My mini schnauzer has a new red skin rash. Can I use aloe vera?

It isn't recommended since the dog would likely lick it off as soon as it was applied. It isn't toxic, but it could cause stomach upset. Ideally, the dog should be physically examined by a veterinarian to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. Place an e-collar (cone) on the dog to prevent licking until he sees the doctor.

The first thing to do is figure out the underlying reason for the skin problems. Those spots on Ariel could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the lesions should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having Ariel wear an elizabethan collar at all times if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, sorry to hear about Chico. It looks like he is having multiple areas of skin inflammation (dermatitis). This could be causes by a various things to include bacteria, yeast, or most commonly allergies. In that location, environmental allergies are the most common cause. These may include grasses, trees, pollen, carpet, dust mites, dander, etc. Signs associated with this could include licking, scratching, rubbing belly on the floor, and developing other areas of dermatitis. If he is otherwise comfortable with a good appetite and no itchiness, then you can bathe him with a skin sensitive shampoo to wash off any excessive allergens. You may wipe him with skin sensitive baby wipes as well to decrease any allergen exposure. If he does develop any itchiness, then he may need allergy medications which can be provided by your veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

This looks like it can be a skin infection. I would recommend taking Blue to a veterinarian to have them evaluate her skin. She will most likely need antibiotics and medication to help with the itch. Depending on how bad it is over her body they may also prescribe a shampoo. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The redness and hairloss on Charlie could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching. If they don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by his veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, it looks like Buddy has inflammation of the skin, possibly secondary to an allergy . He might also have a secondary bacterial infection. It would be best to have him checked over so that he can have some medications to help his skin settle. Hope this helps and that Buddy gets better soon !

I would shy away from the use of Aloe Vera in dogs, particularly those which are small breeds. If ingested, it can cause severe diarrhea resulting in dehydration and the clinical signs associated with that.