My dog has a red, irritated spot on his skin. What could it be?

It’s difficult to say for certain what these are without being able to examine Jynxx in person. My first guess would be that these are eosinophilic granulomas - a skin condition that can be related to allergies. A skin infection or a wound would also be possible. I’d recommend making an appointment with your vet so they can examine this area.

That redness could indicate a bacterial infection. Sometimes the infection is a primary problem but sometimes it can indicate an allergy or allergic reaction. Less commonly, skin mites can look like this. On the right side, there is a very dark red discoloration. This could be present if he is licking or scratching at it. The concern I have is if that red discoloration is bruising. Bruising is not normal in dogs and is considered indicative of a possible emergency. Reasons for bruising include an autoimmune disorder, eating rat poison, a bleeding disorder or liver disease. If you suspect that is a bruise, I recommend to have Jax seen by the veterinarian quickly. A skin rash is not an emergency. You need to keep him from licking the area by making him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You can wash the area daily with hand soap and rinse well. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well a couple times a day. If it is not much better with in a week, take him to his veterinarian. If the area gets worse or if he seems uncomfortable, also get him in sooner to be seen. Lastly, you can always just have him seen by the veterinarian. They will be able to provide stronger medication that will clear that up much faster. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That lesion is very irritated on Nana's poor little neck! Lesions like this can be related to trauma, a skin infection, the beginning of a hot spot or an infected cyst under the skin. I can't tell from the photo, but if it looks like bruising, then there is also a concern for a bleeding disorder and she needs to get to the vet right away. Assuming there is no bruising, I recommend to have the lesion examined by the veterinarian since it is so red. There are a few things you can do at home that may help until you get her into the vet. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You can wash the lesion with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash her whole body, just the spot). Protect the areas from licking or scratching. A cool (not cold) compress twice a day may also make it feel better. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear about Lexi. While it is impossible to provide a diagnosis from a photo, it looks like Lexi could be suffering from acute moist pyoderma, also known as a "hot spot". These are areas of superficial skin infection and can be quite painful. You can read more about them here: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2714. I would recommend a visit to your vet. They can shave the area with clippers, clean the skin and may prescribe either topical treatment such as a medicated shampoo or spray, or oral antibiotics/anti-inflammatory medication.

It looks like from your pictures that Jasper could have a skin infection, and that could be caused by bacteria, yeast, allergies, or a fungal infection. The best thing you can do is take him into the vet on Monday. The vet can diagnose what is causing his skin irritation, and can give him a treatment for it. Over this weekend, if it's bothering him, you can try giving him an oatmeal bath which may be temporarily soothing to his skin. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Jenny does have a well demarcated area of hair loss and redness. This can be indicative of a skin infection, namely ringworm, which is a fungus that can be transmitted to people. I recommend having Jenny seen by a vet as soon as possible and making sure that you wash your hands with soap and water after petting Jenny. Your vet can take a small sample of hair and skin to rule out the condition and prescribe anti fungal or antibiotic medication if necessary. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions!

Looks like a hot spot, skin infection. These are itchy and painful. They have to be shaved, cleaned by your veterinarian and then be placed on antibiotics. He may need a steroid injection as well. If your veterinarian isn't open tomorrow, id go to ER cause these are uncomfortable.