My new 3-week-old puppy has bumps on its head and snout. Is it normal?

Small bumps as such are quite common in puppies, in most cases they grow out of it without any treatment. In some cases it could be a bacterial or fungal infection, if it doesn't get better within 2-3 weeks- take her to the vet to get it treated.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is a little difficult to say what the bumps may be without seeing a photo. These may be the result of a bacterial skin infection, mange, or be growths. I recommend having Bonita seen by a vet if these bumps do not resolve on their own in the next few days. You can also try using antibacterial wipes for dogs, which are available in most pet stores on the area to keep it clean. I hope this helps and that all is well with Bonita!

Depending on the age of the pups there could be several things going on. Commonly puppies can get skin infections or an infection from a skin mite called demodex. The scabs could also be caused from the puppies playing and nipping at each other. I would recommend taking the pups in to be evaluated by a vet so an infection can be ruled out. If they do have an infection they will likely need some antibiotics to help clear it up since their immune system has not fully developed.

Scabs can be from a number of things including some minor skin irritation or injury that is healing. Puppy nails are very sharp, so it is possible a litter mate may have accidentally scratched your pup's head. As long as puppy is eating and acting normally, it is a good idea to just keep an eye on the spot and see if it heals. If the puppy appears sick, the area worsens, or it doesn't heal up, having a vet take a look at it is best as it could indicate a possible skin infection, or parasites that may be causing irritation.

I would guess from your description that these might either be from a bacterial skin infection like puppy pyoderma, or folliculitis. Both of these problems will sometimes resolve without treatment if they are mild enough. I would not recommend picking at any skin lesion. If they are not resolving in the next week or so, or if Hummel seems itchy or begins losing hair I’d recommend seeing your veterinarian.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect these may be local skin infections or infection of hair follicle. These kind of problems happen to some puppies and they often go away once the puppy gets older. You could try and use antibiotic cream or ointment on the skin for 7-10 days - it will likely help. However, the skin problem may come back a few weeks later.

Thank you for including the picture, it is really helpful. The little bumps and the look of the lesion is starting to be suspicious of a mite called demodex mite. It is very common in puppies, and is not usually itchy (but it can be). A skin scrape should be done to look for the mites. Of Course other possibilities include skin infection or ringworm. I would encourage you to have a follow up appointment with your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.