My dog has unexplained red and purple bruises. What's wrong?

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but my two top guesses would be that this is superficial pyoderma (a common condition for dogs in which normal bacteria or yeast get out of control and cause sores/pimples/red moist spots) or it could be true bruising, which would indicate a clotting issue with her blood. It's easy to tell the difference in person (or it could certainly be something else as well - pictures don't always tell the full story) and the treatment/testing required is entirely different, so I would recommend taking her to the vet ASAP. As long as she's not lethargic and has normal appetite then waiting until tomorrow should be fine. The exception to that advice would be if you're sure or highly suspicious that it's really bruising (ie you look at her in 10 minutes and see a bruise popping up everywhere you held her lightly for these pictures) - if it's definitely bruising, go to an emergency clinic if possible. I hope that helps with decision making for tonight. Wishing you and Chasee the best of luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is troubling since without an injury bruising is uncommon in dogs. Please check her urine to make sure visually there is no blood in it, and check her gums to make sure they are pink. If there are tiny bruises in the gums then that could be a sign of general internal bleeding. The most common cause of this a toxicity from rat poison. It also can be due to other reasons. If you see anything abnormal please bring her in right away for blood tests including clotting time. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Coral.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chewy. Yes, this area does appear to have a bruise. However, bruising is not common in dogs and can indicate a bleeding disorder. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian today. Bloodwork should be tested. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mindy! The discoloration or redness is with in the skin. It could be bruising, trauma or a dermatitis. If she is acting 100% normal today I would have her seen Monday by your Vet. If she is lethargic, not eating or vomiting then she should be seen on emergency today. If it is bruising the Vet will likely check blood work (to check for low platelets) and her clotting times. You can check other areas on her body for bruising or bleeding: gums and the ear pinna are common areas when there is a bleeding issue. I hope this helps and I wish Mindy the very best!

Based on the photos, I am concerned that the purple area is some bleeding/bruising in the skin which we often see when a dog has low platelets. I'm not sure based on the photo, but I suspect the white area is a nipple that just looks really prominent due to the bruising around it. Low platelets are a very serious problem; even though he's otherwise acting fine, please take him to your vet to have him examined. They may recommend running some lab work to find our what his platelet count is. There are many causes of low platelets, some possible causes include an infectious tick-borne disease, an auto-immune disease where his body is destroying his platelets, or cancer. Because all of these are very serious, and because low platelets can lead to life threatening anemia, please take him to your vet. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal area of ecchymosis. Think of it as a hematoma. This is usually secondary to concerning reasons such as a coagulopathy (difficulty coagulating blood) which could be due to infectious, inflammatory or cancerous causes. Other possibilities include masses underneath the affected tissue or trauma (for example being hit by a car) to that region if that is a possibility. I highly recommend that you have Jackson by a veterinarian for further work-up and treatment based on findings. Good luck!

Hello, Its hard to give you definitive advise, because this could be nothing or something. Most likely, t could also be a simple insect bite or minor trauma that resolves on its own within a couple of days. However, I'd recommend monitoring that bruise for any changes and the rest of his skin and gums for new bruising or bleeding. Mysterious bruises can be a sign of blood disorders. If Charlie experiences any additional bruising, bleeding, or changes in appetite or behavior, I'd recommend taking him to the vet right away. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.