My dog has a rash between his legs and keeps licking. What to do?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be 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 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). The following products can be found online and can be tried as a first line approach: Douxo PS Calm shampoo, Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent, Krillex Krill oil chews. 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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I suspect that this may be from him licking at this region in which case it may not resolve on its own. This may be due to allergies and/or possibly an infection. A mild infection could resolve on its own. However, if no resolution is noted, I recommend you consider having him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Poor Buddy! Rashes can occur due to many reasons that often include allergeries, mites or fleas. Definitely make sure Buddy cannot lick or scratch at the rash by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. A mild rash may respond to treatment at home. Wash the rash every day with hand soap and rinse it well. Once it’s dry, you can rub in a dab of coconut oil once daily. If the rash is more severe or if it’s not getting better after a few days, Buddy may need to see his veterinarian for medications. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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 PetCoach! The black hairless area is a normal elbow callus. The pink area could be a growth or irritation or a skin infection. I would prevent the licking by using an E-collar. Then I would apply a triple antibiotic cream. Force him to lay on soft bedding to prevent further trauma and you can try an antihistamine. If there is no improvement the area should be looked at by a Vet as he may need oral antibiotics and a steroid or apoquel. Those are prescription drugs that can only be prescribed by a Vet that exams your dog. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

Anything you apply will likely be licked off before it has a chance to help. Your best option is to place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking. Contact your veterinarian and ask about OTC or prescription antihistamines that may help if an allergic reaction is involved. A fish oil supplement may also help promote healthy skin. If symptoms persist, consider an exam to rule out infection or injury. You can also discuss allergy testing, food allergies and environmental allergies in depth with your veterinarian.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Jerod. There probably isn't much at this point that you can do at home. He needs to be seen by your veterinarian so they can assess him. This is most likely a bacterial skin infection from allergies, external parasites (fleas, ticks, mites), fungal/yeast infection, among other causes. Your vet can examine him and discuss a diagnostic/treatment plan for Jerod. Treatment may involve oral antibiotics, anti-itch medicines, Elizabethan collar to prevent licking, etc. Good luck