My dog has a moist, smelly black scab and spot. Should I use ointment?

I wouldn't put steroid cream on it, because this could make it much worse. Hot spots usually have an infection present, which will flourish in the presence of steroids. It appears to be minor based on your description, so you can try a couple of things at home to help this. 1) Wash the area with warm water and a medicated shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day. Use a cloth and gently wipe away the scabs. Do not scrub, because it will irritate the skin more. It's OK if all of the scabs do not come off in each washing. 2) Make sure the area is completely dry after washing. You should start seeing good results within a week after starting this. It may take a few weeks before it's completely cleared. If two weeks go by and it's not getting any better, then it's best to have a veterinarian exam it. Also, if it appears to get worse, then it's best to take her the vet for treatment. I hope that helps and this gets cleared up soon.

This looks like moist dermatitis, a localized infection that usually occurs because of excessive licking/chewing in the area. Typically these need to be treated with oral antibiotics and the cause of the itch should be addressed and treated as well. I would recommend taking your dog in to be examined by your vet so the proper treatment can be initiated. In the meantime, you can try cleaning the area with dilute hydrogen peroxide and applying an antibiotic ointment on it to prevent further infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

It looks like what we call a hot spot or moist dermatitis. These looks really painful. I would have him seen. He will most likely need some antibiotics and some topical medication to help dry this up. They can also give you something for the itching or pain relief. These usually heal pretty quickly once they stop messing with them.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

It doesn't appear to be related to fleas. It could be an injury but it could also be the start of a tumor. I would recommend you leave it alone and monitor it for about a week. Don't pick at it or apply anything to it. If it is just a scab from an injury it should be much improved if not all the way healed in that time frame. If it is virtually the same or just a tad bit improved then I would have your vet check that spot out. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

These small scabs, or crusts, could be due to an injury like a fight/bite wound or could be due to an allergy. Allergies can cause a dog to be very itchy and can lead to a skin infection that can look very much like the pictures you have shared. If the spots are widespread throughout the coat I would recommend taking Magic in to your vet to be examined. If there are just a few spots, then you can try treating them topically with some antibiotic ointment to get them to clear up. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

This could be a skin infection caused by a fungus or bacteria or and old injury or bite and in worst case scenario it could be a tumor. Please have this examined by your veterinarian. If he suspects a tumor, he will likely want to remove it and send it in to determine whether it is malignant and your dog needs further treatment. If it is an infection your dog may need an antifungal or antibiotic ointment. It may just be a scab from an old wound and might need no treatment. Your vet will be able to determine that with a hands-on exam.