Should I take my dog to the vet for flat, dark belly spots?

Hello, thank you for your question about Bella. Brown/black spots on a puppy's belly could be a sign of a few different conditions. It is possible that this is a bacterial skin infection called impetigo/puppy pyoderma that is relatively common in puppies. Another possible problem is that Bella may actually have some blackheads/irritated skin on her belly. With either of these conditions if the spots are mild and Bella is not bothered by them you could try gently cleaning them with a gentle cleanser decided for us in dogs. If Bella is scratching/rubbing at the spots or there is a colored/odorous discharge I would recommend having Bella seen by your veterinarian so that they can further examine the spots and determine the need for another treatments. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based off the picture, these dark black spots on Honey's abdomen appear to be comedones, which are basically clogged pores that fill with oil and skin debris. There are clinically insignificant, and shouldn't cause her any issues. If she doesn't seem bothered by them, she should be just fine! If she seems to want to lick or cause irritation to the area, she may have another confounding skin issue such as a superficial infection. I hope this is helpful!

Without images or a physical exam, it can be difficult to determine definitively what is on your pup's skin. That said, many puppies have patches of [darker skin](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pigment-changes-of-the-skin-and-coat/) on their bellies. If these areas are flat, smooth to the touch and not bothering him, then it is probably just his skin coloration. If the areas are itchy or raised, then it would be a good idea to have them checked out by a vet since this may indicate a [skin infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) or some other problem.

Skin lesions can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Some dogs can have pigmentation changes from chronic irritation to the area, while others can have normal pigmented areas similar to freckles. If the lesions are not resolving, are getting worse, or are spreading, I recommend making an appointment to have Molly seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the lesion you’ve noticed and to make sure they are treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! It is difficult to say without pictures what is going on with Casper. With your description, I would suspect either a skin infection (bacterial or fungal) or skin tumors. I would suggest having Casper examined by a veterinarian to further determine what these spots may be in order to get Casper the most appropriate treatment. Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via phone or text consultation.

These could be small bruises or just veins shining through the skin. I would not be too concerned unless they increase in size, If they increase in size or get darker, then you should take Hershey to a vet for an exam, and possibly a coagulation test, as this could be a sign of a blood disorder.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The incision looks like it is healing well so I would not be concerned about those dark spots. Those could be normal pigmentation changes. As long as the incision continues to look like it is healing, there is no need to recheck her. Good luck and best wishes!