My dog's back has bursting bumps, hair loss, and yellow pus. What is it?

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 her 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!

This presentation is due to a diffuse and quite severe pyoderma. A medicated shampoo, systemic antibiotics and a check up are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Pyoderma could be secondary to other diseases which cause immunosuppression. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this is the first time this has occurred, it may a bacterial infection. If this appears at certain times of year, it could be related to a seasonal allergy. If this has been a chronic issue and does not seem to worsen during a particular time of year, it may be due to a food allergy. Another possibilities may be a parasitic infection of the skin such as mites. I would recommend Frankie see her veterinarian soon for a work up on this skin issue. Her veterinarian may start with a skin scraping to check for parasites and may place Frankie on antibiotics or other medications such as antihistamines or other drugs to help get the inflammation down and help the skin to heal. Food trials or allergy testing may be recommended later by your veterinarian depending on whether your vet thinks it is related to an allergy. I hope this helps!

It looks like a skin infection. I would recommend a visit to your vet to have them evaluate her skin. This most likely requires antibiotics and possibly a shampoo. There can be many different causes one of them including allergies. I hope she feels better soon thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be a pyoderma (skin infection). See your veterinarian for an exam. He or she may diagnose bacterial or fungal skin infection and can prescribe the appropriate medication afterwards. Treatment may be topical, systemic or a combination. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, to her diet to promote healthy skin and coat. Place an e-collar (cone) on your dog if she is licking or chewing excessively.

This does not sound like a normal thing to happen in dogs, and I recommend that Binky see a vet for her skin issue. Your vet may do a skin scrape to look for mites, skin cytology to look for bacteria or yeast under a microscope, or bacterial or fungal cultures may be needed. Possible causes for bumps include fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. I would recommend that Binky be on year-round flea prevention. While you await for your appointment, you can try a medicated shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo, but be careful not to get it into her eyes. Also, think of any changes that have happened in the last few weeks, like changes in food, treats, medications, supplements, or household cleaners that could have had an effect on her skin.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to PetCoach. I'm sorry to hear that Frisco is having these dermatologic issues. The most likely cause is the presence of ectoparasites, such as fleas, mites or lice. If he also has areas of raised pus-filled lesions, he also likely has a secondary bacterial infection. It sounds difficult to have Frisco seen by a veterinarian, but he would benefit greatly from an exam and a skin scrape, which is a test used to look for external parasites. Depending on what parasites are present, your vet can treat accordingly. Over-the-counter flea and tick medications are not safe or effective in dogs, and can sometimes be harmful. You may try to purchase chlorhexidine or other anti-bacterial/anti-fungal wipes online, which may help with any bacterial infection. https://www.chewy.com/douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-dogs/dp/110823 However, if the underlying infection with mites, such as Demodex, is not addressed, the problem will continue. I hope this is helpful!