Why is my dog's skin breaking out with sores, bumps, and hair loss?

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 her 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!

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 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!

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 and thank you for your post! From what you are describing, it sounds as if Frankie may be dealing with a skin infection. There are multiple treatments for a skin infection. I would have your vet examine Frankie in order to determine which treatments are best for him. Frankie will most likely need a course of oral antibiotics and topical treatments to resolve this. This may also be a condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. This can lead to secondary skin infections as well. A different topical treatment is needed to treat this. Again, I would have your vet examine Frankie to determine what this is in order to start the most appropriate treatment. If you are unable to get to your vet to have him seen, you can at least start a shampoo called duoxo chlorhexidine PS combination and bathe him twice weekly until the infection resolves. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation.

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 and thank you for reaching out to PetCoach. I'm sorry to hear that Frisco is having these dermatologic issues. The most likely cause is the presence of ectoparasites, such as fleas, mites or lice. If he also has areas of raised pus-filled lesions, he also likely has a secondary bacterial infection. It sounds difficult to have Frisco seen by a veterinarian, but he would benefit greatly from an exam and a skin scrape, which is a test used to look for external parasites. Depending on what parasites are present, your vet can treat accordingly. Over-the-counter flea and tick medications are not safe or effective in dogs, and can sometimes be harmful. You may try to purchase chlorhexidine or other anti-bacterial/anti-fungal wipes online, which may help with any bacterial infection. https://www.chewy.com/douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-dogs/dp/110823 However, if the underlying infection with mites, such as Demodex, is not addressed, the problem will continue. I hope this is helpful!