Dog skin rash looks like ringworm, can't afford vet. What to do?

That looks more like a really inflamed “hot spot” to me. Put an ecollar on him so he can’t lick at it, and take him to your vet. He may need oral antibiotics and a prescription topical treatment. If you are unable to get him to a vet, use the ecollar as I mentioned, and try this product:https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-hydrocortison-cream Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Poor Riddick! Unfortunately, this looks like it is infected. You can try some benadryl and neosporin twice a day. See link below for benadryl dosing. I would not let him lick it. You can put a cone collar on him to prevent this. If he licks it, it will never heal. If you aren't seeing much improvement, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to start him on oral antibiotics and stronger allergy meds like steroids if needed. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl

It does look like a skin infection but the origin (bacterial, fungal, yeast) I don't know just by looking at it. If it is bacterial, sometimes oral antibiotics are needed if topical therapy is not working. I don't know what cream you are using as I am not aware of a chlorhexidine cream, or how long you have been using it, so it's hard for me to comment much more on what you are already doing. I personally like these chlorhexidine wipes because they also contain an anti-fungal/anti-yeast component (climabazole) and a component to help repair the skin (phytosphingosine) so it is gentle. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5393-douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-for-dogs-and-cats-30.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo+Auto ) If she is licking this area, it will never get better. So, if she is licking, you will need to get an E-collar (cone) for her to wear until this is healed. So, if you want to try the medicated pads, I would do that. If there is still not resolution after a few weeks then she should go back to the vet. Skin maladies typically take quite a long time to respond completely to treatment so as long as it's not bothering her too much just continue on for a few more weeks. Treat the affected areas for at least a few days past all resolution of the lesions. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If it looks like ringworm, it is quite possible that Buzz does have ringworm. I would isolate him from any other animals in the home right away, as it is contagious to both other animals and humans. Have him seen by a vet in the morning, who can use a fungal culture and Wood's lamp to confirm he does have ringworm, and can prescribe antifungal treatments for it. Do not use any OTC antifungal treatments on it, such as ointment for athlete's foot because athlete's foot is caused by a different fungus than ringworm and it will not treat it. If Buzz does have ringworm, you will have to check yourself to make sure you don't have any lesions from it, and see if your doctor if you find suspicious spots. You will also need to disinfect your home, and I will give you a link to a website that details exactly how to do this. I hope this advice helps you! http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/

Hello there. Thank you for using PetCoach and thank you for including photos. My best guess is that this is ringworm. It does not look like a bite. I suggest you get Molekin' to your vet for an exam and to get a proper diagnosis for two reasons. Number one, ringworm is contagious to people and number two, an adult dog that gets ringworm usually has an underlying problem with their immune system. An adult dog should not get it. This is much more common in puppies. Remember, it is impossible for me to diagnose over the internet with just a photo. I am just giving my best guess. Many skin diseases look similar to the naked eye so that is why testing is important. Here is a link to an article about ringworm: ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/ringworm-in-dogs/ ) If you wanted to try something at home first you can buy over the counter athletes foot cream which is an antifungal and apply that twice daily. It may take 2+ months for it to clear completely up but you should start noticing a difference in a .couple weeks. If you don't have any improvement in 2 weeks or it worsens then you definitely need to get him to the vet. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching this spot just in case it is ringworm, you don't want to get it! ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lamisil-Cream-0-42-Oz/10294288 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Unfortunately there are several skin diseases in dogs that can look just like ringworm - bacterial skin infections causing epidermal collarettes would be most common. Your best course of action would be to have your vet examine Kapano since oral medication is often required for ringworm - even though there is a single lesion it may be elsewhere in his fur and contamination of the environment can cause reinfection. I know some people and veterinarians will use over the counter creams containing miconazole, but they often are not very effective. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a skin infection. Although in theory possible, ringworm seems unlikely. 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 her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!