My dog has skin bumps and is lethargic after boarding. What's wrong?

Hi and thanks for your post! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Skyy's skin irritation may be without examining Skyy first, but I can offer some potential possibilities. It could be a bacterial infection, fungal infection, mites, or due to an allergy to something in her environment or to a particular food. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with an exam and a few simple skin tests. I would recommend Skyy visit her vet soon to have the possibilities above ruled out so she can get the most appropriate treatment. Best to you and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like it could be skin allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively! There is really nothing specific you can try at home other than bathing him with a medicated shampoo you can get at your local pet store. This shampoo should contain chlorehexidine. In reality though, this is unlikely to resolve this issue completely. Good luck and have a good day!

Hello! Those lesions could be caused by an infection like bacteria or even fungus as well as allergies. Usually though mild infections and allergies don't cause dogs to be depressed/act abnormally. If his behavior continues, he has any vomiting, or his food/water intake goes down further I recommend having your veterinarian do an exam as those changes could be caused by something more serious, like liver issues, anemia, an infection or even cancer.

Hello. It is possible that this is a stress-induced, mild pyoderma (skin infection) - essentially a staph infection. I would pick up some Hibiclens antibacterial skin wash at any pharmacy & gently cleanse the affected areas 2-3 times a day. Be sure to avoid his eyes and rinse well afterwards. If the lesions appear to be healing after 3-4 days & do not seem to be spreading or worsening, then that is probably all that needs to be done. If after a week the lesions are still prominent, spreading or turning into oozing pustules, please see your veterinarian for additional treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this is the first time this has occurred, it may a bacterial infection. If this appears at certain times of year, it could be related to a seasonal allergy. If this has been a chronic issue and does not seem to worsen during a particular time of year, it may be due to a food allergy. Another possibilities may be a parasitic infection of the skin such as mites. I would recommend Frankie see her veterinarian soon for a work up on this skin issue. Her veterinarian may start with a skin scraping to check for parasites and may place Frankie on antibiotics or other medications such as antihistamines or other drugs to help get the inflammation down and help the skin to heal. Food trials or allergy testing may be recommended later by your veterinarian depending on whether your vet thinks it is related to an allergy. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. These could be black fly bites (see the link below) but they could also be ecchymosis which can be very serious (again, see below). Another option would be an allergic reaction. I really think you should have a vet check him out to be on the safe side. ( https://annarboranimalhospital.com/2022/05/ouch-its-black-fly-bite-season/ ) ( https://www.kingsdale.com/the-different-types-and-causes-of-bruising-in-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.