My dog has chin rash & discharge. Should I wait or go to ER?

This could be a skin infection or it could be a reaction to Roxie's bowls if they are plastic. Try switching her bowls to stainless steel to see if that helps. If this doesn't help, then she should see a vet for it, especial since her chin has looked like this for a while. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check out these resources to see if one can help you. Best of luck.

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 him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This does not appear to be an emergency. Good luck and have a good night!

It is not uncommon for dogs to traumatize the top of their nose when they are in a kennel or cage and trying to get out. They usually rub a sore on the wire part of the cage. If the wound does not seem to be bothering her, you may be okay waiting to see her regular veterinarian. If she seems uncomfortable or the wound/rash are worsening or spreading, then it may be best to get her in somewhere sooner. If you start to notice that the wound looks infected (pus coming from it), I would bring Wendy in sooner because the worse it gets, the longer it will take to heal. If you have an E-collar (the lamp shade looking device) at home, I would put that on her in the meantime to prevent her from further damaging the area. Hope Wendy heals quickly!

Aww poor guy! If it was just a bug bite, it should be resolved by now. I would have him checked out by a vet. Its not an emergency if its not bothering him, but do get him in when you can in the next week or so. However, If it seems to be getting a little better each day, give it .a week or two and see if it resolves. If he is pawing at it at all, put an Ecollar (cone of shame) on him so that he can't scratch at it and make it worse. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

We will commonly see skin problems that we call perivulvar dermatitis (infection of the skin around the vulva) when dogs have a recessed or tucked vulva. That infection can be due to a bacterial or yeast overgrowth as a result of excessive moisture that can develop in those skin folds. Treatment is geared towards drying the area (with a medicated drying wipe or solution), treating the infection (with an antibacterial or antifungal solution) and decreasing inflammation. The only concern that I would have with waiting until Tuesday would be if Ella makes the infection worse by licking at it, so you might consider using an e-collar until her vet appointment on Tuesday. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Ella feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like very severe irritation/inflammation. It may be a reaction to something in the environment which may be causing this. Or it could also be something like a severe infection. I would highly recommend you consider going back to your veterinarian if she currently has the rash. They would be able to assess the situation and proceed with therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

Hi and thanks for your request. This is likely to be due to a superficial skin infection likely to be caused by bacterial infection. It is not urgent. A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths twice daily. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any).