Why does my 5-month-old German Shepherd have itchy skin and pimples?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You may be referring to a focal infection. However, it is not possible to know this just based on a description. This would require an actual examination of the area to see what may be wrong so that therapy can be recommended. If this continues, I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

These look highly suspicious for a demodexx mite problem. Demodexx mites live on every pets skin, but overpopulate causing hair loss in certain pets whose immune system is not as strong. Have your vet do a simple skin scrape test to confirm this suspicion and then Tuxedo can go on medication to help resolve this over time. I don't see any areas of redness or infection yet, but secondary infections can develop quickly so it is best to get this treated as soon as you can to avoid the need for additional medications. Other possible causes for this are an environmental allergy or flea allergy. I hope that Tuxedos skin condition resolves well soon. Best of luck and take care.

It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. 

The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. 

The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the infection and itch so it can be treated appropriately. Because your puppy is so young I would be very concerned about Demodex as the primary problem. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well (based on the type of infection your veterinarian can recommend the most appropriate one). I would also recommend that he be on a good flea control routinely too. The thyroid gland is located in the throat area but it is probably not what you were feeling. I suspect you may be feeling a large lymph node or just severely inflamed skin tissue judging by the severity of his infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.



Hello. It may just be coincidental, or Lucas may be having a mild hypersensitivity reaction to the vaccinations. Just watch the area for spread, or if the area should become very itchy. If he wants to continuously lick or gnaw at the area, I would contact your veterinarian for possible treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From what I can tell via your photo, this looks a lot like puppy pyoderma-a very common condition among young dogs. Essentially, these are "pimples" for puppies and usually caused by staph bacteria. I will usually try to rule out any underlying flea problem resulting in pustules, etc when I see these patients. If I see nothing else of concern I will usually prescribe antibiotics for 10-14 days at which point the breakout has usually cleared up. I would recommend seeing your vet to do these things as well-Lala will be much more comfortable without pustules. I hope this helps!

I cannot tell exactly what this is from the picture, because it is quite blurry and usually an exact diagnosis requires a close exam in-person. One thing I can tell is that this part of the back often gets these rashes when they have fleas. I would make sure that you are treating her for fleas. Below is a short article that explains some options. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ For now, avoid putting any irritating substances like soap, iodine or any other chemicals on the rash. These can all make the problem worse. Just give a bath with cool water and a shampoo that is for dogs (do not use people shampoo). Only bathe once a week, because over-bathing can also make the problem worse. If the flea medication does not work, then it's best to have her looked at by a vet doctor, so they can help identify the problem. I hope that helps and Annie gets better soon.

The bald spots and pimples may indicate minor infection or may be a symptom of a broader underlying condition. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the condition addressed by your veterinarian to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly. Young dogs can get skin infections, commonly referred to as 'puppy pyoderma'. This usually occurs on the belly and inside the hind legs. This type of infection usually resolves without treatment as the puppy gets older. [*Staph* infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) are common in dogs of all ages and may requires antibiotic therapy to treat. In pets of all ages, [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-allergy/), [food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/) and [environmental allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference) (contact or inhaled) can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin or cause a [hot spot](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/hot-spots/). Diagnosing the cause of allergies may require [allergy testing](https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs) and [food elimination trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect). [Check for fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-check-your-pet-for-fleas-and-ticks) with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle. If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic. Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a [protein in the food](https://www.petcoach.co/article/all-about-protein-in-pet-food). Hill's Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as [prescription hypoallergenic foods](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-food/prescription-dog-food-and-treats) for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein and [novel protein](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-a-novel-protein-pet-food) diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.