Dog itching armpits with harness on. Is it an allergy or rubbing?

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!

It sounds like the vest is rubbing and may have even caused a skin infection. I would have a vet check it out to see if the skin needs treatment. They can also help you make adjustments to the vest so that it is not comfortable for Tikvichko to wear. Once the inflammation calms down, the rough skin should go back to normal over a couple months.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You can use chlorhexidine based pads to clean the affected area. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I would give Gizmo time to adjust to wearing the harness and collar. If it is really bothering him I would recommend taking everything off when he is inside the house. That is as long as there is no risk to him running outside without a collar. If you see scabbing or reddness then I recommend a veterinarian since that could mean that there is an infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that this looks severe enough that it warrants a veterinary evaluation to shave and clean the area appropriately and also start him on antibiotics to treat a possible infection. They can assess how it looks on a close examination and treat it accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is probably irritating the skin. I would try a collar of a different material. Some dogs are just sensitive to certain materials used to make these collars. My dog for example is very sensitive to collars made out of nylon and develops hair loss and dermatitis if used. I would encourage you to try one of a different material. Keep in mind that there is some getting used to on their end but it should not be itchy. Good luck!