My dog has a strange spot under her arm after grooming. What is it?

Ouch! That's quite the sore spot. It's possible it was snagged on something, or Shylah was licking/scratching at the spot. Since it's a rather large wound, it'd be a good idea to have your vet take a look so they can clean and clip around it and provide you with any antibiotics or pain meds as needed. Until then, keeping her from licking at it with an Elizabethan (cone) collar, and keeping the area clean and dry may help reduce irritation.

Hello, it looks from the picture like an area of hair loss and inflammation of the skin, but not an actual open wound. I would be concerned that she either got a hot spot, or something spilled on her, or potentially being road rash. It could also be infection either with parasites, bacteria, or ringworm. I would have Masa evaluated by your veterinarian if it is not getting any better in a few days or if she is scratching a lot or if the area of hair loss is getting bigger. In the mean time, you can clean it with soap and warm water then make sure to dry it thoroughly. If She is scratching at the area, you can place a shirt over her to protect the area. Best of luck and hope this helps!

The picture makes it difficult to see. It's possible it may be a scab trying to heal, a minorly infected area of skin, or a wart/growth forming. It would be best to keep the area clean and dry and keep Belle from licking or chewing at the spot. If the area continues to change in appearance, is bothersome to Belle is hot to the touch, painful, or oozing debris, or doesn't seem to be healing, it is best to seek veterinary care in person. Your vet can take a look at and sample of the spot as needed and provide more tailored treatments depending on the cause.

Hello, and thanks for your question about Maki. This could have been a hot spot, but it could also be something else, such as an abscess (deeper infection), skin mites, etc. I'm a bit unclear as to if that first picture was an earlier picture, and the second one is how the area looks now? The two photos are very different - the area looks much smaller and more moist in the first photo. However, I'm concerned about the size of that bald patch in the second picture, and the fact that the fur still looks wet - which would indicate to me that the underlying issue is not yet cured. I recommend having Maki seen by a vet, where they can better look at those lesions, and start him on oral antibiotics if that's indicated. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for giving us more detail. Of course, we can't tell for sure, but that looks like a small tear or cut which could have happened from a kennel edge, scissors, clippers, or a sharp edge of a table, etc. I would expect more tearing or bruising if it was a dog bite. The wound looks clean, but I would still recommend an antibacterial cleaner/wash since there is likely bacterial from the skin that has gotten into the wound. Most of the time, that is all we recommend for small wounds like that because they will heal well as long as they are kept clean and protected. Depending on where the wound is, you may need to use an e-collar or shirt to keep it protected and keep Sonny from licking at it since that may cause it to get infected. If at any point the wound is red, swollen or oozing a yellow or green discharge, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and Sonny heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be a localized area of dermatitis. You can try an over the counter wound spray, like Vetericyn Plus, and see if the lesion resolves. If not, she should be examined by your vet to determine the cause and prescribe medications to treat.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!