Why does my dog have dandruff, tail hair loss, and paw sores?

Any time we have areas of hair loss it is recommended that your dog be examined by a vet. From one photo it looks like we could either have dandruff or epidermal collarettes which are a sign of bacterial infecition of the skin. The pinpoint white areas could be pustules (from bacteria) or calcinosis cutis which can be see with some endocrine diseases. The vet will examine Max and may recommend some testing to check for bacteria or parasites or endocrine diseases. Treatment will depend on their findings.

It looks to me like the areas may be related on Max's head. Based on how they look and the fact that they appear irritated I would be suspicious of either a mite infection or ringworm (which is a fungal infection that he can give to you). A veterinarian will preform a test called a skin scrape to determine if mites are present. Treatment is easy in most pets. Ringworm diagnosis requires a fungal culture and is generally easy to clear up but needs a lot of environmental clean up. Bacterial infection is likely also present and is a secondary problem. Take Max into see the veterinarian who will be able to determine the cause and get Max started on treatment. Best of luck!

Poor Max. He likely has some allergies. There are a few things you can try at home. First, make sure he is on a high quality flea preventative as fleas can make allergies A LOT worse. You can also give him some benadryl twice a day to control itching and start him on omega 3 fatty acids to help moisturize his skin. See links below. You can give him a bath in a oatmeal shampoo. Finally the leathery skin on his ear could be normal for him as he ages - some dachshunds get this. It could also be a bacterial or yeast infection. If he isn't improving or if his ear gets worse, I would have your vet take a look at him. He may need some antibiotics or stronger allergy meds. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/#! https://www.petco.com/brand/vetriscience

Those spots on Max could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or ringworm (which humans can get). There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions once a day (not his whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. You will need to speak with a local veterinarian for medications. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor guy. It sounds like Maxx either has allergic dermatitis (to something in the environment), skin mites, ringworm, or even an immune mediated skin disorder is possible. I would first have him examined by your vet for a few skin tests (Skin scrape to rule out mites, and consider a ringworm test if the lesions are circular and red). Then the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment based on the findings of those tests. Typically as long as ringworm is not likely, cats respond well to steroids and antibiotics. I hope that Maxx's skin heals well soon! Best wishes and take care.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Max. With these concerns I would recommend an examination at his veterinarian. Rubbing at the face and small dots could be a sign of allergies. The cough could also be related to allergies but he should be evaluated to ensure there is not another cause. Weight loss should also be investigated by his veterinarian . They may test for parasites, discuss his diet with you, or recommend a dietary change.

Poor Maxwell! There are quite a few different things that can cause hair loss with redness and crusting in dogs, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine him and do some testing. Some common possibilities would include allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so it's important to get a diagnosis first. Because of this, I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.