Why is my dog licking his red, raw, wet armpit skin so much?

Poor Riddick! Unfortunately, this looks like it is infected. You can try some benadryl and neosporin twice a day. See link below for benadryl dosing. I would not let him lick it. You can put a cone collar on him to prevent this. If he licks it, it will never heal. If you aren't seeing much improvement, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to start him on oral antibiotics and stronger allergy meds like steroids if needed. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl

I always find it useful to try to cover the area to help reduce the trauma to the skin when it is scratched. You may want to outfit Panda with a t-shirt that covers the armpits and then just cut out the front part or tie it a little bit so he doesn't pee on it. I would also try an over the counter oatmeal shampoo and wash him with that. If there is no improvement still in a couple of days, I'd bring him to see his veterinarian. He may need prescription strength topical medications to treat the skin, and even oral medications to help.

It looks like he has a bacterial skin infection so he should be examined by your vet for treatment. Your vet can prescribe an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to help treat the condition. He could have allergies so he may need to stay on an anti-histamine long term. You could also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo, like Epi-Soothe, and see if that helps. You could also add Free Form Snip Tips to his diet to help keep his skin and coat healthy.

Poor Achilles! I would stop putting peroxide on it, as it actually damages tissues and interrupts the healing process. It sounds like this spot is really itchy to him, and it could be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment.

It could be a hotspot or even a burn. Place an e-collar (cone) on Buster to prevent licking or chewing. Keep the area clean and dry. You can use diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to gently clean the area. If necessary, see your veterinarian for an exam and treatment if conservative home care doesn't help.

If you haven't yet had him seen by a vet, ideally I would recommend that you have him evaluated. He may have a secondary bacterial infection that needs to be cleared up with antibiotics, and he may benefit from prescription medications such as Apoquel which can make a big difference for these guys! If you are unable to get him to the vet, you can try him on an antihistamine such as Benadryl. See here for dosing info: https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/. Try switching him to a "sensitive skin" food, such as this: (this s actually what I feed my dog who has some skin allergies/dry skin/itchiness) https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/hills-science-diet-adult-sensitive-stomach-and-skin-chicken-recipe-dry-dog-food You can also give some Omega 3 supplements, as this may help as well. Bathe him once a week to cut down on topical allergens being absorbed in the skin, and follow with a dog cream rinse. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-shampoo-with-vitamin-d3 https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-rinse-with-vitamin-d3 If these "at home" measures don't give him relief, though, get him in to see your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

The skin looks swollen and is seems to be getting infected. I would suggest you take him to the vet for an exam as it is impossible for me to "diagnose" him over the internet. If you want to try something first I recommend you try this product: ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone ) No matter what, if he continues to lick it, it will not heal. If this spray doesn't make him stop licking it you will need to get him a cone collar. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/all-four-paws-tan-comfy-cone-5000727--1?rrec=true ) If no improvement after 5-7 days of using the spray and him not licking it then you will need to get him to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.