Why is my Golden Retriever licking red, swollen skin on his flank?

Yikes! That is very inflamed and I agree that it looks swollen. I recommend to get an elizabethan collar for him and make sure he wears it tonight while you are asleep and any time you are not directly watching him. Licking it may make it worse. As long as Scooter will tolerate it, you can gently wash the area with soap and rinse it well. Applying a cool (not cold) compress may also bring some relief to him. Do this a few times through out the evening. You can apply a dab of coconut oil on the area and rub it in gently. Make sure Scooter does not lick this off as it may upset his tummy. Definitely keep his appointment tomorrow. Poor guy! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ouch! Poor Tyus! That looks pretty infected to me. I'd definitely suggest Tyus wear an e-collar to prevent licking. You can also try to use a 2-3 tablespoons of Epsom salts diluted in a half gallon of water to soak his feet. However, I strongly suggest taking Tyus to see a veterinarian as he likely needs prescription medications like antibiotics. Since the area is likely itchy and painful he may need prescription pain medications or corticosteroids to fully resolve the issue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Tyus' feet heal quickly!

From the photo it looks like Molly has a hotspot or skin infection. She may have the changes in behavior because she is sore or even has a fever. Take her to your vet tomorrow to get an exam and the right medicine to heal her skin. You can also fit an e collar or cone on her to prevent further licking.

Red’s anus does look irritated and I can see some redness on the underside of his tail as well. He might be licking due to irritation from full anal glands, parasites or allergies. I would recommend having your vet examine him and check his anal glands. They may want to check a stool sample as well. Oral or topical medications might help. I would recommend putting an e-collar on to prevent licking until you can get to the vet.

This looks like an area of moist dermatitis, or hot spot. They get these from licking or rubbing an area of skin that was irritated from an insect bite, allergy or injury. To treat this I recommend trimming the fur around the area, then cleaning off the discharge with warm water and antibacterial soap. Once it’s rinsed and dried you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. The most important thing is to prevent her from scratching or rubbing this area so it can heal. Use a cone if needed. If it’s not improving then I recommend a veterinary exam and treatment. They may give medication to prevent the itching, and possible a topical spray or ointment to dry up the skin. Hot spots are common in Goldens so I’d have a cone and medication on hand to treat these at home before they get bad. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Daisy.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Clyde. He skin looks very sore. Poor guy! When I see a patient with ongoing skin disease, I work hard to determine the underlying cause so effective treatment can be determined. I would recommend he has skin scrapes to look for mites and a fungal culture to rule out ringworm. Then I would start him on flea and tick prevention to rule out a flea allergy. Next, I would do bloodwork on him to ensure he does not have evidence of an underlying hormonal disorder contributing to his skin disease. Short of doing a skin biospy, the last thing is to treat for allergies. Food allergies are assessed by a diet trial with a prescription diet. The dog can eat absolutely nothing else during the trial. It is hard to do, but the only way to assess food allergies. Very few dogs are allergic to grains and the ones that are tend to be Irish Setters. So he could still have a food allergy despite your diet change. There are new medications to manage environmental allergies that are very effective with less side effects than steroids. So these could be an option as well. Consider bathing him with a medicated shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner twice per week. I hope this information helps!

Since the skin is broken and/or inflamed, Bruno should be physically examined by your veterinarian. He may need antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or both. If there is a lump or mass associated with the sore, it should be aspirated to collect samples for pathology. Use an e-collar (cone) to prevent Bruno from licking it.