What are these dry, scabby bumps on my puppy's head? Should I pick them?

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! I can definitely see the small red bumps your are referring to, and agree that they appear scabbed over. This can be caused by a localized skin infection, an infestation with mites or fleas, or even an allergic reaction. It is likely that these conditions may be causing Hump to be itchy, and she may be having these scabs from scratching. A vet can perform some tests including blood work, and taking some samples from Hump's skin to figure out what is going on and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. I hope this helps!

Hello. It is possible that this is a stress-induced, mild pyoderma (skin infection) - essentially a staph infection. I would pick up some Hibiclens antibacterial skin wash at any pharmacy & gently cleanse the affected areas 2-3 times a day. Be sure to avoid his eyes and rinse well afterwards. If the lesions appear to be healing after 3-4 days & do not seem to be spreading or worsening, then that is probably all that needs to be done. If after a week the lesions are still prominent, spreading or turning into oozing pustules, please see your veterinarian for additional treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

With his age I would be concerned about puppy pyoderma (bacterial skin infection common in young dogs) but a type of mange and secondary bacterial infection is also possible. If this is mange then his skin won't clear without treating both diseases. There is also a possibility of ringworm. Your veterinarian could do an exam and go over in detail the tests for those diseases and treatment options. Alternatively some try an OTC pet medicated shampoo but if the skin doesn't clear up then a visit to the veterinarian is needed.

If this just appears to be a crusted area and is not raised, it is possible this was an insect bite that got irritated or a small scratch/wound. If the lesion is raised (I can't really tell from the appearance) then we sometimes get warty skin growths that can get traumatized and bleed/crust over. I would wash the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like Polysporin or Neosporin a few times day. If she is scratching/rubbing at the area she may need an e-collar for a few days to stop self-trauma. If the lesions isn't improving after several days of this or it starts to get larger/other spots appear then these would be reasons to seek veterinary care.

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.

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!