My dog has a red, sore skin spot on his neck. Is it a bite or sting?

The brown recluse spider can produce extremely serious clinical signs shortly after envenomation. These usually include vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding disorders, organ failure, and death. Without life saving measures, typically dogs do not survive. Since this occurred two weeks ago, it is highly improbably that this was the cause of Buddy's recent skin issues. From the picture above, it actually looks like a skin tag but your description is very different. As long as it is not oozing or being a bother (and appears to be healing slowly), Buddy may be on the up and up. The veterinarian can certain perform diagnostic testing of the lesion in order to identify the cause and type of problem if this is something you are interested in pursuing. However, I am not sure that this is really necessary at this time. If the areas starts to become infected, stops getting better, or becomes later, I would definitely recommend a visit to the vet some time soon.

Skin lesions like Coco has can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, an insect bite like you mentioned, or a combination of the above. I recommend making an appointment to have Coco seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the lesion you’ve noticed and to make sure it is treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment. In the meantime, you can bathe Coco in hypoallergenic shampoo for dogs to clean the area, but this will likely not resolve the lesion.I recommend getting Coco on parasite prevention year round. Please see the link below for more information about ticks: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952474

Poor Dewey! I'm so sorry to hear of his skin troubles. Dewey could be dealing with a number of potential problems. It is difficult to tell from your photo, but it is possible that Dewey is having a reaction to some sort of biting fly or similar. You could try an over the counter topical parasite preventative that targets biting flying insects and see if this helps. The lesions may have become infected, contributing to the scabbed appearance. Patchy hairloss and lesions like this can also indicate a problem called demodex-caused by tiny mites that live in the skin. These tiny bugs can only be treated with certain medications, and can cause ongoing skin problems if not addressed. I would recommend having Dewey checked over by your regular veterinarian-they will perform a thorough physical examination, and may recommend some skin tests such as a skin scrape, which can give better insight into the cause of Deweys problem. Your vet will then prescribe medications as appropriate-he may be prescribed antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, medicated shampoo. I hope you are able to determine the nature of Dewey's problem and get him looking and feeling better soon!

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.

It is possible this is an insect bite. Fly bites in particular can look like a red ring with a central pallor (pale area in the middle). It is tough to tell from the photo what the central area looks like. If it is raised and looks like it is filled with yellow/pus, then this could be a pustule which is a sign of skin infection. If the center is flat with the skin and just pale in color, then a bug bite is more likely.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Ranger is having a skin problem. External parasite and bug bites can definitely create lesions like this on dogs. Ticks, fleas, spiders, ants, bees, etc could all cause something like this. But having said that, this could just be a pus filled pimple that we call a pustule. This is caused by a staph bacteria that lives on the surface of the skin. It is non contagious to other pets and people. I don't think any additional medicines will be required but monitor the area closely for resolution. Some insect bites can cause a lot of local damage around the bite wound if that's what this is. If this worsens, spreads, or persists, have your veterinarian look at it and advise you. Good luck with Ranger. Hopefully this will just resolve on it's own despite the cause.

Bo's lesion looks most suspicious for a bacterial skin infection, but could also be due to ringworm, mange, or bruising. Since it does not seem to be bothering him, you can monitor the lesion for the time being to see if it changes colors, grows, becomes itchy, or spreads elsewhere. You can also try bathing him with an antimicrobial shampoo (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982 ). However, if the lesion worsens or seems to be causing discomfort, it is worth taking a trip to the vet for evaluation. I hope that all goes well!