My dog has red spots and bruising on her body. What could this be?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the circular, dark red, flat areas on Denim's skin. These definitely look like bruises, and can be caused by abnormal blood clotting. This can be caused by certain toxins such as rat poison, cancers, and inherent inability of the blood to clot. Your vet can run some quick blood tests to determine what is going on. I hope this helps and that all is well with Denim!

Poor Skye! This could be due to her chronically licking that area, a yeast infection, or even allergies. From the picture it looks more like it is on the surface of the skin and the skin may even be a little thickened in that area but it is difficult to say for sure without being able to touch it and see it in person. If this isn’t the case, then yes I would worry about bruising and I would try to get her seen by a vet soon. Bruising like this could indicate a clotting issue which could be auto-immune or due to certain toxins. Early intervention is key for a positive outcome. If it seems like it is just the skin then I would put a cone collar on her to prevent licking and you can try benadryl twice a day to see if This helps. See link below. Chances are she will likely need some oral meds to help it go away completely so if it hasn’t improved soon I would have your vet look at her to see what meds she may need. If you are unsure, it is always best to have your vet look at her to ensure this is just a minor skin infection and not something more serious. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

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!

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am worried about Bingo. From the photo, that looks more like bruising. Bruising on a dog is always an emergency as it can indicate internal bleeding, a clotting disorder or low platelets. I recommend to have Bingo examined immediately. If your normal veterinarian cannot see her, I recommend to go to an emergency clinic. I hope everything gets figured out quickly and that Bingo does well.

Those spots on Kalla could be several things including flea bite reactions, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions once a day (not her whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have her examined by the veterinarian. From the photo, it doesn't look like bruising but if you think it could be bruising, I recommend to have her examined right away. Bruising can indicate a bleeding disorder or getting into rat poison. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That redness could indicate a bacterial infection. Sometimes the infection is a primary problem but sometimes it can indicate an allergy or allergic reaction. Less commonly, skin mites can look like this. On the right side, there is a very dark red discoloration. This could be present if he is licking or scratching at it. The concern I have is if that red discoloration is bruising. Bruising is not normal in dogs and is considered indicative of a possible emergency. Reasons for bruising include an autoimmune disorder, eating rat poison, a bleeding disorder or liver disease. If you suspect that is a bruise, I recommend to have Jax seen by the veterinarian quickly. A skin rash is not an emergency. You need to keep him from licking the area by making him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You can wash the area daily with hand soap and rinse well. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well a couple times a day. If it is not much better with in a week, take him to his veterinarian. If the area gets worse or if he seems uncomfortable, also get him in sooner to be seen. Lastly, you can always just have him seen by the veterinarian. They will be able to provide stronger medication that will clear that up much faster. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Murphy. Allergies are common causes of skin disease this time of year. Humans inhale environmental allergens such as grasses, weeds, pollens and molds. This results in watery eyes and a runny nose. Dogs can experience this, but they walk through and lay in the grass. Therefore, red and possibly itchy skin tends to occur on the belly and paws. Dog can also develop red spots from insect bites. Rarely a bleeding disorder can occur. In this case, small area of bruising are seen on the dog. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He will be examined and detailed questions asked regarding his lifestyle and diet. Testing may be recommended. Based on these results treatment can be started if necessary. If he is acting ill or the spots look like bruising (your pictures are a but blurry), then he needs to see an emergency veterinarian today. I hope this information helps!