Why does my dog have popping bumps on his head, ears, and paws?

If they look like little pimples with white pus in them, this is usually a sign of a bacterial skin infection called pyoderma - this can occur on its own, or as a result of an underlying problem such as allergies or skin mites (mange). If they don't seem to be bothering her, you can try soaking the affected paws in warm water with epsom salts for 5 minutes twice a day - often, this will help to resolve a mild infection in this area. If this doesn't help, or if the bumps seem to be spreading or if they become itchy or painful, then I would recommend having G examined by a vet - he/she can prescribe antibiotics to treat the skin infection, and can also do some simple tests to try and determine if there is any underlying problem causing it.

This is probably 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 (advocate or advantage), 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). 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.

It sounds like he could have a bacterial skin infection. You could bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo but he may also need an antibiotic. Have your vet take a look at him to determine the exact cause and prescribe medications to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, or corticosteroid to help.

The bald spots and pimples may indicate minor infection or may be a symptom of a broader underlying condition. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the condition addressed by your veterinarian to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly. Young dogs can get skin infections, commonly referred to as 'puppy pyoderma'. This usually occurs on the belly and inside the hind legs. This type of infection usually resolves without treatment as the puppy gets older. [*Staph* infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) are common in dogs of all ages and may requires antibiotic therapy to treat. In pets of all ages, [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-allergy/), [food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/) and [environmental allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference) (contact or inhaled) can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin or cause a [hot spot](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/hot-spots/). Diagnosing the cause of allergies may require [allergy testing](https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs) and [food elimination trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect). [Check for fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-check-your-pet-for-fleas-and-ticks) with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle. If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic. Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a [protein in the food](https://www.petcoach.co/article/all-about-protein-in-pet-food). Hill's Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as [prescription hypoallergenic foods](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-food/prescription-dog-food-and-treats) for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein and [novel protein](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-a-novel-protein-pet-food) diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

Hi there! Puppies get "puppy pyoderma" often which often presents as you have shown in the pictures. This is very common, and easy to treat. Sometimes antibiotics are not required and they go away on their own. If the rash spreads, etc. you can always make an appointment to see your veterinarian to make sure fleas or allergies are not contributing factors! My best to you an Milli. Hope this helps!

This presentation is due to a diffuse and quite severe pyoderma. A medicated shampoo, systemic antibiotics and a check up are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Pyoderma could be secondary to other diseases which cause immunosuppression. 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.

The bumps could be an allergic dermatitis from fleas, insect bites, etc. It could also be a bacterial infection, even if you aren't seeing any purulent material. You could bathe him with a dog shampoo, like Epi-soothe, and see if that helps. Otherwise, he should be seen by a vet for treatment. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, corticosteroid, of other medication to help.