My dog's butt rash is expanding and itchy. What should I do now?

Hello, sorry to hear about Peanut. The area appears red with hair loss likely from him biting/chewing at it. Potential causes for this may include a local allergy with development of a secondary hotspot, he may be very itchy from flea allergy dermatitis, or he could have a primary skin infection with bacteria, yeast, or even parasites. I would recommend having his veterinarian examine that portion of his lower back to determine if this is most likely associated with allergies or an infection which will then direct this treatment suggestions. In the interim make sure he is not licking or scratching at the area incessantly. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Poor Buddy! It sounds like this area is itchy for him. This itching can be caused by [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-infestation-1/), [mites](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/mange/), [ringworm](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ringworm-1/), or [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/). If he isn't up to date on his [flea treatment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-pick-the-right-flea-and-tick-product-for-my-pet/), he will need a spot on treatment, such as Advantix, or a prescription oral flea preventive, such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into your vet for an exam. Your vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, your vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet today or tomorrow. He will also likely need an [E-collar](https://www.petcoach.co/article/e-collars-for-cats-dogs-types-of-collars-and-diy-options/) (cone) to prevent him from biting at that area until he sees the vet.

There are several things that could cause the symptoms you are describing including parasites, skin infections or irritation, dry skin, allergies to food or environment, or even something that is causing pain if he growls or winces at being touched. I would recommend bringing Chico into your vet for an exam, especially if the problem persists, worsens, or you can't find an obvious cause for it. In the meantime, a soothing shampoo with aloe or oatmeal can help with dry skin and irritation, and placing a T-shirt or Elizabethan (cone) collar on Chico can prevent him from licking or scratching at it which may worsen irritation. If you see any visible wounds or discharge, keeping the area clean and dry until a vet can examine it may also help.

I'm sorry to hear that Jax is so uncomfortable! The redness and inflammation on his foot is pretty significant. This type of skin issue is most commonly caused by underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment. When dogs itch and bite a lot, they damage the protective outer layers of the skin, often resulting in the onset of bacterial and/or yeast skin infections. It's possible that he may need some anti-itch medications, antibiotics or anti-fungal medications. I understand that Jax is not the most cooperative at the vet, but this is something that warrants veterinary attention. I'd recommend calling your vet to ask if they can prescribe a sedative before the appointment or consider working with a house call vet in your area. I hope that everything goes well!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect it could be bacterial skin infection or allergic skin problem. Please, take your Charlie to your local vets for an appointment as he will likely need treatment with skin ointment with antibiotic and/or anti-inflammatory agent.

Heat rash in dogs can occur between the legs and armpit regions, but it is usually not itchy. I recommend that Blue see a vet to figure out what is going on. There are many possibilities for the rash that you see, including bacterial or yeast infection, fleas, ticks, mites, and allergies. It is hard for me to tell you where the odor is coming from, but often yeast has a peculiar smell. Your vet may want to do a skin scrape to look for mites or a cytology to look for bacteria or yeast. Treatment will depend on what the vet finds but may include an anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, or topical medications. While you wait for your appointment, try to keep Blue from licking and scratching the area as he can make it much worse and it could get infected if it isn't already. You can try applying a thin layer of Neosporin to see if it will soothe the area.

Poor Hopy! A crusty rash like this is usually caused by a bacterial skin infection - this can occur on its own, or due to an underlying skin problem such as allergies or mange. He will probably need oral antibiotics to treat the infection effectively, so I would recommend having him examined by a vet on Monday if possible. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help confirm the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.