My dog has skin problems, a red tongue, and won't eat. Is it serious?

It's possible that both dogs got into something irritating. If the area doesn't clear up in a day or two, worsens, or you see other signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kobe. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. I agree that the skin appears to be resolving, the loose stool and the lesion on his tongue needs to be addressed though. He may need fecal testing and deworming and/or antibiotics depending on the results. In the meantime, you can bathe him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I hope this information 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. This should not be causing him to not eat well as you describe so I am suspicious that there is something else going on like a gastrointestinal condition which may be affecting his appetite. Your veterinarian would be able to check on this. 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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This could be a contact dermatitis or sensitivity. This is especially likely if Russell had started using a plastic food or water bowl in the last month. If so, switch back to ceramic or steel. There are also auto-immune diseases and allergies that can affect this area. If there is no improvement in one week or if worsening in any way, please see your vet for a closer examination and possible treatment options. Best wishes to you and Russell.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you are describing can be related to your dog's anal glands - these are structures that create lubrication for the feces and can become impacted or infected. You may be seeing redness around the anus because your dog has been scooting or licking/chewing the area. Another cause can be a bacterial or fungal infection. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible, they can perform a rectal exam to determine if there are any anal gland issues. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bob! It appears that Bob has severe diarrhea that is just leaking out. The drooling makes me concerned that he is nauseous and may start vomiting. Possible causes are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infections, toxin ingestion, allergic reaction, pancreatitis, ate something gross outside, food allergy/intolerance or reaction to new food/treat/table food. Due to the acuteness and severity I recommend taking him to the vet for an exam and treatment. I wish Bob a speedy recovery!

It could be allergies, and although allergies occur more frequently when dogs are a little older, some younger dogs can be affected too. Since the lesions are itchy parasites (such as demodex, etc.) and infection ( bacterial, fungal) need to ruled out as well. Since your guy is uncomfortable the best plan is to see you vet to test for the above so that the correct treatment is prescribed. If the lesions resolve and recur work up for allergy will likely be recommended. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!