My dog has itchy bumps between his back legs. What should I do?

Chronic skin problems could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the lesions should not come back. 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. Also protect the area from trauma by having Simba wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent licking if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear that Tigre has been so itchy! The bumps and scabs that you describe sound most suspicious for a skin infection. These skin issues typically occur as a result of underlying allergies (to fleas, food or the environment), ringworm, or mange. When dogs itch as a result of these changes, they can cause a bacterial skin infection by damaging their own skin, which is also itchy, and only makes matters worse. Make sure that Tigre is receiving a high quality flea and tick preventative, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II. You can also try bathing him with an antimicrobial/anti-itch shampoo (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27981 ). When you are not directly watching him, it may be worth using an e-collar (cone) for the next week or so to prevent further skin damage. However, if the skin lesions persist or worsen, Tigre will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. He may need oral antibiotics or anti-itch medication. I hope this helps and that he's feeling better soon!

From your description and pictures, I would be most suspicious that Amais has mange - a condition caused by a microscopic mite that burrows under the skin. This often starts on the legs, tips of ears and other parts of the body where there is less hair. Eventually, this mite can spread to the whole body and cause the dog to lose all of its hair and be miserable with itchiness. Intense itching could also be due to an allergy, It's also likely that there is already some form of infection starting too; which often happens with very inflamed skin. Either way, Amais needs professional help fast, or the condition will get worse and will take much longer to recover from. Both conditions can be treated with medication prescribed by your veterinarian. The medication is fast acting and will have Amais feeling better quickly. Also, they will be able to determine the cause of the itch and check if anything else is wrong with Amais. I would book him in for an appointment within the next day or so with a veterinarian. In the meantime, you can provide a little relief by giving a bath/shower with cool water. You can also gently apply aloe to the red areas. I hope that helps and Amais gets better soon.

Poor Emmitt! The lesions on his leg and muzzle could be due a bacterial skin infection (often from underlying allergies), ringworm, or mange. Make sure that he is receiving a high quality flea preventative regularly, such as Nexgard, Bravecto, or K9 Advantix II since flea allergies can lead to itching and subsequent skin infections. You can also try bathing Emmitt in an antimicrobial shampoo ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982 ), but use caution around his face and be sure to rinse and dry well. Also consider switching to stainless steel bowls rather than plastic or ceramic bowls if you aren't already using them in case the lesions on his face are related to an "acne-like" condition. Stainless steel is less porous than the other materials and tends to harbor less bacteria. If these skin lesions persist or worsen, Emmitt will need to take a trip to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

Hi! It looks like Riley may have a skin infection- they commonly occur on the stomach area. Typically they're caused by bacteria or yeast, and can be secondary to allergies, so that would explain the itchiness. I'd take him to your vet, they may want to examine his skin to figure out what kind of infection, and recommend medications for the infection and the itching.

I am not sure if this is a repost but I thought I answered you question previously. Anyways the most common reasons for itchy skin with bumps in a young dogs is allergies. The allergies can be secondary to fleas, environmental or food allergies. I would recommend apply flea prevention every 30 days. Also you can try an over the counter anti histamine and medicated shampoo. However this migh be strong enough to stop the itch and get rid of the infection. I would recommend taking Tigre to a vet for a good exam and proper medications. Hope that helps.

Hello! My name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Thank you for sending the photo. It is helpful. That skin lesion could have a few causes: The most common reasons are •Allergies (environmental or food) •Bacterial infection •Fungal infections There are a few questions to ask yourself: Has there been any new treats or food within the last 2 weeks? If so, stop giving the new item. It could be related to the itching. Does your pet have a history of itchy skin or ear infections? If so, it could indicate an underlying condition like allergies or thyroid disease. Are other pets in the household itching? If so, it could indicate a communal cause. Here are some things you can do at home with may help. 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Leo should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. Here are some tips that can improve over-all skin health and decrease itchiness: 1) Add in an omega fatty acid supplement. - Your veterinarian will carry some nice products - You can also find a good product called Welactin online. 2) Change his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. *It will take 4-6 weeks for any diet or supplements to take full effect 3) Wash your pup in a pet oatmeal shampoo and conditioner once a week for general health. 4) If environmental allergies are suspected, a daily antihistamine can also help. Have your pup examined if- •Leo is severely itching/licking •If any itching/licking gets worse •If in 2 weeks the lesion is not completely healed Sometimes no over the counter options will work and they need a stronger medication from the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to check in any time!