Why is my dog's skin red and itchy, and he's acting strange?

Ouch! Those areas do look pretty red and irritated. I would have Bodie checked out by your vet to check for issues such as yeast, fungal or bacterial infections that could be causing irritation. Food allergies, environmental allergies, allergies to shampoo, or excessive licking can also sometimes cause irritation as well. In the meantime, placing a T-shirt or Elizabethan (cone) collar on Bodie is best to keep him from licking or scratching the area to help reduce irritation and prevent the spread of additional bacteria, however since his entire body is affected, seeking veterinary care is best.

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 treat with a high quality flea treatment, then 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). 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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chip. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. If he is itching so much that he is causing wounds, the skin is likely infected. He may need antibiotics and a medication to stop the itching. It is also important to determine the cause of his itching. Seasonal allergies are very common this time of year. Food allergies can also cause itching in a young dog. Infectious causes such as fleas, mites and ringworm will also be discussed. From there, a treatment plan can be prescribed. In the meantime, bathe him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to help soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

Hello! A picture of the lesion would help us give more helpful input. However, if Shiloh's skin is flaky and itchy, it could be a number of things, including superficial pyoderma, demodicosis, sarcoptes, yeast dermatitis, and ringworm. It is difficult to narrow down the causes without doing an exam on her or at least seeing the lesions, but it is very likely some sort of infection (whether bacterial, yeast, or parasitic) so I do recommend bringing Shiloh to the vet. Your vet will be able to determine the cause, and Shiloh will likely need prescription medication (antibiotics, antifungals, or anti-parasite, along with possible medicated shampoo) to clear the issue. Depending on the severity of the issue on her skin, it very likely might not improve without prescription meds, so it is worth having her seen as soon as possible. Additionally, depending on her age, she may have some underlying condition that might be making her skin susceptible to infection, such as allergies or hypothyroidism. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Baby. Her skin appears severely inflamed, if not infected. She will need to see her veterinarian as she will need anti-inflammatory medication and likely antibiotics. Allergies to her environment or diet could cause these signs or even a drug reaction could cause this appearance. In the meantime, you can bathe her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

That area of Albie looks inflamed! If he did not have these lesions yesterday, it may be a reaction to the shampoo. Rewash him in a hypoallergenic shampoo and rinse him very well. Over the counter antihistamines may also help the itching. You may also consider taking him to the veterinarian's office as they will have stronger medications that will work faster to make the itching go away. I hope Albie gets comfortable fast!

Typically, itchy red skin with hair loss is caused by either fleas, mites (mange), ringworm ( actually a fungus) or allergies. For me, the most common one of these is allergies. Dogs can have allergies to ingredients in their food or to things in the environment. They need to be seen by a vet who can rule out the other causes I mentioned, and then take the appropriate course of treatment. Some dogs will improve greatly on a hypoallergenic diet, others need immunosuppressive drugs. Often these guys have secondary bacterial infections that require antibiotics. I'd recommend an appointment With Lylas vet ASAP to get this sorted out, and get her some medications to help her feel better.