My dog has a crusty, scabby spot above her eye. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a hot spot. This is basically a bacterial infection secondary to self-trauma such as scratching. This is possibly secondary to allergies or another cause resulting in itchiness. I recommend that you have Bella evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If confirmed a hot spot on examination, then they would start her on antibiotics and something like steroids to decrease the itch. In the meantime, you can use an e-collar which you may get from your local pet store to try to prevent further scratching. Good luck and have a good night!

If this just appears to be a crusted area and is not raised, it is possible this was an insect bite that got irritated or a small scratch/wound. If the lesion is raised (I can't really tell from the appearance) then we sometimes get warty skin growths that can get traumatized and bleed/crust over. I would wash the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like Polysporin or Neosporin a few times day. If she is scratching/rubbing at the area she may need an e-collar for a few days to stop self-trauma. If the lesions isn't improving after several days of this or it starts to get larger/other spots appear then these would be reasons to seek veterinary care.

You may want to give your vet a call and tell them it is getting worse. It sounds like this scab could be a hot spot or superficial bacterial infection. While stopping the itching sometimes helps an infection resolve (if that’s what this is) other times topical or oral antibiotics are needed. It’s a good idea to keep the e-collar on until the lesion is gone.

The wound looks puffy from the photo (but I would need to palpate it to know for sure). The crusty area next to it could indicate another wound that is scabbed over or it could indicate a bacterial infection or ringworm (which humans can get). Your best option is to have Sophie examined by the veterinarian in case the wound is infected. She would be placed on antibiotics if that is the case. They could also test her for ringworm if it looks suspicious on exam. Make sure to protect the wound from scratching or licking. Sophie may need to wear an elizabethan collar if she can lick the area. A doggie shirt can help protect it from scratching. You do not want to disrupt the scab (it's nature's bandaide). I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The picture makes it difficult to see. It's possible it may be a scab trying to heal, a minorly infected area of skin, or a wart/growth forming. It would be best to keep the area clean and dry and keep Belle from licking or chewing at the spot. If the area continues to change in appearance, is bothersome to Belle is hot to the touch, painful, or oozing debris, or doesn't seem to be healing, it is best to seek veterinary care in person. Your vet can take a look at and sample of the spot as needed and provide more tailored treatments depending on the cause.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This area can be either a localized demodex infection, a bacterial infection or a fungal infection (ringworm has to be considered). Thyroid disease can also be considered. If the area of hairloss and scabbing does not improve or completely resolve within 1-2 weeks, then I would recommend taking Indy to your local vet to have the skin tested. If it does not improve, then the appropriate medication (depeding on her skin test results) can be prescribed for Indy to help this resolve. Bset of luck with Indy and her skin. Take care.

If he doesn't seem to be bothered by it, you could try to clean the area with an wound wash and see if that loosens up the scab. Shaving the hair with a pair of clippers may also help. If the scab persists and/or he has other lesions, then he should be examined and treated by a vet. He may need an antibiotic and allergy medications to help treat.