Is my Boxer's harness causing her hair loss or skin irritation?

This rash may be because of the contact with the harness. If this were the case, removing the harness and a bath should help. If after this it doesn't go away, then he may be having a reaction to something else, and may need to see your vet. American Bulldogs tend to have very sensitive skin.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend starting by bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. This can help with a minor rash or irritation. You can also leave the harness off for the next few days to see if that has been contributing. If the rash spreads, is very itchy or develops pimples, then he should see his veterinarian. In this case, he could require treatment. Unfortunately, there are numerous causes of red skin. For example, allergies to something in the environment, his diet or something in the house can cause it. Infectious organisms like fleas are common in certain parts of the country. If necessary, the veterinarian will examine him, ask detailed questions about his lifestyle and history and prescribe medication as needed. I hope this information helps!

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Hendrix is having trouble with his skin. Skin irritation can be caused by many things, but most commonly is allergies. This can be due to the environment (your soaps/detergents, grass, pollen, certain plants, carpet cleaners), or can be due to food allergies. There are other medical causes as well. I would suggest trying a diet trial with Hendrix and see if you can find a food that he is better on. You can discuss which diet to go on with your vet. 80% of the time an allergy is to a meat protein, so switching proteins (go from a beef diet to a fish diet for example) is a good place to start.

It sounds like Katella could have a skin infection going on. This can be caused by yeast or bacteria, is often secondary to skin allergies, and can lead to hair falling out easily, crusting or flaking of the skin, pimples, and itchiness potentially. I would have katella evaluated by a veterinarian. They can recommend medicated shampoos and topical treatments as well as oral antibiotics if necessary. Her skin will hopefully be back to normal in no time!

This looks like a nylon harness so I would be surprised if he was allergic to the material. It is possible however that it rubs Lucky in a way that makes him uncomfortable. You might want to try a harness with more padding like this:

This looks like he has a mild skin infection or perhaps some irritation from a harness. You can bathe this area in a medicated shampoo which should improve the skin over time. If the harness is rubbing the area I would switch the harness. It the bald area is getting worse or spreading then I would bring him in for an exam. They may do a skin scraping to see whether the problem is caused by bacteria, yeast or mites. Once they have the specific diagnosis they can give Oswald the correct medication for treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Oswald.

Poor Princess! That definitely sounds uncomfortable. These lesions can be caused by a skin infection, skin mites, certain cancers, food allergies, or even some autoimmune diseases. This is a very broad list, and can be narrowed down with a vet examination. Your vet may take some small samples from Princess’s skin and some bloodwork to determine what is going on and start the appropriate treatment. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have or look at pictures of your dog’s skin!