My dog licked his belly red and inflamed. Does he need antibiotics?

Hello. It appears that Bruno has a pretty significant & chronic inflammatory reaction going on in his skin. I would suspect that this may require oral medications rather than topical ointments or creams, but knowing how long this might take to clear up really depends on the underlying cause. If he has a bacterial infection, treatment can last 6-8 weeks, a fungal infection, 2-4 months, & if this is due to an allergic reaction, unless you pursue a desensitization protocol, treatment is lifelong. It is best to have your veterinarian examine Bruno to determine the best course of action. If your vet is unable to help, ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Hopefully with time, Bruno will go great. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be Bruno was injured. I would gently clean hi's wounds with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it.

It looks like Bruno has a skin infection. Parasites like mites and fleas can cause irritation of the skin that can lead to bacterial infections. If he has not had skin scrapings performed to look for mites, that would be my recommendation. If there are no mites, and he has been treated for fleas, then perhaps the topical medications he is on are not enough, and he needs an oral antibiotic to control the infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. That lesion could be a bacterial Staph infection but it could also be something like ringworm. These things often look similar and cannot be easily distinguished visually. Some testing may be needed to figure it out. Since you have been using an anti-fungal medication and it's not working then I suspect this may be more bacterially related. I would recommend you take Charlie to your vet for an exam. If you want to try something in the meantime you can try these medicated wipes and an E-collar to keep him from licking it. No matter what you put on it, it will not resolve if he continues to lick it. https://www.amazon.ca/Sogeval-Douxo-Count-Chlorhexidine-Pads/dp/B00G3D8JL0/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514572929&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=duoxo+wipes https://www.amazon.ca/Total-Pet-Health-Elizabethan-Areas-Small/dp/B00FXKSV3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1514572948&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabethan+collar Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I would recommend getting a larger ecollar and let your veterinarian know that this has occurred. He probably is trying to get to the sutures and this is the only area he can reach. This will get worse if he keeps licking. Your vet may just extend his antibiotics or just tell you to keep it clean. His incision looks great! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear that Sasha has been licking and developing these skin lesions. Her lesions look most suspicious for a bacterial skin infection, but could also be a result of ringworm or mange. Personally, I never find Neosporin to be overly effective in managing skin infections. Instead, I prefer using medicated antimicrobial shampoos, particularly those that are chlorhexidine-based (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982). Since Sasha is licking herself, consider also keeping an e-collar (cone) on her when she is not supervised (i.e. overnight or when you are out of the house) to prevent further irritation/damage to the skin. Be sure to take Sasha to her vet when they are back from vacation for further evaluation because many skin infections require oral antibiotics for resolution. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Place an e-collar (cone) on Bruno to prevent licking. Keep the area clean and dry. If necessary, wash with an antibacterial soap then dry thoroughly. A sprinkle of plain corn starch can keep the area dry. See your vet if the lesions do not heal. Anything you apply may get licked off or rubbed off when he lays down. Discontinue the supplement. It is possible he may have a sensitivity to one of the ingredients. Discuss allergy testing and food sensitivities with your veterinarian.