My dog's bald spot: Will flea treatment absorb on scar tissue?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You should try a different spot-on product. Local skin irritation and hair loss is the most common side effect of the spot-on medications but if you use a different one, it will hopefully not upset the skin. The other is a collar, for example Seresto.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). 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. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Brutus! After a bad flea infestation and reaction it is best to have your Vet treat the skin with a course of antibiotics and steroids. A skin infection usually results from all the scratching from the fleas. This is the quickest way to resolving Brutus's skin issues and to make him feel better. You can try the cream but I wouldn't want him to lick it and it will get stuck in his fur. Plus that is a very large area for cream. I hope this helps and I wish Brutus the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a small focus of infection. You can try to shave around it and clean it. If it continues to look superficial (as it looks on the picture), you can consider applying a thin film of triple antibiotic on it in case it is just a mild infection. If it does not resolve within 1 week of starting such treatment, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!

Looks like your little lady is giving herself some hot spots there. If there is a hot spot forming under the hair then the best thing to do is to remove the hair and cleanse the area with an antibacterial solution. Some dogs require topical and/or oral antibiotics and other dogs benefit from some steroids to stop the itch. Most hot spots are secondary to underlying allergies (inhaled/environmental, food, or flea). If seasonal environmental is most likely. The best way to help her would be to see your family vet to have the areas addressed topically and so that medications can be prescribed to treat any infection and stop the itch. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

What you are describing sounds like scar tissue, but I would have to see it to be sure. Scars will not grow hair, but tend to get smaller and less visible with time. Puppies will heal better than adult dogs, so the scar should be much less obvious within a couple of months. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to encourage hair growth in this area if it is a scar. It's also possible that the lump is due to a deep infection. If the lump grows, appears red, or starts to ooze fluid, then it's best to take her to the vet for an exam. I hope that helps and all is well with your pup.

Scabbing/hair loss can be caused by a number of things including infections from bacteria/yeast/fungus on the skin, allergies, metabolic changes internally, wounds or scratches, parasites, and more. Making sure Rosie is on a good monthly flea and tick preventive may help if you see parasites. If the area is not improving or is expanding in size it is best to have your vet take a look. They may recommend taking a skin scraping of the area to have it tested for possible causes. Be sure to also let your vet know of any other changes such as changes in appetite or energy levels. As some infections can be contagious to other pets and people, washing your hands after handling the area is best to help minimize spread.