentation on her belly. This can be caused by any sort of inflammation, usually allergies. The blister looks like a pustule so she may have a mild skin infection. If she has been itchy I would take her to the vet so they can get her on an appropriate medication. You can also try a medicated shampoo to see if that helps as well. Good luck!

Darkening or changing skin color can be due to disease including allergy, flea infestation, bacterial skin disease or fungal disease. Change of skin (or even hair) color can also be completely normal especially in puppies and young dogs.