My dog's beard smells, he's scratching, and has hotspots. What to do?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very hard to tell from the pictures, however it looks like the spots might be what we call a 'hot spot' or 'pyoderma' due to the yellow debris present. Food allergies are not present at birth, and develop. 7 months is young for the development of food allergies but it is possible. Fungal disease is possible but from the images I suspect a bacterial infection is more likely. Hot Spots present when the fur gets wet, often in the summer months, and the wet fur sits on the skin and the natural bacteria on the skin multiply in the warm moisture patch. The treatment is to shave the area and keep it clean and dry, and usually oral antibiotics are required. E-collars are important to prevent licking and re-infection of the spot. I would recommend a visit to your vet, and if the spot isn't a hot spot you can have them test for fungal/bacterial infection by doing a skin scraping. Best of luck with Bear!

It could be a hotspot or even a burn. Place an e-collar (cone) on Buster to prevent licking or chewing. Keep the area clean and dry. You can use diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to gently clean the area. If necessary, see your veterinarian for an exam and treatment if conservative home care doesn't help.

Bear's skin lesion looks most suspicious for a hot spot (acute moist dermatitis), but could be related to ringworm, mange or a skin infection from underlying allergies. You can try carefully using clippers to clip the hair around these lesions, then cleaning them regularly with an antiseptic chlorhexidine solution (this shampoo is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982) and rinse/dry well. If Bear is scratching or rubbing at these lesions at all, be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further skin damage. If these lesions continue or worsen, Bear will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Given the condition, he is going to need to be seen by your veterinarian. Antibiotics as well as an anti-inflammatory or anti- itch medi ation are likely indicated. The area should be clipped and cleaned also. A small tee shirt or e-collar (cone) may help prevent scratching or licking. Given current events, you may need to drive up to the clinic, drop Winston off then wait for your veterinarian to call you to discuss findings and treatment options. Your vet may dispense a sedative to give orally about 60 minutes before the exam.

A definite NO on the hydrogen peroxide! 1. It is best to shave the hair around the affected area if at all possible. If you don't have clippers you can use scissors to shorten the hair - just be careful you don't cut him. If you can't shave or trim the hair don't stress too much about it. 2. You can clean and treat all in one step with these medicated pads. Twice a day. ( https://www.chewy.com/pet-md-chlorhexidine-antiseptic-dog/dp/146635 ) 3. If he is really itching you can also apply this topical hydrocortisone spray after the wound is dry from the using the pads. Once a day should be enough. ( https://www.chewy.com/zymox-enzymatic-topical-spray/dp/125742 ) If no improvement after about 5-7 days then you should have your vet check him out. Sometimes oral antibiotics are needed to clear these up if they are bad enough. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This is called moist dermatitis or a hot spot. They start with an itch from an insect bite or an ear infection then become severe when the dog scratches it excessively. The skin then weeps, becomes painful in addition to itching and will often have a lot of sticky discharge on it and in the surrounding fur. I recommend washing this with a warm wet cloth to remove the discharge. Then you can spray a hot spot medication on it. You can purchase one at PetCo. The most important thing is to put him in a cone to prevent scratching. If you are unable to do this then bring him in for an exam so they can treat it. They can give him pain medication and something to reduce the itching. They will also check his ear for infection. These are painful and take time to fully heal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Duke.

That looks like a pretty nasty hot spot. Hot spots are caused by chronic moisture against the skin (which is common with a collar or something else wrapped around the neck). The best way to treat a hot spot is to clip the hair from the area so that it can fully dry out. You will need to use buzzing clipper, not a razor or scissors. You can try an OTC pet antimicrobial spray, but often prescription sprays or ointments work a little better since they contain a steroid and real antibiotics. You may also have to get creative in finding ways to prevent Peyton from scratching this area, as that will delay healing and can damage the skin. You can try socks, dog booties, or bandaging the feet to cover the nails. Unfortunately, due to the location, he won't be able to use an e-collar. If the hotspot isn't looking better in 48 hours, I would recommend that you have Peyton checked out by a vet.