My dog has a mild rash on her belly. Should I treat it myself?

She could be having an acute allergic reaction to something such as grass or some type of chemical on the ground. You can try washing her off using a mild cleanser such is Dawn dish soap or oatmeal-based pet shampoo. If it doesn't clear up within 8 to 12 hours then I would recommend having your veterinarian do an exam. In the meantime if you start scratching or itching at it you'll need to stop her as that could cause a secondary bacterial infection.

No, it's not likely to be contagious to humans, it's probably an allergic reaction, if it happens often you will need to get it checked by a vet, Kodak might need anti allergy treatment for this condition.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

That looks quite uncomfortable. I'm surprised that she isn't super itchy. I don't see any obvious causes in the picture - such areas that make me suspicious of a bacterial or yeast infection. My top guesses be allergies (flea, food, environment, or even a contact allergy such as being allergic to your laundry detergent), with skin parasites or a superficial infection definitely possible. Since it's such a large area, it's going to be hard to apply an ointment - if you have a medicated bath for another dog (one that is for superficial infections) that may help. Wiping the area with witch hazel could calm in down. A mild (1%) hydrocortisone cream could also calm down the area. I would definitely recommend getting her to the vet as soon as possible. They are likely to need to do an exam saying she's in good health before she can be added to the insurance, and she's not going to qualify until her skin is better.

It could be a local bacterial infection, fungal infection or inflammation. You would need to have Lily physically examined by your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis and for treatment. If she is licking at it, place an e-collar (cone) on her. Keep the area clean and dry until she sees the vet.

I am sorry to hear about Kali! You could call your vet and see if they can give you a medicated shampoo to use until her appointment, which can sometimes be helpful with milder rashes, and ask if they feel it is safe to offer her an antihistamine over the counter such as Benadryl or Zyrtec. If your vet doesn't carry shampoos you can order a medicated shampoo online such as the Duoxo Chlorhexidine or Calm line of products https://www.douxo.com/us#redirected. Also be sure she is on an effective flea control product (your vets office may carry a variety of products such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, and Comfortis).