My dog has a red, itchy bump. Why is he biting and licking it?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Charlie is adorable! I can see the bumps on his chin - these may be caused by a skin infection, which can be very uncomfortable and itchy. I recommend having Charlie seen by a vet as soon as possible as Charlie may need antibiotics. In the meantime, you should try to keep the area clean and consider getting Charlie an E-collar or "cone" to keep him from scratching the area.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a reaction to something in the environment causing mild dermatitis. I would continue to monitor it for the next 48 hours. If it does not improve or it worsens, have Jules evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If it is just mild local irritation, it is expected to resolve relatively quickly. Good luck and have a great day!

From your pictures, a possible cause might be a lick granuloma. These start for some reason (sometimes a bug bite, a small scratch, or a small skin mass) and the dog licks at them and makes it worse. They lick at it and push surface bacteria deeper which makes it itch, so they lick. It becomes almost a habit like a human biting their fingernails. So- I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian. They can check to make sure that is what it is , make sure that the inciting cause is gone, and do some diagnostics to determine a treatment plan. Has there been any changes to Neo's environment? Sometimes stress can start a lick granuloma or prolong it. Your veterinarian will most likely start antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They might also recommend increasing his activity in case boredom is a cause. If there is a small skin mass present- they will recommend diagnostics on that. Good luck! Sometimes these take time, so have patience. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. It could be that Harley Moon has an allergic reaction to something outside, could have ringworm, or it could be puppy pyoderma (a skin infection). It's a very good idea to have this seen by a vet this week, and for now, keep an eye on her. If it appears to be itching her, you can can give her an oatmeal bath to see if that helps soothe her skin. I'd also put an Ecollar on her if she starts licking at it. You can make one at home or you can buy one at a pet store. I hope this helps!

Ouch, poor Charlie! I do think having him seen by a vet tomorrow is the best idea. Unfortunately the picture is a little blurry, but the area does look red and possibly swollen. I would put an Ecollar on Charlie to keep him from licking at it, and I can give you a website that details how to make one at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Hello. It is difficult to say if these are actually bites, or some other allergic type reaction. Do the bumps show up in different areas each day? How long do they last, a few minutes, hours or days? This might give a better idea of the actual cause of the lesions. I cannot recommend using any medications, but I can recommend trying something over the counter. Petco carries Zymox shampoo & a lotion with hydrocortisone. They also carry a line called Well & Good that also has a hydrocortisone spray. These are very soothing for inflamed & itchy skin. I would also be sure to use a good flea & tick preventative as this will help to discourage all biting insects. If the lesions persist, Brin may need to be treated by your veterinarian, but this would be a good place to start. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It looks like a possible lick granuloma which is from her licking. I would recommend an elizabethan collar and bringing her to a veterinarian so they can give medication to help her feel more comfortable while this heals. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.