My dog licks her rear, has dark fur, and is coughing. What's wrong?

She may be coming into heat which could be causing her to feel irritated down there, making her scratch which damages tge skin barrier and can cause skin infection. Or alternatively she has simply got a skin infection. The skin does look inflamed and the dark pigment could just be natural colour change or it could caused by yeast. She looks sore so I would have the vet examine her and determine exactly what microbes ate present in the area and then decide how best to treat. She may just need an antinflammatory or antihistamine but I suspect she will also require an antimicrobial.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sneaky. Her skin still appears red and irritated. I recommend bathing her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to try to soothe her skin. If this does not resolve her itching, then you will need to contact her veterinarian. She may require a different medication to help control the itching and to ensure there is not another issue contributing (urinary tract infection, full anal glands, etc). I hope this information helps!

There can be lots of reasons to lick back there. Allergies are the most common cause, and it could be a reaction to flea bites, foods, or the environment. Intestinal parasites and anal gland issues can also cause irritation. Licking can also be seen during the heat cycle of intact females.

Frequent licking generally indicates irritation or infection. Licking around the genital area can also indicate a urinary tract infection. I suspect the discoloring of her skin is related to the licking although some pet's skin will darken as they mature. I would recommend to make an appointment with her vet to have her skin examined and her urine tested to make sure everything is normal. At home, you can wash the areas daily with an antibacterial soap and rinse it well - be careful not put soap in her vulva (vagina). This will help to clean off the skin. There can be many causes of skin irritation or infection including bacterial infections, environmental allergies, food allergies and flea allergies. The doctor will try to determine the cause and may prescribe some medications to decrease irritation. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's pretty rare that dogs actually get something stuck in the back of the throat. More likely her throat is irritated, or she has an infection like kennel cough. If the cough continues I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian: while it's difficult to see the very back of a dog's throat without sedation, your vet can help determine what is causing the cough.

The obsessive licking sounds like an anxiety issue that is likely related to the coughing. Coughing in dogs can have a variety of possible causes, including kennel cough, heart disease, lung disease, infection, etc. I would recommend that you have Bodhi examined by the vet to see what could be the cause.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's difficult to say with certainty by just looking at the pictures but in general when we see a copper/pinkish color change like you are seeing here it is a sign of saliva staining from licking the area. Tosca may be licking around her tail for a number of reasons including fleas, allergies or anal gland issues. She may be licking around her foot due to allergies, skin irritation or from a nail disorder or infection. To ensure fleas and not causing this make sure you are using a good quality flea product like Nexguard, Vectra, Advantage, Frontline or Bravecto. You can do some medicated bathing to see if this helps reduce the irritation. A veterinarian will be able to help you decide if Tosca's anal glands are causing an issue by doing a rectal exam. Feeding a small amount of plain canned pumpkin can help with anal gland issues. If Tosca continues to have these saliva stained areas or develops more areas of irritation it would be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.