Why is my old dog's skin black, yellow, and flaky? Is it an infection?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the pictures you have provided, I suspect that she is dealing with a skin infection. Below are the products I recommend to treat this. If the skin condition does not improve or it worsens, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. These products can all be found online quite easily. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved. 2. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area until resolved 3. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules 4. Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent

These areas do look like a type of skin infection. If Lily is having recurrent ones or they never seem to completely resolve, I think it is time to look for an underlying problem that could be contributing. In an older dog, the best place to start is actually with a blood panel. This panel should include a thyroid hormone level check . Hypothyroidism or under active thyroid is a very common cause for chronic skin problems. This blood panel can also screen for Cushing's Disease which is an adrenal gland disorder that can also cause chronic skin problems. If the bloodwork is all normal, ask your veterinarian about doing a skin biopsy. This cDNA be done with light sedation and will give the best information.

It looks like your dog could have a bacterial and/or a yeast infection. Have him examined by a vet for treatment. Your vet can prescribe medications to help. Your vet could also test his thyroid level to make sure he doesn't have a thyroid issue. You could also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps.

It looks like Lilly has crusts or scabs on her skin. This can occur when there is an infection or inflammation affecting the skin. I would recommend that Lily be seen by your veterinarian to determine what may be going on. They may recommend antibiotics or a special shampoo to help with this condition

These red/flakey patches often occur due to a bacterial or fungal infection. It's also possible that this is due to ringworm (a fungal infection). It's best to get it diagnosed by a veterinarian, because ringworm can spread to different parts of the body and can spread to people. Also, the more involved the infection, the longer it will take to clear. For now, I recommend washing your hands anytime you touch Lucky. I recommend cleaning his belly with a medicated wipe or shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day until the skin appears normal. If it seems to get worse, or not better within a week, then you'll want to take Lucky into the vet for an exam. Below is a link to an article with more information about skin infections in dogs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pyoderma-in-dogs I hope that helps and all is well with Lucky.

The skin will turn black as a response to inflammation - it is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Most commonly this is from a yeast infection of the skin. I suggest you start bathing her with medicated shampoo 1-2 times per week and in between baths use this medicated spray on the affected areas. Be sure to read the instructions throughly. The shampoo must have contact skin with the skin to work. You can't just put it on and then rinse it off. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6692-douxo-chlorhexidine-shampoo-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx?SearchTerm=chlorhexidine+Auto ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6677-douxo-chlorhexidine-micro-emulsion-spray-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20spray+Auto ) The "skin tag" actually looks like a cyst or wart of some kind. That should be checked by your vet.

This could indicate a yeast or fungal infection as well as a bacteria infection of the skin. As the over the counter shampoo hasn't worked the next step is for your veterinarian to do an exam, determine if/what infections are there and what medication is needed.