Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog's private area is red and he won't stop licking it. Help!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 84 lbs

Hello my dog has redness above his genital area he keeps licking it i gave him a bath and i put an e collar for right now any suggestions?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on October 13th, 2017

It would a good idea to put an Ecollar on Otis to keep him from licking the area, as that will make it worse. Oatmeals baths or an Epsom salt bath may help as well. He could have an allergic reaction causing the redness or he could have a bacterial or fungal infection. It would be a good idea to have him checked out by the vet over the weekend, as there may be medications needed to help treat the redness. I would see if you can get him into the vet this weekend; if not, I would take him in on Monday if the redness is still present. I hope this helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ana M, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 30th, 2019
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buddy. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He needs to have the underlying problem identified and treated to get him to stop licking. He could be experiencing seasonal allergies, an infection, insect bite, etc. His veterinarian will likely prescribe medication to make him feel better. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him when you are not able to supervise him. Additional licking will only make the problem worse. I hope this information helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on July 20th, 2020
Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Buddy and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. I would be worried about it, it's obviously bothering him and the licking will be making it worse. Without seeing him in person, I can't say what is causing it. I do think he needs to see a vet for it. The vet can diagnose what it causing it and can treat it. I would take him into the vet in the morning. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on October 10th, 2019
Red paws can indicate a skin infection or allergies.. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching and he may need to wear and Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

My dog keeps biting his private area. Why is it red and chapped?

The first thing you need to do is put a cone collar on him to keep him from continuing to lick the skin. He has scrotal dermatitis (an infection of the scrotal skin) and no matter what you use to treat It with, if he just continues to lick, it will not get better. So, get the cone collar ASAP and then apply this Vetericyn spray (linked below) to the affected area 2-3 times per day. If after about 5=7 days of doing this, it is not better than you need to have him checked by your vet. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar ) ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-hot-spot-antimicrobial-gel-for-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog keeps licking his private parts & has red marks. What's wrong?

Chestnut could have inflammation or some kind of irritant in his prepuce (the skin that covers the penis) that is causing discomfort. He could also have a urinary issue or allergies. I'd recommend preventing him from licking as much as possible if the skin appears red - you may need to purchase an e-collar for him to wear when he's unsupervised. Your vet can examine the area and might recommend checking a urine sample.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's paw is red, swollen, and he keeps licking it. Is it serious?

Ouch, poor Issac! It looks like that could potentially be a growth of some sorts, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain. He should see a vet for it. The vet can diagnose what is causing it and how best to treat it. In the meantime, to keep him from licking at it, I would put an Ecollar on him. You can buy one at a pet store or you can make one at home. I will put a link below on how to make one at home. As for the vet, I would see if you can get him into one Monday or Tuesday. Good luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's bum is red and he's licking it after grooming. Is it urgent?

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach! Sorry that Nico is having this issue. I think this can wait. It is hard to tell from the photo but I think it looks like he might have gotten some razor burn which irritated him. The irritation has caused him to lick at it which has made it worse. Until you can get him to the vet I suggest you get him a cone to wear and you can put a thin layer of Neosporin on the red area twice a day. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-ecollars/all-four-paws-tan-comfy-cone-5000727--1 Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My male dog's private area is sore. Is it an infection? What to do?

Ouch! Poor Dylan! This looks like a little local infection that he has been licking. I would place an e-collar I him to prevent licking. You can clean it with mild soap and water. And I would also put some neosporin on it twice a day. If it is not improving in the next day or two then I would definitely take him in to see your veterinarian for an exam. Your vet will be able to prescribe some oral anabiotics and some stronger topical medicine if needed. If at any point he is not eating or is lethargic then I would also take him to your vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's vaginal area is red. Should I see a vet or treat it at home?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. Not only the vaginal area is inflamed but it seems that the ventral abdomen is involved as well. She is probably itchy but these redness areas do not seem inflamed because of the rubbing. 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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What to do for dog's red, inflamed testicles after sitting in poop?

I would recommend an Elizabethan collar as he is most likely licking at it, even if you don't see him do it. If it is now resolved by Monday I would definitely take him to the veterinarian. If it gets worse today or tomorrow he needs to see a veterinarian sooner. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share