Why are my dog's ears red and hot, and her stomach skin turning dark?

This could be normal, or could be an early skin infection. Allergies are a very common cause of skin redness in dogs. If Poll is itchy at all, I would recommend a visit to her regular veterinarian as soon as possible to deal with this before it gets out of control. For the gut sounds, this can also be normal. I wouldn't be worried about it unless she's vomiting or having diarrhea/soft stool. Best of luck to Poll!

This redness indicates inflammation and is usually itchy. This is often due to one of two conditions. 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check her for fleas and get treatment if needed. This pattern is more suspicious of mange, which is a mite infestation. A veterinarian can check for these mites and prescribe treatment. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. Below is a link with more helpful advice for relieving the itch. https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking her to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the best treatment.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sophie and for providing pictures, they are very helpful! It could be a rash, but it could also be from her scratching at her ears, which is a sign of an ear infection. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. I'd have her seen by a vet to have this diagnosed and treated. Best of luck!

Red skin usually indicates inflammation of the skin, but can also be seen with hyperthermia (excessively hot) and infections in the blood stream. If the skin was suddenly red, then I would be concerned about infection or hyperthermia. Hyperthermia can happen to a dog exposed to a hot environment, or if they ate certain plants (hops, marijuana, etc.) or drugs. If the skin has been red for a few days, then it's likely inflamed from something she had contact with or the environment. However, they usually don't act anxious with this condition, so it's likely that something else is happening. It's best to have a vet check her as soon as possible to see if it's a serious condition. If you want to discuss more and send photos, you are welcome to start a consult.

I would recommend reverting to his original food or a hypoallergenic diet and adding some omega fatty acids to promote skin repair and regeneration. If the diet has triggered these symptoms, they should regress over 6-8weeks. If he develops severe itching, antiinflammatory sprays or gels may be required from your vet. Seasonal allergies are also very common at this time of year and tend to develop in younger dogs (usually between 6mths and 3 yrs for first symptoms)

Darkening or changing skin color can be due to disease including allergy, flea infestation, bacterial skin disease or fungal disease. Change of skin (or even hair) color can also be completely normal especially in puppies and young dogs.

There can be several causes for pigment change. The most common causes are low grade allergies, hereditary aging changes, endocrine disease or superficial infection. If Pathy shows any evidence of infection or irritation, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian. At home you can try giving him an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets but it may not correct the underlying cause. This can however improve over all skin health. There are two brands of food, Royal Canin and Nutro, which are aimed at skin health and they may help as well but again, they may not affect the underlying problem. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.