Dog scratching after flea bath. Could it be a skin infection?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Molly! I do not think it’s a reaction to the topical flea medication. It looks and sounds like a bacterial skin infection. Molly should see your vet for an exam and if they agree be prescribed an oral antibiotic. You can try the below shampoo. Bathe her twice weekly and allow the lather to sit on her for 10mins before rinsing. Good luck! https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27975

Hello! A picture of the lesion would help us give more helpful input. However, if Shiloh's skin is flaky and itchy, it could be a number of things, including superficial pyoderma, demodicosis, sarcoptes, yeast dermatitis, and ringworm. It is difficult to narrow down the causes without doing an exam on her or at least seeing the lesions, but it is very likely some sort of infection (whether bacterial, yeast, or parasitic) so I do recommend bringing Shiloh to the vet. Your vet will be able to determine the cause, and Shiloh will likely need prescription medication (antibiotics, antifungals, or anti-parasite, along with possible medicated shampoo) to clear the issue. Depending on the severity of the issue on her skin, it very likely might not improve without prescription meds, so it is worth having her seen as soon as possible. Additionally, depending on her age, she may have some underlying condition that might be making her skin susceptible to infection, such as allergies or hypothyroidism. I hope this helps.

Pyoderma is a skin infection and fleas do not directly cause skin infections. However, they can cause an animal to scratch, which damages the outermost layers of the skin and introduce bacteria, which then causes a skin infection. Animals that are allergic to fleas are more prone to developing pyodermas due to their more intense itching.

It is hard to say what is causing Bacardi's problems. The third picture you included looks like pus, which would indicate infection and would need antibiotics to treat. Some dogs can be allergic to fleas, and it may only take 1 bite to make them itchy all over. If you are seeing scabs from where you applied a flea medication or flea collar, it may be irritating the skin so I would recommend removing it and bathing with dog shampoo thoroughly. Causes of itching in dogs include fleas or flea allergies, mites, or skin infection. The hair in the second picture looks like normal shedding to me, but if you feel it is weird for Bacardi, it could be caused by inflammation or from the extra itching she is doing right now. You can try a shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo, but if it doesn't respond in a day or two, Bacardi should be seen by a vet as she may need oral medications to control the itching.

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!

This looks like an infected skin wound. It is possible that the wound was due to some sort of trauma or it could be because Noah was scratching. Either way, Noah will need oral antibiotics in order for this wound to heal. It is unlikely that any topical treatment alone will help.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Max. The skin lesion appears to be a mild infection. It is likely secondary to scratching from the fleas. If you are still finding flea dirt on him, then he likely still has fleas. Be sure to apply the Frontline exactly as direct. You will need to vacuum your home daily and wash all of his bedding frequently in hot water. You can bath him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to help to soothe the skin. If the lesion does not resolve though, he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!