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My dog is licking red, inflamed skin with yellow pus. What to do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 3 years and 2 months old | 15 lbs

My dog has been licking and biting on two areas off his body. The areas are both red and inflamed underneath his arm I see yellow pus or discharge. What should I do?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on October 21st, 2017

If you see a yellow creamy discharge, this can be pus. A clear yellow or amber colored discharge is likely serum, which oozes out as a wound heals. Itching and biting the skin can be caused by many things, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. To fix the skin, we will first have to identify the cause for the wounds. I recommend that Sirius Black see a vet as soon as possible to identify the cause so he can receive appropriate treatment.

Until you take him to the vet, clean the areas with a first-aid chlorhexidine wound soap and warm water. Apply a thin layer of neosporin twice a day. Since Sirius will want to lick it off and keep biting, he should wear an e-collar to prevent further damage to the skin.
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