Why does my dog have small scabs that turn into open wounds?

There is a large number of reasons for scabs to develop on a dog's body. It might be a simple as a skin infection which is the most common reason that we see scabs, but it certainly could be something else. I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to see what they think. If it appears to be a skin infection (pyoderma). There are a number of treatment options for pyoderma. Sometimes we can resolve them with topical treatment (antibacterial shampoos, sprays or wipes), but sometimes they require oral or injectable antibiotics. Here is an article on pyoderma. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1571 However, we still need to look for the cause of the pyoderma. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types) or external parasites (such as fleas or mites). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated Lilly for fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 So, to answer your question, I wouldn't be worried, but I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to discuss your treatment options. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as the wounds are large and extensive. I would be concerned that this could be some form of immune mediated disease or a reaction to something in the environment or medication or perhaps an infection of some sort. I recommend that you have Bella evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Diagnostics will likely include infectious disease testing and a skin biopsy. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can definitely see the small red bumps your are referring to, and agree that they appear scabbed over. This can be caused by a localized skin infection, an infestation with mites or fleas, or even an allergic reaction. It is likely that these conditions may be causing Hump to be itchy, and she may be having these scabs from scratching. A vet can perform some tests including blood work, and taking some samples from Hump's skin to figure out what is going on and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. I hope this helps!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This area can be either a localized demodex infection, a bacterial infection or a fungal infection (ringworm has to be considered). Thyroid disease can also be considered. If the area of hairloss and scabbing does not improve or completely resolve within 1-2 weeks, then I would recommend taking Indy to your local vet to have the skin tested. If it does not improve, then the appropriate medication (depeding on her skin test results) can be prescribed for Indy to help this resolve. Bset of luck with Indy and her skin. Take care.

Skin lesions can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. I recommend making an appointment to have Opehli seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the lesions you’ve noticed and to make sure they are treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to shave the area and 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 Opehli in hypoallergenic shampoo for dogs to clean the area, and put an e-collar (cone) on Opehli to help reduce the risk of licking/scratching at the area, but this will likely not resolve the lesions. The lesion in the picture looks like it could be a "hot spot" , and will not heal if she is able to lick or scratch at it. See the link below for more information: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952981

That could be compatible with an infection possible with fungal infection. Bacterial infection could be possible as well though. I would strongly recommend a check up and more investigations (skin scrapes and sampling) to confirm this clinical suspicion and give appropriate treatment.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a skin infection. This may be due to an underlying allergy. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!