Why does my older dog have recurrent black skin scabs that won't heal?

Poor Poppy! Dogs can develop skin conditions at any age. In older dogs things such as endocrine diseases and food allergies are more common. If you notice the lesions are getting worse, then I would recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian. The doctor will take a look at him and get a thorough history and may recommend some blood tests if an underlying cause is suspected. The doctor will also recommend treatment for the lesions. At home, washing the lesions in an antibacterial hand soap and rinsing them well once a day can help to exfoliate and cleanse the skin. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well once the skin is dry. You need to make sure however that he does not lick the coconut oil. This may help but if there is an underlying cause, the lesions will simply come back. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

It looks like Lilly has crusts or scabs on her skin. This can occur when there is an infection or inflammation affecting the skin. I would recommend that Lily be seen by your veterinarian to determine what may be going on. They may recommend antibiotics or a special shampoo to help with this condition

Unfortunately some of these cysts and adenomas do tend to rupture and become infected repeatedly. If that is the case we often do recommend removal to avoid this continuous cycle. It may also be advised to remove it to ensure that it is a benign adenoma and not something more concerning or aggressive.

This could be a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans. It may also be due to chronic inflammation or infection. The only way to diagnose the underlying cause is to have Scruffy physically examined by your veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist. Sometimes, a skin biopsy is required. Any treatment will depend on the diagnosis. You can discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Family or friends can also be asked to assist you financially. There is nothing OTC that can be used to resolve the conditions. You would only be guessing without a diagnosis. You can place an e-collar (cone) on Scruffy to prevent licking or chewing until he sees the doctor. Keep the area clean and dry as well. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/acanthosis-nigricans/

There is a large number of reasons for scabs to develop on a dog's body. It might be a simple as a skin infection which is the most common reason that we see scabs, but it certainly could be something else. I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to see what they think. If it appears to be a skin infection (pyoderma). There are a number of treatment options for pyoderma. Sometimes we can resolve them with topical treatment (antibacterial shampoos, sprays or wipes), but sometimes they require oral or injectable antibiotics. Here is an article on pyoderma. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1571 However, we still need to look for the cause of the pyoderma. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types) or external parasites (such as fleas or mites). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated Lilly for fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 So, to answer your question, I wouldn't be worried, but I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to discuss your treatment options. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Although a picture of the lesions would help to determine the underlying cause, this is probably due to an allergy, but it could also be due to an infection or mites. Old age itself is unlikely to cause anything like you described. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). 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.

While it's possible for food sensitivities to change over time and cause skin issues, since Mariner is a senior pup it may be time for a senior wellness exam. Scabbing on the skin could be due to a number of things including the aforementioned food allergies, environmental allergens, skin infections, parasites and even metabolic changes. A complete examination of his coat plus some general bloodwork may alert you to the cause of his scabbing. In the meantime, an Elizabethan (cone) collar, if it doesn't interfere with his service work, or a T-shirt to protect the affected area, may help prevent him from scratching or chewing and give the area some time to heal. It will also keep Mariner from introducing more bacteria into the site which can lead to an infection.