My puppy has brown spots on his tummy after shampooing. Is it normal?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Based on your picture, the brown spots are normal freckling. I can't tell if there are 2 red bumps with yellow discharge. If there are that could be a skin infection. Skin infections can cause her to lick the area or scratch. We treat with oral antibiotics. If there aren't any red bumps there then I think her belly is normal. Have a great day!

I’m not sure if the lighting makes the skin look normal in your picture, or if the rash you are describing is faint enough to not show up on the picture, but her skin appears fairly normal to me. The brown spots I see are normal pigmentation variants. Often times mild skin problems in young dogs are bacterial and bathing in a shampoo that has chlorhexidine or salicylic acid can be helpful. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. If it does not seem to help then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

This looks like normal pigmentation to me however it could also be post inflammatory hyperpigmentation from an infection. I wouldn’t be overly worried but I suggest you use these medicated wipes on the pigmented areas daily for 7-10 days. If no change then it’s either normal or you should have your vet check it. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5393-douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-for-dogs-and-cats-30.aspx )

Without images or a physical exam, it can be difficult to determine definitively what is on your pup's skin. That said, many puppies have patches of [darker skin](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pigment-changes-of-the-skin-and-coat/) on their bellies. If these areas are flat, smooth to the touch and not bothering him, then it is probably just his skin coloration. If the areas are itchy or raised, then it would be a good idea to have them checked out by a vet since this may indicate a [skin infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) or some other problem.

This looks like hyperpigmentation. It typically occurs in lightly pigmented, sparsely haired regions as dogs get older. It can also be caused my inflammation so just make sure she is not spending too much time sunbathing and that there are no other signs like licking/scratching/lesions. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Many dogs normally have darker pigmented areas of skin under their fur. In some dogs, this does pigment can increase with age. It is impossible to tell only from a photograph however if this is normal pigment. She would need to be assessed by a veterinarian with a physical exam to determine if there is cause for concern.

Hi there, Thanks for the good photo. This looks like some mild pigment change, probably due to friction of motion in the area. This may become more pronounced as she ages. This is not of any medical concern. Skin changes that you should be concerned about would include but not be limited to: redness, swelling, crusting or flaking, itchiness, increase in greasiness or discharge from the skin, or growths. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.