My dog has red, raised bites from playing outside. Are they dangerous?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Feliz and for providing a picture, it's very helpful Black fly bites look awful, as the one in the picture on him shows, but they are not dangerous and typically heal on their own with no intervention. Sometimes they can be itchy to the dog, but typically it just looks really bad but causes no pain or issues. I hope this helps.

It is hard to tell for sure it if both dogs have it I would be most suspicious of black fly bites, which are often just a local irritant. However, the other big concern would be petechia hemorrhages- which could come secondary to things like rat poison exposure! If they are feeling fine and were exposed to flies recently this is more likely but if they seem to feel off or had any other signs of concern it would be safer to take them in!

From the appearance in those photos, I suspect those are black fly bites. They can cause pretty dramatic round red lesions that are flat (not raised). While they look impressive, Gnocchi shouldn't be bothered by them. They will gradually go away (it can take a week or two) and are not dangerous. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! It appears that the pink target lesion is a black fly bite. If it is, it should fade in 3 days. It doesn't cause any pain and isn't anything to be worried about. If more areas pop up and he isn't outside then he should be seen by a Vet. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&id=7986755 Have a great day!

Hi there, These appear similar to black fly bites, which appear as dramatic dark red welts, but are otherwise harmless. The skin remains smooth but may be slightly raised or swollen. Google images is helpful on this one! If the skin is itchy, crusting, flaking, and not smooth- that could be a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection that needs diagnostics and treatment. It's not an emergency, but it would be good to have Finn seen this week by his veterinarian to have them evaluated. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. These could be black fly bites (see the link below) but they could also be ecchymosis which can be very serious (again, see below). Another option would be an allergic reaction. I really think you should have a vet check him out to be on the safe side. ( https://annarboranimalhospital.com/2022/05/ouch-its-black-fly-bite-season/ ) ( https://www.kingsdale.com/the-different-types-and-causes-of-bruising-in-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be from excitement and activity while playing or due to an allergic reaction to something. I do not think that this is from the bites. Good luck and have a great day!