My dog has a rash on his belly and fur missing on his shoulder. Why?

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 his 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!

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You may be referring to a focal infection. However, it is not possible to know this just based on a description. This would require an actual examination of the area to see what may be wrong so that therapy can be recommended. If this continues, I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

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 his 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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Phene appears to have either ringworm or bacterial folliculitis. To determine for sure, she will need to be examined by your veterinarian and have the appropriate therapy prescribed. This could be other things, but given what you are describing and the appearance from the picture, these two are most likely. As ringworm is a possibility, you should take caution as it is a zoonotic (transmissible to humans) disease, so wash after handling Phene, and please see your physician if you notice any skin lesions on yourself. Often, if it is one of these diseases, frequent bathing with medicated shampoo will be prescribed along with topical creams or ointments, and in some cases, oral medications are needed to clear the disease. These will be at the discretion of the veterinarian following assessment. Hope this helps!

Oh ouch! That looks like it is uncomfortable. This looks like it could be a skin infection, which could be bacterial or yeast, or a combination. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. In the meantime you may want to consider bathing him in a shampoo that contains chlorhexidine or salicylic acid. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the photos you provided, it appears as though Toby may have an area of infection. I would clip the fur from this so that you have better access for treatment and try a topical approach first and see if this helps. I would recommend using Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would also recommend applying Vetericyn ointment to the area, which can be purchased online. If there is no improvement, then I would bring Toby into the veterinarian for examination so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.