Why is my dog's skin purple, losing hair, and smelly after puppies?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Betsy! She is very cute! Hormones from pregnancy and lactation can affect the skin and hair. If the puppies are all weaned and have new homes, then I would suggest full blood work. Low thyroid and Cushing's disease can cause thin hair coats and pigment changes in the skin. Starting an Omega 3 fish oil (http://vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/) won't hurt. Be sure she is on a good balanced commercial diet and if she is still nursing be sure it is puppy food. She should also be dewormed, pregnancy and nursing activates "sleeping" round worms. Parasites can cause a dull, thin hair coat. I also suggest having Betsy spayed. At 7 years old I worry about being intact impacting her health (pyometra, mammary cancer) and that is a bit old to have puppies again. I hope this helps and I wish Betsy the very best!

After having puppies they go through a lot of changes and their hormones are sometimes out of wack. I would recommend to give her a dog omega 3 fatty acid to help with her coat. If she continues to have thin or dull haircoat then I would contact your vet to do a thyroid test on her to make sure that is normal. I hope this helps. i have attached a link of a product I like. https://www.chewy.com/vetoquinol-care-triglyceride-omega/dp/57311?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Vetoquinol&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjdiUivLi1AIVyCSBCh3GdQpVEAQYASABEgISG_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This may be due to an infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites) or even severe allergies. Baby would need to be physically examined by a veterinarian to make the diagnosis. Thus is beneficial because afterwards, the veterinarian can begin treatment. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking or chewing until she sees the doctor.

Dogs can definitely start to have hair that turns white or grey with age, usually around the face and head. I'm not sure about your description of purple/white skin under the hair on his head - this has me a little worried he could have a bruise. If you think his head could look consistent with a bruise, or if the purple areas are raised I would recommend seeing a veterinarian. Bruising can be a sign of a bleeding disorder and should be addressed right away.

It is hard to say from a photo but it looks like necrotic skin - maybe from a spider (or other insect) bite/sting. I would suggest a vet visit - not an emergency. That black skin is necrotic (basically dying skin) and usually antibiotics are needed to keep it from getting infected. Hope this helps.

This nirnak when the puppies get weaned that the mothers hair thin and fall out. They often look like they have the mange and are not cared for. Don't worry, it all grows back and fills in and returns to normal with time. The scratching is usually not associated with this process though so you can try a medicated shampoo to help and it does not help then consult your vet about potential allergies

If your pup has been scratching or chewing at the spot, it could be getting red/purplish from irritation. Bruising may also cause a purplish color to appear. Since the site is changing in appearance, it is best to have it rechecked with your vet to make sure there aren't new problems, such as an infection or growth, causing the change. You may also want to use an Elizabethan (cone) collar or T-shirt on your pup to stop her from licking and chewing at it until you can get to the vet. If your pup seems very distressed, or the color is rapidly growing and changing, seeking vet care ASAP is best.