My dog has crusty spots on her shoulder. Fleas or skin issue?

This looks like a focal area of infection, commonly referred to a hot spot. I would recommend taking Sophie to the vet to have the area clipped and cleaned. Sophie will probably need to be on antibiotics to help the skin heal properly.

The most common reason that we will see partial hair loss with a ring of crusting on the skin is a bacterial infection. Crusts can be a sign of a bacterial skin infection which is also called pyoderma. Here is an article on pyoderma. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951996 There are a number of treatment options for pyoderma. Sometimes we can resolve them with topical treatment (antibacterial shampoos, sprays or wipes), but sometimes they require oral or injectable antibiotics. However, we still needs to look for the cause of the pyoderma. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types) or external parasites (such as fleas or mites). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Stella to discuss your treatment options to resolve this skin problem. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maya. She appears to have a crust on her skin. This can result from a skin infection, an allergy or an irritation to the skin. If it is only in one spot, then I would bathe her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. This may help to cleanse and soothe the skin. If she has crusts in multiple areas, then I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to determine if she needs further treatment. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see a yellow, crusted area under the haircoat. This can be caused by several bacterial or fungal diseases as well as mites. There are many underlying diseases that can predispose dogs to these conditions such as hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, and immunosuppression. It is important to have Marley examined by a veterinarian who can perform tests to diagnose the condition and rule out any underlying disease. In the meantime, try to keep the area clean and dry and prevent her from licking or scratching it. I hope this helps!

There are many potential causes for crusts on her skin, including bacterial or fungal infection, fleas, mites, and allergies. Allergies could be to fleas, food, or the environment. Stress can also cause some changes in skin! You can try a cleansing shampoo like Dechra TrizChlor 4 Shampoo, but if it doesn't respond in a few days, she may need to go to the vet for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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.

I am sorry to hear about Freckles. The black crusts could be flea dirt, which is digested blood left behind by the fleas (if you place it on a paper towel and wet the black debris and it turns a rust color then it is likely flea dirt). We can also get skin infections resulting in crust and debris in dogs. I would recommend an examination by his vet if he is very itchy. He may need oral medications, or a topical treatment such as a medicated shampoo like Duoxo Chlorhexidine may be needed.