My Boxer has red skin irritation. What's the cause and solution?

I would recommend taking Red to a veterinarian. With the history provided it may indicate allergies. Her skin looks very irritated and after a physical is performed to determine if this is the cause there is plenty of options for allergies in dogs. The first thing is clearing the infection which can include antibiotics, anti-fungals and/or shampoos. The next step is treating the allergies. This can be done by anti-histamines, steroids or two newer treatments one is pills called apoquel and then other is a 4-8 week injection called cytopoint. Allergies can be caused by environmental factors, which its sounds like could be part of the issue due to the recent move to the country but it can also be caused by food allergies. I would discuss this with your veterinarian and make a treatment plan with what is best for you and Red. If after a physical it doesn't appear to be allergies it could also be some type of mite on Red's skin. If your veterinarian feels it is more from mites a skin scraping would be performed to confirm this. Some mites are extremely difficult to find and sometimes even if no mites are found treatment is still initiated. I hope Red feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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 his 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! This is likely due to an allergic reaction. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian. If this is confirmed, they would likely start him on anti-histamine medications and steroids which can help with an allergic reaction. Best of luck!

It looks like he has a bacterial skin infection which could be associated with allergies. Have your vet take a look at him as he will need an oral antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to help treat. You can also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo.

Ouch! Those areas do look pretty red and irritated. I would have Bodie checked out by your vet to check for issues such as yeast, fungal or bacterial infections that could be causing irritation. Food allergies, environmental allergies, allergies to shampoo, or excessive licking can also sometimes cause irritation as well. In the meantime, placing a T-shirt or Elizabethan (cone) collar on Bodie is best to keep him from licking or scratching the area to help reduce irritation and prevent the spread of additional bacteria, however since his entire body is affected, seeking veterinary care is best.

Poor Princess! That definitely sounds uncomfortable. These lesions can be caused by a skin infection, skin mites, certain cancers, food allergies, or even some autoimmune diseases. This is a very broad list, and can be narrowed down with a vet examination. Your vet may take some small samples from Princess’s skin and some bloodwork to determine what is going on and start the appropriate treatment. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have or look at pictures of your dog’s skin!

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 his 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!