My dog keeps licking a spot on his skin. Is it a skin infection?

Hi, I am sorry to hear about Marley. Based on your description and the pictures you took, it appears that Marley may have a "hot spot". This is a moist dermatitis that causes discomfort, inflammation, and a secondary infection. When you say that he "received an allergy shot", I presume this is a steroid injection. If that is the case, the steroid injection should help to reduce his discomfort within less than 24hrs after the shot. Generally, I always treat a hot spots with a prescription of oral antibiotics, rather then topical. I allow the affected area to "dry out", as this is considered a "moist dermatitis" and we want it to no longer be "moist". Steroids are key to helping him feel more comfortable. Make sure to keep the ecollar on at all times to prevent him from chewing or licking at that sore area. I would recommend to contact your vet and ask if a prescription of oral antibiotics is warranted in Marley's case. They are the ones who can get this medication for you if it will help him and is indicated in his case. Best of luck to you and Marley.

Thank you for your question. From your photo, it appears that Bear has a small skin infection. I recommend cleaning it with warm soapy water. You can carefully trim the hair around the lesion to make it easier to clean. Since you just noticed this, it is hard to say if it is something that has been there and is healing, or if it will get worse. I recommend keeping it clean through the weekend and using a cone or e-collar to keep Bear from licking the area. You can apply a triple antibiotic ointment once or twice a day. If it isn't getting better, you should call your veterinarian on Monday to have it evaluated and see if antibiotics are needed. Make sure you wash your hands after you have touched the wound. I hope this information helps, and that Bear heals quickly.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the pictures you have provided, I suspect that she is dealing with a skin infection. Below are the products I recommend to treat this. If the skin condition does not improve or it worsens, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. These products can all be found online quite easily. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved. 2. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area until resolved 3. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules 4. Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent

I'm not 100% sure what this spot is from just by looking at a photo. It could be just an injury but it could also be ringworm or skin mites (mange) or the start of a hot spot. I suggest you try this hot spot spray gel, 3-4 times per day. If after about a week or so you don't noticed much improvement or he starts to get spots in other areas then he needs to see a vet. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-hot-spot-antimicrobial-gel-for-dogs

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 itch so it can be treated appropriately. 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. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. Once the infection has resolved a long term allergy medication (like Apoquel or Cytopoint) can be given on a regular basis to prevent any future problems. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

This looks like a mild bacterial skin infection. Dogs can get this from laying on damp ground. Often it will go away on its own. You can bathe the area with antibacterial shampoo once or twice weekly to help it heal more quickly. Since she’s not bothered by it I’m not overly concerned. Should it worsen please take her in for an exam. She may need oral antibiotics if is gets bad. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Marley.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the hair loss and crusting on Marley's hip, and what looks like a small amount of hair loss on her ankle. Depending on Marley's age, a tumor may be more likely. However, skin infections, particularly with fungi are also possible. A vet can take a small sample of skin to determine exactly what is going on, and prescribe antibiotics, medicated ointments/shampoos as needed. With how severe the area looks, it is unlikely to go away on its own. You can also get Marley an E-collar or "cone" to prevent her from licking/chewing the area and making it worse. Good luck with Marley!